Itinerary

Day 1: Vernonia to Mc Minnville

As this is your first day, the moderate ride is relatively easy. It starts in Vernonia at the start of the Banks- Vernonia State Trail. This is a car free trail- that travels through Stub Stewart State Park- is built on an abandoned railroad that stretches 21 miles and has a gentle grade through scenic fields and forest. The trail also features 12 bridges including a 600-foot long, 80-foot high railroad trestle. The trail ends at Banks where your guide will meat you for your transfer to McMinnville.
Distance: 20 with 675 ft of climbing
Leisure riders will start at the Stub Stewart State Park Headquarters – halfway along the Banks-Vernonia trai – and, from here, join the route described above.
Distance: 10 miles with 150 ft of climbing
Challenge riders follow the moderate route to Banks and from there ride a futher 10-miles, cruising along quiet lanes to Forest Grove. This section of riding is where you’ll see your first vineyards. Your guide will transfer you from Forest Grove to McMinnville.
Distance: 35 miles with 1100ft of climbing
Those looking for a more Epic start to their tour will ride all the way from Vernonia to McMinnville,
Distance: 70 miles with 2000 ft of climbing
Overnight town McMinnville
McMinnville is at the heart of Willamette Valley Wine Country and the largest town in the area – but still not so big. It has a historic downtown with maple-lined streets. Attractions include galleries, an aviation museum, tasting rooms, breweries, and a couple of excellent restaurants. There is a farmers market every Thursday.

Day 2: McMinnville Loops

Today’s Intermediate ride meanders along the quiet lanes of the Amity Hills and the Dundee Hills. There are stunning views across fields of vines to snow-cappedpeaks of Mount Hood and you have the chance to visit a host of family run and organic wineries. Towns you visit included Dayton and Lafayette- both of which have good lunch options. Alternatively, take a picnic to one of the wineries. Stoller estate is a great choise; on a hill with stunning fews. Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin are also nearby.
Distance: 40 miles with 1300 ft of climbing
Leisure riders take a more direct route to Stoller Winery- avoiding the Amity Hills – and ride back on themoderate route described above, an even shorter ride takes you to the Evergreen Aviation And Space Museum. Museum exihibits include the Spruce Goose. This Howard- Hughes- inspired plane was the largest flying boat ever built and was almost entirely made from wood.
Distance:10 miles, 150 ft (Space museum) 30 miles, 1000 ft (Stoller direct)
Challenge riders head into the Coast Range for a series of ups and downs through forest and past remote farms. Once through the hills, the ride heads east to join the moderate ride from Amity and back to McMinnville via the Stoller Estate Winery.
Distance: 80 miles with 2700 ft of climbing
Overnight town McMinnville

Day 3: Estacada to Welches

Your day starts with a van transfer to rural Clackamas County. Exactly where you start riding will depend on how far you choose to cycle.
Strong moderate riders will start in the small lumber town of Estacada. After leaving Estacada you ride along back roads climbing steadily past open farmland to the town of Sandy, you head west on quiet lanes through an area known as little Switserland for its U-shaped valley and mountain-framed horizon. You end the day riding through conifer forest, through gaps in the trees you get glimpses of a snow- capped Mount Hood.
Distance: 25 miles with 1900 ft of climbing
Leisure riders (or moderate riders looking for an easier day) will join the ride descried above in the town of Sandy. For an even more leisurely ride, asked to be dropped at Marmot, in Little Switserland.
Distance:10 miles with 750 ft (Marmot)
Challenge riders follow the intermediste ride (above) to near Welches where they add on a loop up the slopes of Mount Hood. This Lolo Pass loop adds 20 miles of climbing & descending. Your reward for all this effort? Stunning views and tired legs!The magnificent Columbia River Gorge. The snow-capped volcanoes of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. The Historic Columbia River Highway – one of Bicycling magazine’s best bike rides. Great Pinot Noir!
Distance: 45 miles with 4500 ft of climbing

Overnight town: Welches
The small community of Welches is a cluster of houses alongside the Salmon River. There are pleasant walks but few attractions outside of the Mount Hood Oregon Resort. The resort includes a golf course that was the first in Oregon. It was built in 1928 and the bar at the first tee is a pleasant place to sit and enjoy the view down the valley

Day 4: Welches to Hood River

Today you have the choice of riding anything from an easy cruise to a real epic. Whichever way you choose, you’ll enjoy some spectacular scenery on the slopes of Mount Hood.
Moderate riders will take a transfer to Cooper Spur –a cluster of cabins at the base of Mount Hood Ski area. From here you descend down the Hood River Valley past orchards, wineries and lavander farms. The area is famous for growing apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruits. The many fruit stands make a great rest stop.
Distance: 30 miles with 950 ft of climbing
Leisure riders will join the ride described above after the main descent, in the small town of Parkdale. Parkdale is also a good place for lunch.
Distance: 20 miles with 920 ft of climbing
Challenge riders transfer up to Government Camp- a ski town at 4000feet. From here, you ride around the southern flanks of Mount Hood. The ride peaks at 4600 feet before descending down to join the moderate route at Cooper spur.
Distance: 50 miles with 3000 ft
Those looking for an epic ride will simply ride all the way from Welches to Hood River,riding up highway 26 to government Camp and joining the challenge route here.
Distance: 65 miles with 5600 ft
Overnight town: Hood River
Outside magazine named Hood River one of America’s Best Towns. There is plenty to do with antique stores, wine bars, shops and galleries. It is also a haven for wind surfers, kite surfers, whitewater rafters, hikers and mountain bikers. There are several craft beer brewers and wine makers in and around the town.

