Trail Running in Oregon's Wine Country
- Kati Cooke
- Feb 26
- 7 min read
I rarely drink alcohol, but I do love the aesthetic of an Oregon vineyard. Most people are brought to wine country for the obvious reason… but I'm more likely to be found running in one of the Willamette Valley's beautiful parks. I'll be sharing four of my favorite places to run, along with some nearby post-run food and activities.
Running in nature can be accessible to all skill levels. There are parks here with totally paved, mostly flat trails, and others with intense hills and muddy, dirt trails - something for everyone! And if you're not a runner, these make for great hikes.
Here's the quick run-down on all the parks:
Miller Woods - McMinnville (60 minutes from Portland)
No dogs or bicycles allowed
4.5 mile loop, 600 feet elevation gain
All dirt trails, quite steep in places
Chehalem Ridge Nature Park - Gaston (45 minutes from Portland)
No dogs allowed
Loops between 1-10 miles possible
Gravel and dirt trails, some hills
Champoeg State Park - Newberg (40 minutes from Portland)
Dogs allowed!
$10 Oregon State Parks day pass (or annual pass)
Paved flat path, about 2.5 miles one way
Super cool visitor center and museum
Willamette Mission State Park - Keizer (50 minutes from Portland)
Dogs allowed!
$10 Oregon State Parks day pass (or annual pass)
Paved and dirt, flat trails, loops of any distance possible
Read on for more details!
Miller Woods - McMinnville
Miller Woods is located 3 miles west of McMinnville. It is managed by the Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District and a donation is requested for use (although to be fair, there is no signage on this whatsoever, and you can only pay through an online portal).
This is one of the more difficult trails on my list. It's all gravel and dirt with exposed roots and rocks in some places. You'll likely get muddy. There are some steep sections, but it feels so good to reach the "summit" sign at the top and know it's all downhill from there!
I love the variety in the terrain here - you'll start in an open prairie, descend into the forest, climb to a viewpoint of the Willamette Valley, then head back to the prairie, to a pond near the parking lot.
Fast Facts
The outer loop trail is about 4.5 miles with 600 feet elevation gain.
The trails are all dirt and gravel.
No dogs or bicycles are allowed.
This is cougar country! Be cautious of running alone, especially at dusk.
Post-Run Fun Times
Mac Market in McMinnville - a beautifully decorated food hall with a pizzeria, local grocery store, and coffee shop.
McMinnville Antiques Mall - I love wandering an antique store in a small town, and this one is conveniently located right downtown.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum - I can't talk about McMinnville without mentioning the famous museum that holds the Spruce Goose (as seen in the movie Aviator, or so I'm told). I have almost zero interest in airplanes, yet I surprisingly enjoyed my visit here very much! I'm sure if you like airplanes you'll have even more fun.
Chehalem Ridge - Gaston
This is my absolute favorite place to trail run! You can choose your own adventure here with the many trail loops. Dogs are sadly not allowed here, but bicycles and horses are (truly I have no idea why a dog is harmful to nature but a massive horse that poops every 10 minutes isn't… but I digress). The park is owned by Metro, a private agency. I do not believe any parking pass or fee is required.
The longest run I've done here was all the way out to the end of the Madrona Trail and back. It was 9-miles total. There are many shorter loops closer to the parking lot, and it's a good mix of gravel roads and dirt trails. You'll have a leg-burning hill no matter what - Timber Road is the main route to get deeper in the park and it has a steep section.
Fast Facts
You can make a loop of varying length, but you'll encounter hills on all of them. My runs are usually between 5-9 miles with 500-1,000 feet elevation gain.
The trails are all dirt and gravel.
No dogs are allowed.
There are signs up warning of a recent cougar sighting. Be cautious of running alone, especially at dusk.
Post-Run Fun Times
You are super close to Hagg Lake! That will be a different article, since there's so much to do - biking, hiking, fishing, picnicking, etc.
Telvet Coffee in Forest Grove - I love coffee shops located in old, historic houses. I was really surprised at the affordability here, and I enjoyed sitting by the fire and eating a bagel after my run.
Fernhill Wetlands - I've recently downloaded the Merlin app and forced myself to get into birding. Post-run, I walked around the Fernhill Wetlands and tried to catch as many different species as I could. I ran into another couple doing the same thing - it was obvious when they were walking into bushes holding their phones in the air trying to record the bird songs!
