The landscapes on our Oregon tours are as varied as they are stunning. There are hilltop wineries, bucolic orchards and laden hop trestles; a bounty that can also be enjoyed off the bike with some of the country’s best wine, food and beer. You cycle quiet lanes and bike paths including the Historic Columbia River Highway – one of Bicycling magazine’s best bike rides. And, whether you are in the Willamette Valley or deep in the Columbia River Gorge, snowcapped Mount Hood will be the backdrop to many of your spectacular photographs.
Recreational, Road bike
6 days
300 km / 186 mi
$ 2,730.-
The magnificent Columbia River Gorge
The snow-capped volcanoes of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams
The Historic Columbia River Highway – one of Bicycling magazine’s best bike rides
Great Pinot Noir!
Deposit for this tour is 25%
Gallery
Details
Type
Recreational, Road bike
Duration
6 days
Level
Easy = untrained, normal physical condition Moderate = regular cyclist, good condition Challenging = experienced, well trained
Moderate
Support
Guided = with cycling guide(s) - support van Self Guided = individual - directions+maps
Self-Guided
Daily distance
40-60 km / 25-37 mi
Total distance
300 km / 186 mi
Lodging
Deluxe = 4-5 star hotel or excellent B&B Basic = 1-2 star hotel/motel or B&B Camping = tent, sports hall or campus
Deluxe, room & breakfast
Luggage transport
Daily luggage transfers
Bicycle
Rental
Dates
01 Jun 2023 - 30 Sep 2023
Tour can start any date.
From leisure to epic cycling, the route can be customized to your wishes.
Ask for single fee price.
Start
Portland (09.00)
Finish
Portland (15.00)
Airport at start
Portland Int. Airport (PDX)
Airport at finish
Portland Int. Airport (PDX)
Prices *Please note the prices are subject to change depending availability*
Price per person / please note the prices are subject to change depending availability
Please ask if you are interested in a balloon flight across the Willamette Valley. These flights take off at dawn and are best arranged for days when you have stayed the previous night in either McMinnville or Newberg. Flights start at $220 per person.
$ 240.-
Optional
Hybrid bike
Hybrids bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. They have a relaxed riding position and are great for beginners and intermediate riders. A typical model is the Trek 7.3 FX with Shimano components and high-pressure road tires for better cycling efficiency than your typical hybrid.
$ 180.-
Optional
road bike
Our road bikes are a racing style bike with drop
handlebars. The road bikes are faster bikes than the hybrids with a less upright riding position and will be enjoyed by intermediate and experienced riders. A typical model is the Émonda ALR 5 with aluminum frame, carbon forks, and Shimano 105 components.
$ 240.-
Optional
E-bike
Our eBikes are designed to give you a little extra assistance when climbing hills. The ride position is very similar to our hybrids. We typically rent Giant E+ 3 GTS bikes equipped with a SyncDrive Sport motor. If one rider in a couple is stronger than the other, an eBike can be a great choice for the less- strong rider.
$ 330.-
Optional
Itinerary
Included / Not Included – lodging
At the start of your tour, your guide transfers you from your hotel, does your bike fitting, and gives you a full route briefing. They then take care of all the behind-the-scenes logistics while you guide yourself along the routes; riding at your own pace and choosing the route difficulty that best suits you. Our support vans are nearby should you need extra support. Your detailed guidebook tells you about the towns you will visit, sights along your route, and suggests places to eat – and we are happy to help with reservations. This support and insight helps make our self-guided tours some of the most personalized and well-supported in the industry.
Day 1: Forest Grove to McMinnville
The Intermediate ride starts in Forest Grove from where you ride along quiet back roads over the
gently undulating hills of the Yamhill-Carlton wine region. This pastoral corner of Oregon’s Willamette Valley was once the final destination for many of the Oregon Trail pioneers. Now, the area is rich with a new wave of immigrants – winegrowers – and there are many wineries on your route. To the west, the Coast Range rises to 3,500 feet, establishing a rain shadow over the entire district. Great for pinot and great for biking! Carlton, at mile 25, has several restaurants and tasting rooms and is a fine place
Leisure: 15 miles, 400 feet (Carlton), 25 miles, 700 feet (WillaKenzie) Leisure riders will be transferred to either WillaKenzie Winery or Carlton and, from there, join the Intermediate route described above.
Intermediate: 40 miles with 1,100 feet of climbing
Challenge: 75 miles with 4,000 feet of climbing Challenge riders start out on the Intermediate route but soon detour around Hagg Lake (a popular triathlon course) before heading up a challenging 3-mile climb to Bald Peak. You then ride along a forested ridge before descending back down to the valley and joining the Intermediate route near the WillaKenzie Winery.
Overnight town McMinnville
McMinnville is at the heart of Willamette Valley Wine Country and the largest town in the area – but still not so big. It has a historic downtown with maple-lined streets. Attractions include galleries, an aviation museum, tasting rooms, breweries, and a couple of excellent restaurants. There is a farmers market every Thursday.
Day 2: McMinnville Loops
Today’s Intermediate ride meanders along the quiet lanes of the Amity Hills and the Dundee Hills. There are stunning views across fields of vines to snow-cappedpeaks of Mount Hood and you have the chance to visit a host of family run and organic wineries. Towns you visit included Dayton and Lafayette- both of which have good lunch options. Alternatively, take a picnic to one of thewineries. Stoller estate is a great choise; on a hill with stunning fews. Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin are also nearby. Leisure riders take a more direct route to Stoller Winery- avoiding the Amity Hills – and ride back on the intermediate route described above, an even shorter ride takes you to the Evergreen Aviation And Space Museum. Museum exihibits include the Spruce Goose. This Howard- Hughes- inspired plane was the largest flying boat ever built and was almost entirely made from wood. Challenge riders head into the Coast Range for a series of ups and downs through forest and past remote farms. Once through the hills, the ride heads east to join the intermediate ride from Amity and back to McMinnville via the Stoller Estate Winery.
Day 3: Cooper Spur to Hood River
Today you have the choice of riding anything from an easy cruise to a real epic. Whichever way you choose, you’ll enjoy some spectacular scenery on the slopes of Mount Hood.
Intermediate: 30 miles with 950 feet of climbing Intermediate riders will take a transfer to Cooper Spur – a cluster of cabins at the base of the Mount Hood Ski area. From here you descend down the Hood River Valley past orchards, wineries and lavender farms. The area is famous for growing apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruits. The many fruit stands make great rest stops. Descend past the bucolic orchards, wineries and lavender farms of the Hood River Valley
Leisure: 20 miles with 920 feet of climbing Leisure riders will join the ride described above after the main descent, in the small town of. Parkdale. Parkdale is also a good place for lunch.
Challenge: 50 miles with 3,000 feet Challenge riders transfer up to Government Camp- a ski town at 4,000 feet. From here, you ride around the southern flanks of Mount Hood. The ride peaks at 4,600 feet before descending down to join the Intermediate route at Cooper Spur.
Epic: 65 miles with 5,600 feet
Those looking for an Epic ride will start in Welches to Hood River; riding up Highway 26 to Government Camp and joining the Challenge route there.
Overnight town: Hood River
Outside magazine named Hood River one of America’s Best Towns. There is plenty to do with antique stores, wine bars, shops and galleries. It is also a haven for wind surfers, kite surfers, whitewater rafters, hikers and mountain bikers. There are several craft beer brewers and wine makers in and around the town.
Day 4: Hoods River loops(A)
All today’s rides start out heading west along the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, along a route described by Bicycling Magazine as one of the best rides in the U.S. Much of the riding is along the historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) bike path. How difficult you make the ride depends on where you turn around and what route you take back. Strong Intermediate riders will ride to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. This is a fine place to tae a break, have a browse and eat lunch.you then return to Hood River on a route with stunning views at every turn as the road twice climbs high above the gorge before descending back down to the river.
Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn in the town of Mosier. A small cafe here provides a pleasant rest stop. Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn around in the town of Mosier. A small café here provides a pleasant rest stop. Challenge riders riders will ride the HCRH all the way into The Dalles. You then return either along the Gorge or over the aptly-named 7-mile hill.
