Cycling Banks-Vernonia
Cycling the Banks-Vernonia State Trail in Oregon
Navigating the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway

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Cycling Banks-Vernonia State Trail

Navigating the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway

Turn-by-Turn Directions and Points of Interest

As avid cyclists are compelled to pedal outside of their hometowns and into new, exciting locations, many find the perfect ride along the 50-mile Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway. Intermediate and advanced riders love not only the Bikeway, but also the intriguing spots along the way. We’ve done the legwork and have mapped out many points of interest along the route.

Download the turn-by-turn directions (cue sheets) for the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway >>>

With easy navigation in place, cyclists can channel their energy toward enjoying the historical and agricultural bounty surrounding them along the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway. Starting at the south end of the route at Rood Bridge Park (4000 SE Rood Bridge Rd., Hillsboro), the Bikeway offers many sites to see along the way.

Pioneer History

A history lesson on wheels, cyclists will journey past the arrestingly beautiful sight of the Old Farmington Schoolhouse (at the intersection of SW Rood Bridge Rd. and SW Burkhalter Rd.), an 1800s one-room schoolhouse for local farm children. Nearby, the resting place of influential Oregon pioneers from the 1700s can be seen at the Lewis Pioneer Cemetery (near Burkhalter Rd.).

Wine Tasting

Approximately four miles from Rood Bridge Park are a pair of wineries, with public tasting rooms. Blizzard Wines (29495 SW Burkhalter Rd., Hillsboro; 503-985-6386; blizzardwines.comis one of the newest wineries in the Tualatin Valley. Sample wines at it’s welcoming spot, right along the Bikeway, Fridays-Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (may be open later Friday evenings during summer months).

Oak Knoll Winery (29700 SW Burkhalter Rd., Hillsboro; 503-648-8198; oakknollwinery.com). Open daily, year-round, Oak Knoll is one of the area’s pioneering wineries, and produces a wide variety of red and white varietals, as well as its signature berry wines.

Farm Stores

Not far from the winery are two u-pick farms. Duyck’s Peachy Pig Farm (34840 SW Johnson School Rd., Cornelius; 503-357-3570) is a farmstand and u-pick farm offering seasonal u-pick and “already picked” produce, including a variety of berries, rhubarb, tomatoes, nuts, cherries, apricots, corn and much more.

Just a tad down the street from Duyck’s is Unger Farms (34880 SW Johnson School Rd. Cornelius; 971-285-7507; ungerfarms.com), a family-owned farm and farm store that sells fresh berries. Its seasonal café features sweets treats, such as waffles topped with fresh berries, and a variety of Panini and sandwiches.

Nature Walking Trails

Beyond wine, farms and historical sites, cycling in the northern direction of the route will unveil the natural beauty of Fernhill Wetlands (1399 SW Fernhill Rd., Forest Grove). The wetlands include bike and pedestrian trails for exploring, making for easy bird watching adjacent to the Tualatin River.

The northernmost portion of the Bikeway is the 21-mile, car-free Banks-Vernonia State Trail (trailhead located at NW Banks Rd. at New Sellers Rd.). This is the portion of the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway that is suitable for all ages and abilities. With 12 bridges and two railroad trestles, this pastoral path takes cyclists through a stretch of forested wonder.

Bicycle Rental, Repair & Services

The Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway features two bicycle rental and repair shops along the route, providing additional services for cyclists:

Banks Bicycle Repair & Rental (14175 NW Sellers Rd., Banks; 503-680-3269; banksbicycles.com)

Insider Tip:
Keep an eye out for quilt pattern blocks along the Bikeway! Several barns along the Quilt Barn Trail are visible from the Bikeway.