| Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway |
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| The Willamette Valley |
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Look for this sign along the bikeway route.
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The Willamette Valley is a broad valley bordered by the low, forested Coast Range to the west and by the snow-covered Cascades to the east. The bikeway runs close to the Willamette River, which flows north eventually meeting the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon’s largest city. The Willamette Valley is home to the majority of the state's population, most living in and near Portland, Salem, Albany/Corvallis and Eugene. The rest of the valley is quite rural.
The valley produces most of the world’s hops, a key ingredient in beer. All sorts of vegetables and fruits grow side by side Christmas tree farms. Marionberries, much like a sweet, juicy blackberry, are plentiful and are named after Marion County. Hazelnuts, apple and cherry orchards line many rural roads along the bikeway.
The valley’s wet climate helps all these wonderful foods to grow. Bicyclists with good rainwear ride in the valley all 12 months. Snow is rare. April through November brings drier weather, warm days, amazing flowers displays, and farmers markets open to sell the cornucopia of goodies. Many consider these the best months to ride.
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