Just across HWY 47 to the east of Gaston, is Wapato lake.

In 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began purchasing land in the Wapato Lake bed to reestablish the historic wetland. Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge was officially established in 2013 as part of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. With over 900 acres of continuous protected area, Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a fantastic place for a variety of wildlife, including the many migratory waterfowl that stop-over in the winter. The refuge is amazing year-round though; the changing seasons are reflected in the fluctuations of landscape and the wildlife who inhabit it.

After your ride, wander across the highway and test your birding knowledge!

Oregon’s state flower, Oregon grape, is a large evergreen shrub, not a grape plant! Its bright yellow flowers emerge early in spring to provide pollinators with an early nectar source. It is also used for erosion control and medicinally in many ways including as a tea or tincture to support liver function.

There are several native varieties of Oregon grape, the easiest to identify due to its height will be Tall Oregon grape. Look for it on this route in hedgerows along fields.

There are many farmsteads nestled in the idyllic valleys around Gaston. One such is the regenerative farm, Big Table Farm. As per the owners, “Big Table Farm is a 70 acres farm in Oregon, where we raise animals and produce seasonal vegetables. On our farm, you’ll find free-range hens, pasture-raised pigs, goats, a team of draft horses, bee hives and grass-fed cows. We are building a managed intensive grazing system of farming that builds our soil, sequesters carbon, and moves us towards a healthy, sustainable and diverse farm.”

The native Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) and its associated habitat was once widespread across the Willamette Valley. Now, as little as 3% of Oregon white oak habitat remains. Considered a keystone species, Oregon white oak provides food and habitat for over 200 wildlife species.

Along this route, you will see examples of large, standalone Oregon white oaks and clustered remnants of the once prolific Oregon white oak woodlands, often left gracing the tops of the hills.

To learn more, visit this link, and if you live locally and have the space, consider planting an Oregon white oak in your yard.

Hazelnuts (sometimes known as Filberts) are grown by more than 1,300 farms in Oregon ranking 13th in value for crops in the state. These farms grow 100% of the hazelnuts in the United States. Italy and Turkey are the only places in the world that grow more hazelnuts than Oregon.

Oregon State University has worked with local farmers to create new hazelnut varieties that grow well in the Oregon climate and are resistant to Eastern filbert blight. Prior to this, the blight devastated many hazelnut farms in the area.

Yamhill’s location on Highway 47, between Gaston and McMinnville, has long made it a “pass through” town for travelers.In the late 1800s, though, it served as the starting point for a stagecoach run all the way to Tillamook. And in later years, it became a pleasant stop for train travelers going to Portland, thanks to a classy hotel.

Yamhill County was the second of the 4 original districts created by the Provisional Legislature in 1843. Its boundaries were drawn to include the area from the Willamette River west to the Pacific Ocean and from the Yamhill River south to the California border. The district consisted of 12,000 square miles; however, 12 counties were eventually created from Yamhill County leaving 709 square miles within its present borders.

The “mansion on the hill” was built in 1879 by one of the prominent early citizens of Yamhill, Lee Laughlin, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The architectural style of the house is an adaptation of Italian Villa with Gothic Revival elements. Influenced by medieval design, the most commonly identifiable feature of the Gothic Revival style is the pointed arch, used for windows, doors, and decorative elements like porches, dormers, or roof gables. See if you can spy these distinctive features on the Lee Laughlin house.

Just across Laurel St and to the SE, is another historic building with similar architecture. Built circa 1898, the Yamhill United Methodist Church’s Gothic Revival features a common addition to churches built in the style: a Norman castle-like tower with a crenellated parapet or a high spire.

Another home on the National Register of Historic Places, is the John Marion Bunn House. The architecture is that of the Second Empire Baroque Style. So named for the elements in vogue during the Second French Empire. Second Empire architecture is typically characterized by a mansard roof, elaborate ornamentation, and a strong massing. The actual year of construction of the Bunn House is unknown with several accounts giving it as early as 1860 and others as late as 1888. Essentially intact, it is the only example of the Second Empire Baroque Style remaining in Yamhill County and it is among the rare examples of residential architecture in this style still standing in the Willamette Valley today.

Since 1977, Bailey Nurseries, a fifth-generation, family-owned business rooted in Minneapolis, Minnesota with a history spanning 110 years, has been running its vast operation near Yamhill on 1,100 acres of farmland. With three locations in the Pacific Northwest, Bailey employs around 325 workers on average. As you pass by rows upon rows of potted plants and greenhouses, you’ll truly grasp the scale of the nursery.

The Willamette Valley is a major hub for growing cool-season grass seed, contributing almost two-thirds of the total production in the United States. It’s often dubbed the “grass seed capital of the world.” Across nearly 1,500 farms in Oregon, grass seed is cultivated. Additionally, over 390 seed conditioning plants in the Willamette Valley process the seed for sale.

So, when you observe vast expanses of grass, like in this photo’s foreground, recognize that these aren’t just idle pastures but rather actively farmed fields.

Every time I have ridden this route, I have seen Elk herds traipsing across the hillsides. While there is no guarantee that Elk will be visible every single time someone rides the route, the chances are still good. So keep you eyes open and sound levels low and you may just be treated to the sight of these majestic animals. Note that elk are more sensitive to human disturbance and vehicles than any other activity. Please keep space between yourself and any elk you see (~ 1000 yards or 0.2 miles). If they start to run, stop pedaling and let them escape in peace. Learn more about wildlife impact in this resource page we have put together.