Description - The Willamette Valley takes its name from the river that flows through it. The valley lies between the Coast Range and the Cascades. Colorful and historic cities and towns are found throughout the region, but the area is perhaps best known for its diverse agriculture, which includes all kinds of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, nuts, hops, and Christmas trees.
Attractions
- Visitors come to the Willamette Valley to experience the abundance of recreational opportunities, to explore the area's progressive cities, or to tour the valley's wine country. The Willamette Valley has 21 State Parks. Located in the Cascade Mountains, Detroit Lake State Park is the gateway to beautiful Detroit Lake. The lake is over nine miles long with more than 32 miles of shore line and a campground bordering the lake. Fall Creek Reservoir is a prime recreation area, surrounded by day-use parks and a campground. Mollala River State Park sits at the confluence of the Willamette, Molalla and Pudding rivers. The park combines a scenic drive, hiking, picnicking, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing and a ferry ride all in one location. This region also contains a large portion of the Willamette National Forest, on the west slope of the Cascade Range. The Forest is known for its volcanic peaks, the forested Cascade Range, and its outstanding rivers. The Willamette also offers numerous campgrounds and many miles of trails.
Recreation - Because the valley is relatively flat, bicycling the areas many miles of bike trails is very popular. The parks and forests offer opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, rafting, enjoying nature, viewing wildlife and much more. Climate - Climate in this region changes with elevation. The area receives a high amount of precipitation. Much of the precipitation comes from October to April in the form of rain at the low elevations and as wet heavy snow in the higher elevations. Winter temperatures are normally cool at the lower elevations and cold at the higher elevations. Although snow is possible in the lowest elevations, it is infrequent and does not stay on the ground for long. Late spring, summer and early autumn bring the best chance for clear, sunny days and bring moderate temperatures. Location -
The Willamette Valley lies in northwest Oregon. From the southern edge of the Portland metropolitan area, it stretches south to include the cities of Salem, Corvallis and Eugene. Interstate 5 provides the primary access through the region.
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