Day 5: Hoods River loops(A)

All today’s rides start out heading west along the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, along a route described by Bicycling Magazine as one of the best rides in the U.S. Much of the riding is along the historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) bike path. How difficult you make the ride depends on where you turn around and what route you take back.
Strong Moderate riders will ride to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. This is a fine place to tae a break, have a browse and eat lunch.you then return to Hood River on a route with stunning views at every turn as the road twice climbs high above the gorge before descending back down to the river.
Distance: 40 miles with 3100 ft.
Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn in the town of Mosier. A small cafe here provides a pleasant rest stop.
Distance: 15 miles with 1200 ft of climbing
Challenge riders will ride the HCRH all the way into The Dallas. You then return either along the gorge or over the aptle- named 7-mile hill.Distance: 50 miles with 3500 ft (HCRH), 50 miles with 4100 ft (7-mile Hill)
There is also an epic ride that follows the route of the hood river Grand Fondo – All 100 miles and 7500 feet of it!
Distance: 100 miles with 7500 ft
Overnight town: Hood River

Day 6: Hood River Loops (B) – Last Day

You spent the first part of the day riding out of Hood River and then meet your guide for the end- of – tour transfer at the end of the day. You can do any of the rides listed yesterday – hood River loop (A) – or venture into Hood River Valley on the route described below.
Strong Moderate riders will ride up the east side of the Hood River Valley to Parkdale, which makes a good lunch stop. From here you head back down the west side of the valley. On this route you pass many fruit farms, some wineries and a lavender farm. The ride is known locally as the fruit loop for its many farm stands.
Distance: 40 miles 3000 ft of climbing
Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn around at the town of Odell. This is a shortened version of the fruit loop. The Apple Valley Country Store makes a good lunch stop.
Distance: 20 miles with 1400 ft of climbing
Challenge riders will head up the slopes of Mount Hood to the aptly- named lost Lake. On this ride you climb on car free National forest Development Roads and through countryside little changed since Lewis and Clark exploring here.
Distance: 60 miles with 4700 ft of climbing

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

ACCOMMODATION NOTES
Standard
Properties in our Standard category are typically simpler B&Bs and more modest inns or hotels. However, all the properties are well-kept with en suite facilities
Classic
Properties in the Classic category are typically smaller hotels or luxurious B&Bs with very personal service sometimes including wine tasting or evening hors d’oeuvres.

Standard hotels:

Hood River: Oak Street Hotel
More a B&B than a hotel, this nine-room property is close to the center of town; convenient for restaurants, cafés, and shops. The rooms are basic, simple and clean. The hosts are welcoming and there is a nice breakfast, which often includes produce from the owner’s family farm. Few frills but a great location and lots of history

Classic hotels for an upgrade of $550.00

Newberg: The Allison Inn & Spa
The Inn is set among vineyards, orchards and rich, agricultural farmland in the northeast corner of Newberg. The rooms all have private balconies and there is a 15,000 square foot spa with 12 treatment rooms. The property is two miles from the center of Newberg but has an excellent restaurant. One of the best hotels in the Oregon!

Included:

• GPS units, cycling maps, directions and a custom guidebook; one set per couple.
• Private transfer from downtown Portland. Transfers to downtown Portland are available from Portland (PDX) Airport for an additional fee (see Optional Extras by prices/dates).
• Detailed map briefing and bike fitting at the start of your tour.
• Accommodation for each night of your tour with breakfast the following morning (unless
• Breakfast is explicitly excluded in the accommodation description ).
• We book standard rooms unless an upgrade is requested and then extra charge may apply. Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. As accommodation costs are significantly higher at weekends, there is a $150 per room supplement for Friday and Saturday nights.
• Guide available via phone 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• On-call roadside assistance 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for mechanical issues.
• Luggage transported between lodgings and wine collection service.
• Transfers along all or part of the route to coincide with luggage moves – to be arranged at least 24 hours in advance

Not included:

• Rental bike
• Pre & post tour travel
• Lunches and dinners. Our guidebooks are full of great recommendations and we are pleased to make reservations for you.
• An on-bike guide.
• Activities such as wine tours, balloon flights and spa treatments. We are pleased to make reservations on your behalf.
• Transfers to wineries or sites to which it is not practical to ride. We are pleased to arrange for such transfers for a fee.

Pricing / Tour dates

All hotel prices are starting prices depending on availabilty.

Tour price 2023 standard hotels : $ 2410.-pp. single fee on request.
Upgrade Classic Hotels $550.00
As accommodation costs are significantly higher at weekends, there is a $150 per room supplement for Friday and Saturday nights.
Rental bike per week:
Hybrid: $180.-
Road bike: $240.-
E-bike: $330.-

Conditions

Deposit 25%
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Most guests fly into Portland (PDX) Airport. There are a number of good options for getting into downtown Portland from the airport:
* A cab will cost between $30 and $40 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. There are a
number of companies including Radio Cab – (503) 227-1212 / www.radiocab.net
* Blue Star Transportation operates both a scheduled services ($14pp reservations not typically required) stopping at major hotels and a door-to-door service ($36 for two people reservations required). 1-800-247-2272 / http://www.bluestarbus.com
* The MAX Light Rail service goes from the airport to the center of Portland in about 45
minutes and costs $2.40 pp.
* You can ride your bike to and from the airport for free. This being Portland, there is a multi-use path as well as secure bicycle parking, and a bike assembly and repair station right by baggage claim!
* Uber and Lyft operate throughout the Portland area.