If you're hanging out around the northern edge of the Willamette Valley—around the likes of Oregon City, Molalla, Woodburn, Canby, and Wilsonville—you'll almost certainly notice dozens of farms that cover the region.
Those family-run farms grow crops for local restaurants, wine grapes for acclaimed vintners, flowers for seasonal festivals, and more. In fact, most invite visitors to experience the bounty of the Willamette Valley all year long. Make the most of your time in the foothills of Mount Hood with a wide variety of memorable farm visits—where you might walk among thousands of colorful tulips, meet a farm’s resident herd of cows, and pick up produce grown just a few feet away at local markets.
Get to know the farmers who produce the crops that wind up on your dinner plate with stops at locally owned farms across Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory.
Not far from Canby, bite into grilled cheese sandwiches and squeaky cheese curds—and sip hearty milkshakes—at TMK Creamery. The family-run creamery hosts an on-site eatery whose menu comprises foods that use milk produced from cows in the barn next door—demonstrating that “farm-to-table” doesn’t need to involve a long journey. After your meal, pick up a map for a self-guided tour of the farm, where you’ll get to meet the creamery’s “cowlebrities” and see the distillery where leftover whey from the cheese-making process is used to craft vodka.
Just across the Willamette River via the Canby Ferry, stop by Triskelee Farm to hang out with baby animals and try a few creative food items. Sign up for one of the farm’s “baby animal” tours (advance registration required) for a behind-the-scenes visit that lasts about 40 minutes and includes time with resident ostriches, alpacas, and goats. After feeding the ostriches and cozying up with adorable goats, return to the Triskelee barn to order a slider or salad made with farm-raised lamb or ostrich meat.
Savor the flavors of the Willamette Valley at on-site eateries and markets that dish a variety of fresh fare.
Just off Interstate 5, not far from Canby and Wilsonville, the family-owned Fir Point Farms delivers a quintessential farm experience. Grab lunch at the on-site deli, which specializes in filling sandwiches (crafted with fresh-baked bread that was made on-site), scratch-made soups, and house-made pastries; upon ordering, snag a covered picnic table in the grassy field next door. After lunch, purchase some feed for Fir Point Farms' miniature goats, pose for photos on old-school tractors, and stock up on locally made jams, jellies, honey, and more at the farm’s market.
Of course, it wouldn't be a stop in the Willamette Valley without wine. Several wineries grow their grapes in the region’s nutrient-rich soils, and you can't go wrong with any of them. Indulge in a bit of regional wine history with a visit to Pete's Mountain Vineyard and Winery. The veteran winery sources some of its grapes from one of Oregon's oldest pinot gris vineyards—visible just outside the tasting room. Other popular pours in the wood-paneled tasting room include pinot noir and chardonnay. If you’d like someone to lead the way, take the Hidden Gems Winery Tour from local outfitter First Nature Tours.
It doesn’t get any fresher than when it’s plucked fresh from the vine, bush, or tree. See for yourself with a trip to Morning Shade Farm, whose u-pick opportunities stretch between June and October. The farm's selection changes throughout the season—but, broadly speaking, encompasses several varieties of blueberries, Asian pears, marionberries, quince, and more. Learn more about some of the best u-pick farms in the Willamette Valley.
As the weather warms up, colorful blooms blanket the Willamette Valley—where a number of flower festivals signal the arrival of spring and summer.
There are few community festivals more iconic than the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival—where more than 40 acres pop with bright reds, yellows, and other vibrant hues between late March and early May. Later in the season, Wooden Shoe's Summer Flowers celebration takes over the farm; between late July and late August, stroll through (and photograph) a 10-acre field of sunflowers, lilacs, and other vivid blooms.
Every August, Yesteryear Farms opens its proverbial doors for Sunflower Fest—giving visitors the chance to walk through roughly 30 varieties of sunflowers spread across two acres near Wilsonville. The festival typically runs early to mid-August, with roughly three-dozen special photo ops scattered throughout the field and local food vendors on weekends.
As summer winds down, the Swan Island Dahlia Festival reaches its splashy apex. In August and September, visitors can peruse nearly 50 acres and more than 375 varieties of the photogenic flower as it blooms in dozens of rich colors. Away from the fields, the festival sells fresh-cut dahlias, offers an on-site gift shop, and hosts local food vendors and live performers on weekends.
Finally, a friendly reminder: Willamette Valley farms are open throughout the year—but may alter their hours, especially in winter; check in with your desired destinations via Facebook, their official website, or even a phone call before setting out—just to be safe. If you’re bringing your furry companion, note that most farms don’t typically welcome dogs and may ask you to keep them in your vehicle.
