Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley is Oregon's farming and wine heartland, a broad green valley south of Portland with some of the best Pinot Noir in the country. It is also home to Salem, Eugene and most of the state's population.

The Willamette Valley runs roughly 150 miles south from Portland to beyond Eugene, between the Coast Range to the west and the Cascade Range to the east. Interstate 5 follows its length and makes it easy to visit in stages. Most Oregonians live here, in Portland's southern suburbs and in the cities of Salem, Corvallis and Eugene. The valley is best known for wine. Pinot Noir from the Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills and Yamhill-Carlton areas has made the region internationally known, and most tasting rooms are small family operations open to drop-in visitors. McMinnville anchors the northern wine country and is home to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, with Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose. Salem is the state capital, with the Oregon State Capitol and the Willamette Heritage Center. Eugene is a university town with Hayward Field, a lively Saturday Market and easy access to the Cascades. Away from the wineries, Silver Falls State Park near Silverton has the Trail of Ten Falls, which passes behind several waterfalls, and historic covered bridges are scattered through the valley. The tulip fields near Woodburn bloom in spring. Late summer and early fall bring the grape harvest and the mildest weather, while winter is wet and gray. PDX and Eugene Airport are the main gateways, and a car is essential for visiting rural wineries.