Last Updated: June 20, 2026
Willamette Valley wine country was a couple of hours’ drive southeast of Astoria — and after a month of cold, wet Oregon coast weather, it was glorious to see acres of grapevines and sunshine again. The valley is home to some of the finest Pinot Noir wineries in the United States, with over 700 wineries concentrated in and around Dundee, Newberg, and McMinnville.
Willamette Valley & McMinnville
We stayed at Olde Stone Village RV Park, right in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine region. Full service with good wifi and satellite reception — and they allowed RV washing, which was long overdue after weeks on the Oregon coast. The Jeep got a bath too.
Downtown McMinnville was charming — a walkable historic district lined with tasting rooms, wine bars, and restaurants. Prices were higher than we expected, but the quality of the Pinot Noir was outstanding. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at 1882 Grille, one of the best meals of our Oregon trip.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is one of the finest aviation museums in the country — and it’s conveniently located right next door to Olde Stone Village RV Park. The centerpiece is the H-4 Hercules, better known as the Spruce Goose: Howard Hughes’ enormous flying boat, built largely of birch wood due to wartime restrictions on aluminum. With a wingspan of 320 feet — wider than a 747 — it remains the largest flying boat ever built. It flew only once, in 1947, but stands as one of the most extraordinary engineering achievements in aviation history.
In addition to the aviation and space galleries, the museum has a theater and a water park on the property. The scale and quality of the collection is comparable to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson.
We explored the valley wineries at a relaxed pace — limiting ourselves to one or two per day. We could have spent an entire year visiting them all.
Westfir, Oregon
From McMinnville we headed south through the Willamette Valley to Eugene, then east into the Cascades to the tiny timber community of Westfir — a hidden gem tucked into the Willamette National Forest.
We stayed at Casey’s Riverside RV Park — a picturesque site facing the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. The water moved so quickly in spring that we kept Jake well away from the bank. Full service sites with decent wifi, though satellite wasn’t possible through the tree canopy.
The Office Bridge — just steps from the RV park — is Oregon’s longest covered bridge at 180 feet, spanning the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. Built in 1944, it got its name from the nearby lumber mill office that workers crossed it to reach each day.
The forest around Westfir was alive with spring wildflowers — Pacific Dogwood, Rhododendron, Indian Paintbrush, Penstemon, Columbine, and wild iris in profusion.
Salt Creek Falls is Oregon’s second-tallest waterfall at 286 feet — a spectacular free-falling plunge into a deep basalt gorge off Highway 58. A short loop trail offers multiple vantage points, including a platform directly above the falls. In late spring with snowmelt swelling the creek, the volume and power of the water was breathtaking.
The spring-swollen rivers and streams throughout the area were beautiful — every creek seemed to have its own cascade worth stopping for.
Visitor Information
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, OR 97128. Phone: 503-434-4180. Website: evergreenmuseum.org. Open daily; admission approximately $27/adult (check website for current pricing). The adjacent water park and IMAX theater are ticketed separately. Willamette Valley Wine Country has over 700 wineries concentrated around Dundee, Newberg, and McMinnville. Many tasting rooms require advance reservations, especially on weekends. For a winery map and event listings, visit willamettewines.com. Salt Creek Falls is located off Highway 58 near milepost 57, approximately 20 miles east of Oakridge. A Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day or $30/year) is required for parking. The main viewpoint overlook is a 0.5-mile round trip; the full Diamond Creek Loop is 2.5 miles. Office Bridge is accessible from Westfir at the north end of town — free to visit year-round. Olde Stone Village RV Park in McMinnville and Casey’s Riverside RV Park in Westfir are both highly recommended for RV travelers exploring this area.
Practical Tips for the Willamette Valley and Westfir
Book winery visits in advance — many of the top Willamette Valley estates require tasting reservations, especially on summer weekends. Walk-in tasting rooms are more common in downtown McMinnville’s Third Street corridor. Olde Stone Village RV Park is uniquely positioned — the Evergreen Museum is literally next door, which makes it easy to spend a half-day there without moving the rig. Salt Creek Falls is most dramatic in May and June when snowmelt is still running high; by late summer the flow reduces significantly. The hike to the main overlook is easy and appropriate for all ages, but the full loop trail has some steep sections. Highway 58 through Willamette Pass is a scenic drive worth taking slowly, with multiple waterfall pullouts and Forest Service roads leading to trailheads. Westfir and the Aufderheide National Forest area are genuinely uncrowded — a refreshing contrast to the busy coast. Dungeness crab and fresh coast seafood are best enjoyed back at the coast; McMinnville is firmly wine and farm-to-table country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wine is the Willamette Valley most famous for?
The Willamette Valley is internationally recognized as the premier American region for Pinot Noir — the same grape that produces the great red Burgundies of France. The valley’s cool, wet climate, long growing season, and volcanic Jory soil create near-ideal conditions for thin-skinned, finicky Pinot Noir grapes that struggle in warmer climates. The area around Dundee and the Chehalem Mountains AVA (American Viticultural Area) produces some of the most sought-after bottles. Pinot Gris and Chardonnay are also excellent here. With over 700 wineries, most visitors find it helpful to focus on one or two sub-AVAs per day rather than trying to cover the whole valley.
What is the Spruce Goose at Evergreen Aviation Museum?
The H-4 Hercules — nicknamed the “Spruce Goose” — is the centerpiece of Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and one of the most remarkable aircraft ever built. Howard Hughes designed it as a massive troop and cargo transport during World War II, when aluminum was rationed; the airframe is primarily laminated birch (not spruce, despite the nickname). With a wingspan of 320 feet — wider than a Boeing 747 — it remains the largest flying boat ever constructed. Hughes flew it just once, on November 2, 1947, achieving an altitude of 70 feet over Long Beach Harbor. The Smithsonian transferred it to Evergreen in 1993. Standing beneath it inside the museum is a genuinely awe-inspiring experience.
What is the Office Bridge and why is it named that?
The Office Bridge in Westfir is Oregon’s longest covered bridge at 180 feet, spanning the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. Built in 1944, it served the nearby Hines Lumber Company mill — workers crossed it daily to reach the company office on the far bank, giving the bridge its utilitarian name. Oregon has more covered bridges than any other state west of the Mississippi, with over 50 still standing; many are concentrated in the Willamette Valley and the Cascade foothills. The Office Bridge is a beautiful and uncrowded example, right next to Casey’s Riverside RV Park.
How tall is Salt Creek Falls and is it worth the hike?
Salt Creek Falls drops 286 feet in a single spectacular free fall into a deep basalt gorge — making it Oregon’s second-tallest waterfall after Multnomah Falls (620 feet). It is absolutely worth the visit. The main viewpoint overlook is an easy 0.5-mile round trip from the parking area, suitable for all ages. The full Diamond Creek Loop extends the hike to 2.5 miles and provides additional views from below and alongside the falls. A Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day) is required for parking. The falls are at their most powerful in May and June during snowmelt season — timing your visit for late spring makes for a truly unforgettable sight.
