Yamhill Loop
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Note: This is a 5 Star Route, meaning that it is a highly curated, premier riding route.
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.
We like this ride for its:
- rolling terrain with short pitched climbs
- hard-packed gravel
- countryside beauty
- easy access to Portland
Adventure / Gravel Route
– Loop: 32 miles / 2200 ft gain
– Surface: ~ 85% gravel, 15% paved
– eBike Friendly: Yes
– Location: ~ Portland, OR
– Published: March 2019 (updated April 2021)
Terrain & Technical Riding Difficulty[what this means]
Moderate
Rolling terrain with several short pitchy climbs, hard-packed gravel (with a bit of pea gravel over the top), light traffic, at the urban / rural transition.
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.
The Start
Beulah City Park. Restrooms.
Lat / Long: 45.339111, -123.183856
Go Local!
As your coming grab a burger at the Yamhill Bar & Grill (195 W Main St, Yamhill) or if you’re looking for accommodations and more check out Visit McMinnville.
Legend
Red = paved road
Brown = gravel / dirt road or double-track
Downloads
Wahoo / Garmin Direct Download
Cue Sheet / GPX file / TCX file
For help with GPS files, the RideWithGPs mapping app and to learn how to download our routes for free, see the “Using Our Rides” page.
Ride Details
Miles 0 to 10 / Orchards, Farms and Woodlands / Paved to Gravel Road
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.
Miles 10 to 15.5 / Mt Richmond / Gravel Road
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.
Miles 15.5 to 21 / Yamhill River / Gravel Road
Flattish, big mossy trees with the river to the right. This is a really special section of road.
Miles 21 to Finish / Timberlands & Farms / Gravel to Paved
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.
Food & Water
None
Ride Notes
40 mm tires are about perfect. The gravel roads are hard-pack with a layer of pea gravel over the top.
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.
Ride Options
The Yamhill county / North Willamette Valley has some excellent riding. We have mapped out and researched some other routes in the area, but have not ridden them. They are Development Routes – works in progress – and if you give them a go, we would sure appreciate your feedback.
Credits & Acknowledgements
This route is based on the Yamhill Gran Fondo route of 2019.
Ridden and Reviewed by …
Gravel Girl / Team Dirty Freehub
She loves a good day of gravel like most people like a good book. She’s always amused by the outdoors and the wild adventures. Gravel Girl is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.
Captain O / 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.
Comments
Revision History
- April 2021 / Promoted to 5 Star route. Added pictures, route description in overview and details. Significant information added.
- March 2019 / Original Post as Development route.
Get Involved!
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 reading the quarterly newsletter.
