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| Short Rides |
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Not up to the entire ride?
If cycling the entire route is more than you want to try, ride a short section. The bikeway route is marked with signs.
Recommended short rides include:
- Champoeg to Willamette Mission is a great 30-mile round trip. Both state parks have group camping facilities that allow inexperienced bicyclists to try an overnight bike tour. Carry your camping equipment on your bike the short distance of 15 miles to the next campsite.
- Albany to Thompson's Mills State Heritage Area is a flat and very scenic 42-mile round-trip. Albany has an active downtown with restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and can be accessed via Amtrak from Portland.
- Armitage County Park to Coburg is a 13-mile round trip.
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| Roundtrip with Amtrak |
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Take the train
If your legs aren't ready for a roundtrip ride, Amtrak is the solution. On a north to south ride ending at Armitage Park, riders can continue to the Eugene Amtrak station and take the train north to Salem. It is a 30-mile ride back to Champoeg. The Albany station opens possibilities for 30 miles riding one way from Salem to Albany; or starting in Albany, ride to Thompson's Mills State Park and return to Albany for 44-mile roundtrip. This section has very low traffic and is relatively flat. Take the train back to your jumping off point.
Amtrak passenger train service stops regularly in Eugene with daily trips north to Albany, Salem and Portland, and south to California. Trains have a limited number of spaces to carry unboxed bikes. Amtrak reservations for passengers and bicycle storage space are required. Not all trains can accommodate unboxed bikes. Tandem, recumbent, or other unusual bikes must be boxed. Folding bikes are sometimes allowed as a carry on. For more information, call Amtrak at: 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or visit the website. Train routes include the Amtrak Cascades and the Coast Starlight. For additional information, visit Bring Your Bicycle Onboard.
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| Supplies & Roadside Produce Stands |
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Near Champoeg State Heritage Site
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Start your ride with ice cream at the Butteville Store.
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The seasonally open historic Butteville store has sandwiches and other convenience type items. Saint Paul, a small town located 6.5 miles from Champoeg, has a well-stocked convenience store and a post office.
Keizer/Salem
Keizer has restaurants, grocery stores and hardware stores. Downtown Salem has many restaurants and three bicycle shops. Grocery stores are outside of the downtown area. The bikeway passes a large convenience store south of Salem near the entrance to Minto Brown Park.
Independence
Independence has a beautifully preserved historic downtown with a wonderful city park, several restaurants, an ice cream parlor, a post office and large convenience store. Independence is 13 miles south of Salem, less than one mile from the bikeway off River Road South. Cross the Willamette River on the Independence Bridge, then turn right. Like many towns in the valley, Independence has a farmers market each Saturday from May–October.
Jefferson/Albany/Brownsville
Jefferson has several restaurants and a large convenience store. Albany has a bicycle shop located directly on the bikeway, and many restaurants and a smaller grocery store in downtown. Brownsville has a hardware store and several restaurants.
Local produce at roadside stands
The mild rains and warm summers of the valley create perfect growing conditions for many delicious summer fruits and vegetables. Fruit stands spring up along the bikeway, usually opening in May and closing in October. Some of the stands are large businesses; some are set up at the edge of someone’s driveway. One fruit not well known outside of the region is the marionberry, sweet, purple, blackberry type berries that were hybridized in Marion County, the same county that hosts much of the bikeway route. The berries ripen throughout late spring and early summer and are sold by the pound and in jams and pies. Watch for strawberries, cherries and blueberries from early to mid summer, followed by green beans, peaches, corn and plums. Fall brings walnuts and hazelnuts.
Many towns in the Willamette Valley have farmers markets May-October. Most markets are held on Saturdays, with a few of the larger towns hosting mid-week markets. Directory of Oregon Farmers Markets.
The Willamette Valley is Oregon's leading wine region and home to two-third of the state's wineries and vineyards -- close to 200 wineries dot the valley and surrounding hills. The region is recognized as one of the premier pinot noir producing areas in the world. Directory of Willamette Valley Vineyards.
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