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Yamhill Loop

5 Star Route / Portland, Oregon / Published: Mar 2019 / Directions
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Route:
Loop | 32 mi
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Gain:
2,800 ft
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Surface:
85% gravel, 15% paved
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Technical Difficulty:
Moderate
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Navigation:
Straightforward
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Locale:
Urban Backcountry
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Tire Suggestion:
40 mm
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Options:
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Long eared goats, frisky horses and friendly cows were some of our favorite parts of this route. Yamhill is farm country and we love the vibe. But it’s not all farmer fantasy island, there’s a section along the Yamhill River that is picture postcard stunning. And you might want to pay attention to the elevation profile, those four short spikes offer up the bulk of the elevation gain for the day.

And leave a little extra time to polish off burgers at the end, chatting with hazelnut farmers will give you a new appreciation for the Nutella craze.

Read More
Map
Brown = gravel / dirt road
Blue = single track
Red = paved road
Purple = paved bike path
GPX Download   Version 1.0

Highlights & Remarkable Spots

Orchards, Farms and Woodlands / Paved to Gravel Road / ~ Miles 0 to 10

Lead out of Yamhill on a bit of pavement, but it soon transitions to hard-packed gravel roads with a bit of loose pea gravel over the top. The terrain rolls up and down (sometimes pitchy 8% or so) past Hazelnut orchards, farms and into the woodlands.

Mt Richmond / Gravel Road / ~ Miles 10 to 15.5

The next 2 miles climb up Mt Richmond, with short pitches at 8 to 15%. Roll along the summit ridge for a couple of miles with expansive valley views to the east and distant views of Mt Hood to the north. The descent also pitches down steeply, but not long.

Yamhill River / Gravel Road / ~ Miles 15.5 to 21

Flattish, big mossy trees with the river to the right. This is a really special section of road.

Timberlands & Farms / Gravel to Paved / ~ Miles 21 to Finish

This section has a double bump of two short climbs, but after mile 25.3 it is all downhill. First on gravel and then pavement for the last 5 miles. At the turn onto Moores Valley road, mile 29.5, the traffic noticeably picks up. We would recommend riding single-file and with a red blinky light.

Credits & Acknowledgements

This route is based on the Yamhill Gran Fondo route of 2019.

Ride Details

When We Like to Ride This

Mid-April through early July when the rivers are running full, the fields are green, and the flowers are in bloom. And … those special weeks in the fall when the leaves begin to change color.

Terrain & Riding

We like this ride for its:

  • rolling terrain with short pitched climbs
  • hard-packed gravel
  • countryside beauty
  • easy access to Portland

The Start

Lat / Long: 45.339111, -123.183856

Beulah City Park. Restrooms.

Food & Water

  • None.
Notes & Options

Route Notes

  1. 40 mm tires are about perfect. The gravel roads are hard-pack with a layer of pea gravel over the top.

  2. Even though the route has light traffic, we would recommend a red blinky light as there are several sectors where there is a bit more traffic.

Route Options

Other rides in the area to consider are:

  • Yamhill Loop / 5 Star Route
  • Yamhill 8 / Development Route
  • Ghost Hill / 5 Star Route
  • G-Man / Development Route
  • McMinnville Mayhem / Development Route
  • Powerhouse / 5 Star Route
  • Chehalem Vineyard Tour / Development Route

From this collection of routes, you can build longer and more challenging routes, but you can also shorten routes to your liking. See our 20 Minutes series on “How to Modify Routes with RideWithGPS“.

Comments

Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!

This route is within Yamhill county, one of the fastest-growing regions in Oregon. The area faces increasing urbanization pressure. To learn more, and maybe get involved, visit the site “Friends of Yamhill County”. Take a few minutes to read the quarterly newsletter.

Videos

The Ride! Yamhill Loop

A quick 2-minute video of what to expect on your ride!

Podcasts

Farm Talk with Nicholas Kristof

In this podcast, we talk with Nicholas Kristof, the award-winning columnist from the New York Times, and farm owner in the Willamette Valley. We talk about growing up on a farm, the challenges of farming, and some of the opportunities for rural and urban Oregonians to come together.

Keep it Local! Learn More

Yamhill County

Yamhill County has a couple of great little towns to visit (Carlton, Dundee, Newberg, and McMinnville) with cool restaurants, shops, and lodging. Check Visit Yamhill county.

Ridden and Reviewed by:

KevinE

KevinE / Team Dirty Freehub

He should have “Never Stop Exploring” tattooed on his chest! He loves adventures on bikes and is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.

Explore Similar Routes:

Farm Lands Vineyards

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