Champoeg State Park - Newberg
This is a flatter, paved run for those new to running or those in need of trail run forested vibes without actually trail running. An Oregon State Parks pass is needed here ($10 a day) and there is a self-pay kiosk as you drive into the park.
I like to park at the disc golf course (Oak Grove Day Use Area) and then run on the bike path by the river all the way to Butteville Road (hehe) and back. It's about 5-miles round trip with very gentle rolling hills. All totally paved!
I forgot to take pictures here, but my fiance saved the day with this trail shot of our dog and I.
The best part of Champoeg State Park is the little museum that's free to enter with your State Parks day pass. The town of Champoeg flooded in 1861 and was totally destroyed - but no one died. Artifacts from this flood have been discovered here which you can see in the museum. Anyone who's interested in pioneers or the Oregon Trail will enjoy it. The hours are not listed online, so I'd call ahead if you want to go.
Unfortunately, the only photo I have from the visitor center is when I tried on the child size pioneer clothes and recreated the "Will my husband ever return from war?" meme.
Fast Facts
5-mile out-and-back route along the river, but there are other trails too that I haven't explored.
Totally paved path with gentle, rolling hills.
Dogs are allowed!
Oregon State Parks pass required
Post-Run Fun Times (all in Newberg)
Coffee Cat - A non-pretentious, cozy café with amazing cinnamon rolls and plenty of spots to work or read a book. I love the vibe here - it feels like stepping into the early 2000s before the hyper-modern $7 latte cafes took over the coffee scene in Portland. Unfortunately they close at 1 pm so I rarely make it on time.
Chapters Books and Coffee - An independent bookstore that is also a coffee shop and ice cream counter. It's open until 6 pm daily and has lots of bagels and pastries for a post-run carbo load.
Critter Cabana - This was such a fun surprise to wander into. There are so many animals to interact with, including free roaming tortoises and a parrot that falls in love with every bearded man it sees (including my fiancé).
Wine Country Antique Mall - I also love antique stores in old historic houses. There are so many little rooms to explore. The woman who works here is so sweet and kind, I always end up chatting with her.
Willamette Mission State Park - Keizer
This is my newest discovery and also the most suburban. It's just a few minutes away from Keizer. The trails are all paved and super flat. To be honest, I haven't explored very much here. I went for a run on the way back to Portland at dusk, right before the park closed, so I was in a hurry. As this is an Oregon State Park, a $10 day pass or annual pass is required.
I did a 5-mile loop on the bike path and the hiking trail (blue dotted line). It was a mix of paved path and dirt/sand trail. There's a disc golf course and an off-leash dog park here, as well as boating and fishing access. You might encounter equestrians, so be cautious and watch for horse poop.
Fast Facts
There are 15-miles of trail in the park, so you can make a loop of almost any distance. No hills!
There are paved paths and dirt trails.
Dogs are allowed!
Oregon State Parks pass required
Post-Run Fun Times
In N Out Burger - Just 15 minutes from the park!! The absolute best post-run meal if you don't mind waiting in the drive through line.
Archive Coffee Bar - Salem is just 20 minutes south of the park. My favorite coffee shop is Archive, and it's also a bar. It's definitely an upscale place but I like the quirky vibe (as demonstrated by the taxidermy goat head on the wall). It's in downtown Salem which has many other fun stores within walking distance.
Winery Recommendations
These are just 4 of the many places to trail run in the Portland area! I've focused on the Yamhill County wine country area of the state, which is absolutely beautiful, even just to drive through. I couldn't bring up Oregon Wine Country without including a few of my favorite wineries, so I'll leave you with a small list of places to check out (preferably after your run, not before...and don't drink and drive!). As someone who rarely (if ever) drinks, my list is very short and there's a lot more to explore and taste if you're a wine connoisseur:
Hyland Estates (Dundee Oregon) - try the Gewurztraminer!
Lady Hill Winery (right next to Champoeg State Park)
Domaine Serene (Dayton) - it's been years so I can't remember if the wine was good, but the vibe is immaculate - it looks like a castle!
Avidity Wines (Newberg) - a friend took me here years ago. It's small and modest but has beautiful outdoor seating with a view.
All of these look really fun!