Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway Information?

[Cees]

Has anyone done this ride in Oregon? I'd like to take the family (husband, 13 & 15 year old daughters) on a five to seven day trip in August but I need more information. I'm having trouble coming up with stopping points for each night. I'm the only cyclist so I need to keep the distance fairly short - 25 to 35 miles per day. In addition our oldest is a competitive swimmer so we have to be able to watch Olympic swimming each night. We'd planned to start from Champoeg State Park but the first night would put us around the Wheatland Ferry and already I don't see a place to stay!

[Aint Doody]

I did this a few years ago as Cycle Oregon Week-end's Ride. It was a 2-day ride that started at Champoeg and the first day ended in Monmouth. The 2nd day was Monmouth to Eugene. It was a pretty tough ride to do in 2 days. It is lovely, however. Maybe some of the "Valley Girls of OR" could help out here.

[Cees]

Thanks, I hope there are several experts out there. Do you remember any significant hills and their location? They are always worse on tandem and when hauling gear. The map (from Oregon Parks and Recreation) shows some possible alternate routes so I might be able to avoid the worst.

[boy in a kilt]

I've tried to put one together myself and never come up with a satisfactory route that didn't involve a hotel or testing my notoriously low expectations of what makes a good place to sleep.

However, it sounds like a hotel is an option for you because of the TV requirement.

You could go:

Day 1: Champoeg-Salem
Day 2: Salem-Corvallis (this will be a bit of a long day but it's pretty flat)
Day 3: Corvallis-Monmouth (also pretty flat and a little short)
Day 4: Monmouth-Silverton
Day 5: Silverton-Champoeg Park (probably a bit hilly at times)

You can avoid doubling back if you are willing to accept some more hills.

99W Between Corvallis and Highway 22 west of salem is probably most rideable section of the highway all the way north to portland. 22 is a little busy, but the cars will generally leave you alone. You can hop off 22 and take 51 to Independence, then work your way down to Corvallis via back roads (hilly) or cut across to 99W.

I think there are a couple of hotels on the north side of corvallis and quite a few in the downtown area. Nearly all of the really good eating is in the downtown part of Corvallis, including one of the best Indian and the best Mongolian Grill I've ever eaten at. My data is a bit old because I haven't spent any significant time in Corvallis in 6 years.

Another option from Corvallis would be Corvallis to Lebanon, then Lebanon to Stayton.

[Cees]

Thanks - especially the parts about what is hilly. If you think of anything else -- or another resource, please let me know. We are not going until August but I'll need to make hotel reservations reasonably early. At last weekend's swim meet one of my daughter's teammates lowered his Olympic Trial cut. He still doesn't have any real shot at the team but he's only 16 and has a good chance of getting the AR for boy's 15-16 -- currently held by WR holder Brendan Hansen. Fun but definitely means camping is not an option.