Decker; Benton County Backways |
Epic Rides in an Epic Valley
This 29-mile ride may start and end in Corvallis, but the bulk of the route passes through the farmland for which the Willamette Valley is so well-known—and ascends the locally famous Decker Ridge, a rite of passage for serious road riders in the region.
This 29-mile ride may start and end in Corvallis, but the bulk of the route passes through the farmland for which the Willamette Valley is so well-known—and ascends the locally famous Decker Ridge, a rite of passage for serious road riders in the region.
The ride quickly leaves Corvallis’ inviting downtown core, heading southeast through a mixture of suburban developments and quiet parkland. By the time you’ve warmed up and hit the ride’s fifth mile, you’re firmly entrenched in Willamette Valley farmland on either side of the road. To the west, rising just over the tree line, is the Coast Range.
After 10 miles, you’ll turn west toward this ride’s signature attraction: Decker Ridge. The forested ridge in the Coast Range foothills is popular with local riders, both for its elevation gain (rising 700 feet above sea level) and the quiet, low-traffic nature of the roadway. (It doesn’t hurt that colorful wildflowers bloom along Decker Ridge in spring and early fall, either.)
Soon after descending Decker Ridge, the ride turns north onto Highway 34. Highlights here include rolling hills and pastoral farmland. After about 4.5 miles of highway riding, the route turns east as it skirts the southern edge of Philomath and returns to Corvallis along quieter, less-traveled roadways.
You’ll want to keep a few things in mind when planning to ride this route: