A flat ramble through rich agriculture and history
Evergreen Museum – Grand Island Loop
Tommy's Bicycle Shop,
Ride Ambassador
Length 32 Miles
Difficulty
Moderate i
It’s a perfect day of adventure: piggyback a visit to a world-class cultural attraction with a pleasant bike ride through a largely unknown area of natural beauty and back roads.
If you’re visiting McMinnville, a visit to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum should be high on your list; sure, it’s famous for Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, but even that behemoth can’t overshadow the broad collection of planes and space equipment, and the interactive, hands-on learning opportunities.
So drive out to the museum, spend several hours soaking up history and knowledge, and then break out the bikes for a wandering, basically flat route out to the scenic Grand Island area.
Because the museum is positioned just outside McMinnville, it doesn’t take any time at all to feel like you’re out in the country. A few back-road jogs take you southeast, through lush and rolling farm land.
When you cross the Lambert Slough just after 12 miles, you’ve entered Grand Island – which is formed by the slough that takes a looping route to the west of the Willamette River before rejoining it further south – creating a large “island” of agricultural fertility.
It’s also a beautiful spot, which is why you might want to stop to get a photo or two as you enter the “island.”
A short circumnavigation of Grand Island Loop Road provides a tranquil immersion into the setting. After you cross back over the slough, look for Bob’s Grand Island Grocery & Deli is a perfect spot to stop for some delicious lunch – or put together your own picnic to take to Dayton further into the route.
And it’s 8 easy miles into Dayton, a charming small town founded in 1850, before Oregon was even a state. It was the first community in Oregon to be designated as a national historic resource, and it has numerous buildings listed on the National Historic Register. In fact, you can take a little time off the bike to take an efficient historic walking tour; maps are available at City Hall.
If you’re thinking picnic, the route takes you right past Dayton’s city park, comprising the historic courthouse square and an impressive oak grove. There’s a bike info kiosk, plus plenty of shade and space to spread out and relax for a bit.
After Dayton, it’s only four easy miles back to your car. It’s a perfect time to reflect on how much ground you’ve covered – literally and figuratively – in one grand adventure.
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In Oregon, a bicycle is legally considered a vehicle, and the same Oregon road laws apply. Please “be seen” and practice safe riding. Vehicle traffic, farm equipment and narrow shoulders exist on many Oregon roads, and you may find that construction projects, traffic or other events may cause road conditions or signage to differ from the map results, ride descriptions and directions. For travel options plus weather and road conditions, visit tripcheck.com, call 511 (in Oregon only), 800.977.6368 or 503.588.2941. Routes listed on this website are for informational purposes and intended as a reference guide only.
About The
Ambassador
Tommy's Bicycle Shop
Tommy’s Bicycle Shop has been serving the Yamhill County cycling community since 1949. Many things have changed since the store first opened, but they still do business in their own time honored way. They talk to you. They listen. They use their eyes, their hands and their intuition to make your bicycle sing. It is not uncommon that they sweat, swear or even bleed in the service of mechanical perfection. Sure, it’s hard work. They like it that way. It keeps them crafty. Bring Tommy's Bicycle Shop your broken down bike or your wildest riding dreams. They’ve got what you need for that.
