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Geographic region: Willamette Valley farmland
Municipality/town: Yamhill, Gaston
Route configuration: out-and-back
Distance: 24.5 miles
Min/max elevation: 229’/734’
Total ascent: 2,184’
Max grade: 11.4% up/11.4% down
Surface: gravel/dirt roads
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: any
Permits: none required
Traffic: very light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 33 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Yamhill, OR. Head north on Hwy 47 – go approximately 1 mi. Turn L on NW Bony Rd – go 0.2 mi to the intersection with NW Goodrich Rd. Park on the side of NW Goodrich Rd.
Head north on NW Goodrich Rd – go 1.5 mi
@1.5 mi: L on NW Lilac Hill Rd – go 0.9 mi
@2.4 mi: R on NW Bishop Scott Rd – go 2.0 mi
@4.4 mi: L on NW Oak Hill Rd – go 1.2 mi
@5.5 mi: R on NW Pleasant Smith Rd – go 1.0 mi
@6.5 mi: R on NW Gerrish Valley Rd – go 2.4 mi
@8.9 mi: L on NW Mt Richmond Rd – go 2.9 mi
@11.8 mi: R on NW Hacker Rd – go 0.5 mi
@12.3 mi: turn around at NW Turner Rd and head back on NW Hacker – go 0.5 mi
@12.8 mi: L on NW Mt Richmond Rd – go 2.8 mi
@15.6 mi: sharp R on NW Gerrish Valley Rd – go 2.4 mi
@18.0 mi: L on NW Pleasant Smith Rd – go 1.0 mi
@19.0 mi: L on NW Oak Hill Rd – go 1.1 mi
@20.1 mi: R on NW Bishop Scott Rd – go 2.0 mi
@22.1 mi: L on NW Lilac Hill Rd – go 0.9 mi
@23.0 mi: R on NW Goodrich Rd – go 1.5 mi
End @24.5 mi
Rolling through the gorgeous countryside of Gaston and Yamhill, this route is scenic and peaceful through and through, and completely on gravel and dirt roads. The route starts on NW Goodrich Road which is flanked by sprawling filbert orchards, vineyards, and small farms with goats, sheep, and horses. Once on NW Lilac Hill Road, you will see the large farm buildings of Yamhill County Mushrooms, which produces a wide variety of mushrooms.
As you head north on NW Bishop Scott Road, and then onto NW Oak Hill Road and NW Pleasant Smith Road, you may be lucky enough to see a large herd of around one hundred elk who roam the area. There are also plenty of beef and dairy cattle roaming about the pastures.
The 2.4-mile section on NW Gerrish Valley Road and the first mile or so on NW Mount Richmond Road takes you on the longest climb of the route, but it’s not terribly pitched. As you run along NW Mount Richmond Road, you will see views of the Chehalem Mountains, including Bald Peak, to the east, and the Coast Range to the west. NW Mount Richmond Road starts to descend as you wind through more bucolic farmlands. The turnround point is at the west end of NW Hacker Road, right where the gravel road comes to an end. The views on the way back provide a different vantage point than on the way out, and they are just as richly rewarding.
Geographic region: Willamette Valley farmland
Municipality/town: Gaston, Yamhill
Route configuration: loops
Distance: 20.0 miles
Min/max elevation: 197’/768’
Total ascent: 1,510’
Max grade: 10.3% up/6.9% down
Surface: 18 miles gravel road, 2 miles paved road
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: any
Permits: none required
Traffic: mostly very light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 32 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Gaston, OR. Park in the large parking lot on the corner of Hwy 47/E Main St.
From south end of parking lot, head west on E Main St – go 0.1 mi
@0.1 mi: L on 2ndSt – go 130’
@0.1 mi: R on Church St – go 0.4 mi
@0.5 mi: Church St becomes SW South Rd – go 2.5 mi
@3.0 mi: R to stay on SW South Rd – go 0.7 mi
@3.7 mi: L on NW Mt Richmond Rd – go 2.1 mi
@5.8 mi: L on NW Gerrish Valley Rd – go 2.4 mi
@8.2 mi: L on NW Pleasant Smith Rd – go 1.0 mi
@9.2 mi: R on NW Oak Hill Rd – go 1.2 mi
@10.4 mi: R on NW Gerrish Valley Rd – go 1.5 mi
@11.9 mi: R on NW Pleasant Smith Rd – go 1.0 mi
@12.8 mi: L on NW Oak Hill Rd – go 1.1 mi
@14.0 mi: NW Oak Hill Rd turns slightly L and becomes NW Canyonview Rd – go 0.1 mi
@14.1 mi: L on NW Williams Canyon Rd/NW Oak Hill Rd – go 0.9 mi
@15.0 mi: R to stay on on NW Williams Canyon Rd/NW Oak Hill Rd – go 2.0 mi
@17.0 mi: R on SW South Rd – go 2.5 mi
@19.5 mi: SW South Rd becomes Church St – go 0.4 mi
@19.9 mi: L on 2ndSt – go 130’
@19.8 mi: R on E Main St – go 0.1 mi
End @20.0 mi
Starting in the heart of the quaint town of Gaston, this route heads out to the rolling farmlands of Gaston and Yamhill. The first mile or so is through residential neighborhoods, but soon after you may be lucky enough to see some longhorn cattle and alpacas. The longhorn cattle are friendly and saunter right on up to the gate for some pets and chunks of grass you might pull for them.
At the three-mile mark, you will begin a large figure-eight loop. The early portion, up NW Mount Richmond Road, is the steepest climb of the entire route. Part of the road in this area is covered with a beautiful canopy of oak trees. You’ll also pass by sweeping views of rolling farmland with patches of trees sprinkled throughout.
The hill peaks shortly before you get to NW Gerrish Valley Road. Then you’ll get to relax down a gradual downhill through open farmlands for about two-and-a-half miles. A little past the eight-mile point, you will head east on NW Pleasant Smith Road, where you may be able to see a large herd of elk that roams the area. From here you make the smaller of the two loops that make the figure-eight, wrapping around more open farmlands. You will take NW Pleasant Smith Road for one more pass through. This area will be the second largest hill of the route, but the panoramic scenery all around you will keep you entertained.
Around 14 miles, you will get to start going downhill, and soon after you will turn left on NW Williams Canyon Road. This gently downhill road is more sheltered by the hills and trees. At 17 miles, you reconnect with the road you started on, with just a gentle three miles to the finish.
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