Day 5: Hood River Loops (B) & Transfer to Stevenson
You spent the first part of the day riding out of Hood River and then meet your guide for the end- of – tour transfer at the end of the day. You can do any of the rides listed yesterday – hood River loop (A) – or venture into Hood River Valley on the route described below. Strong Intermediate riders will ride up the east side of the Hood River Valley to Parkdale, which makes a good lunch stop. From here you head back down the west side of the valley. On this route you pass many fruit farms, some wineries and a lavender farm. The ride is known locally as the fruit loop for its many farm stands. Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn around at the town of Odell. This is a shortened version of the fruit loop. The Apple Valley Country Store makes a good lunch stop. Challenge riders will head up the slopes of Mount Hood to the applty- named lost Lake. On this ride you climb on car free National forest Development Roads and through countryside little changed since Lewis and Clark exploring here.
Overnight town: Stevenson
Stevenson is an unassuming town on the Washington side of the Gorge. The small downtown has
nice views of the river as well as an antique store, an art gallery, a pub, and nice café. There are activities at the Skamania Lodge including zip lining, an aerial park and axe throwing!
Day 6: Stevenson to Troutdale – Last Day
You return to Oregon for the final leg of your journey; crossing the Gorge on the impressive Bridge of the Gods.
Intermediate: 35 miles with 2,200 feet of climbing
The Intermediate route follows the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway. This starts as a bike path through forests and then becomes a quiet lane that passes many waterfalls: Moffett, Horsetail, Bridal Veil, Latourell and Multnomah Falls. At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls are the highest in the state and can be seen from the road. There is also a short hike up to a viewing bridge. After the falls, a beautiful twisting lane brings you to Crown Point. This imposing bluff stands over 700 feet above the river “guarding” the entrance to the Gorge. A great place to snap an iconic photograph before descending into Troutdale to meet your guide for your end-of-tour transfer.
Leisure: 15 miles with 850 feet of climbing
* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.
Most guests fly into Portland (PDX) Airport. There are a number of good options for getting into downtown Portland from the airport:
* A cab will cost between $30 and $40 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. There are a number of companies including Radio Cab - (503) 227-1212 / www.radiocab.net
* Blue Star Transportation operates both a scheduled services ($14pp reservations not typically required) stopping at major hotels and a door-to-door service ($36 for two people reservations required). 1-800-247-2272 / http://www.bluestarbus.com
* The MAX Light Rail service goes from the airport to the center of Portland in about 45 minutes and costs $2.40 pp.
* You can ride your bike to and from the airport for free. This being Portland, there is a multi-use path as well as secure bicycle parking, and a bike assembly and repair station right by baggage claim!
* Uber and Lyft operate throughout the Portland area.
Included:
-GPS units, cycling maps, directions and a custom guidebook; one set per couple.
-Private transfer from downtown Portland. Return transfer no later than 3:00 PM local time at the end of your tour.
-Detailed map briefing and bike fitting at the start of your tour.
-Accommodation for each night of your tour with breakfast the following morning (unless ---Breakfast is explicitly excluded in the accommodation description, see PDF file hotels below ).
-Snacks and ride food.
-We book standard rooms unless an upgrade is requested and then extra charge may apply. Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. As accommodation costs are significantly higher at weekends, we may need to charge a supplement for Friday and Saturday nights stays.
-Guide available via phone 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
-On-call roadside assistance 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for mechanical issues.
-Luggage transported between lodgings and wine collection service.
-Transfers along all or part of the route to coincide with luggage moves – to be arranged at least 24 hours in advance
Not included:
-Rental bike, see PDF file below
-Pre & post tour travel
-Lunches and dinners. Our guidebooks are full of great recommendations and we are pleased to make reservations for you.
-An on-bike guide.
-Activities such as wine tours, balloon flights and spa treatments. We are pleased to make reservations on your behalf.
-Transfers to wineries or sites to which it is not practical to ride. We are pleased to arrange for such transfers for a fee.
Lodging
See PDF file below this page
Travel Safely
Our health-screened guides are available throughout your tour and will wear masks and take distancing precautions.
Overnight accommodations have been screened to help ensure they follow distancing protocols and sanitize rooms between guests.
Our equipment, from bikes to vans, are sanitized before and after serving guests.
With this form you can ask us for more information about this tour. We will respond as soon as possible. Please also check your spam or junk box.
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