Powerhouse
Highlights & Remarkable Spots
The White Climb / Gravel (mostly) / ~ Miles 0 to 10.5
The route starts with a 2 mile paved warm-up followed by Powerhouse Hill. It is two punchy stair-steps that are the steepest climbs of the day. Over 15%. The climbing then mellows, but still climbs another 2300 feet on undulating gravel roads with some through Weyerhaeuser lands that are closed to all motorized vehicles, including eBikes. (This is marked by a white gate.)
Miles 6.5 to 10 are really special; older growth dense forest with mossy trees and green, lush undergrowth. The road is small and a bit rugged.
Wanless – Gopher Valley Descent / Gravel / ~ Miles 10.5 to 20
The descent back down through the timberlands at times can be steep at 15% down, with views of the Coast Mountains to the west. The lower you get the less steep it is; forested hills with a much faster rolling descent.
The Farmlands / Gravel to Paved / ~ Miles 20 to 27.5
This sector initially kicks up with two short but steep pitches that you will paperboy up at 15%. You will pass by peacocks, goats, chickens, and geese. You will roll past vineyards and hayfields.
Peavine Climb / Paved / ~ Miles 27.5 to 32.5
This is the last climb of the day, but it will still get your attention as it is over 6%. Early into the climb, there is a farm stand to the right. Recommended! We stopped and picked up some cherry tomatoes and jam.
Powerhouse Hill Descent / Gravel to Paved / ~ Miles 32.5 to 36
A repeat of what you did early on, but in the opposite direction. Steep at 15% down, with two stair-stepped sections. Then 2 miles of easy pavement to finish out the day.
Credits & Acknowledgements
Ridden and Review by Kevin English and Linda English of Team Dirty Freehub.
When We Like to Ride This
The Willamette Valley area rides most of the year. Winter can be wet, but spring is absolutely beautiful with the flowers, blooming trees, green fields, and flowing creeks.
Terrain & Riding
This is a punchy, punchy route. It is a climbers route with pitches up and down in excess of 15%. There is very little flat. You will work most of the day. You will ride through a mix of farmlands, timberlands (i.e. actively managed and logged areas), and old-growth forest. You will get vista views of the Coast Mountains. We loved it!
The Start
Ed Grenfell Park. Pit toilets.
Lat / Long: 45.228691, -123.274057
Food & Water
- None.
Route Notes
40 mm tires are a good choice for the terrain. Some riders may be inclined to go narrower.
Recommend a red blinky light. We really like the units that come with a rear looking radar detector. It is really cool to know of cars approaching from behind you without turning around.
Some of the houses have fenced in dogs. We have not been chased in the area, but we recommend carrying some kind of dog repellent.
Route Options
Other rides in the area to consider are:
- Yamhill Loop / 5 Star
- Yamhill 8 / 5 Star
- Ghost Hill / Development Route
- G-Man / Development Route
- McMinnville Mayhem / Development Route
- Powerhouse / Development Route
- Chehalem Vineyard Tour / Development Route
From this collection of routes, you can build routes that are longer and more challenging, but you can also shorten routes to your liking. See the RideWithGPS documentation for more help.
Videos
The Ride! Powerhouse
A quick 2-minute video of what to expect on your ride!
Keep it Local! Learn More
Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!