Originally Posted by
B. Carfree
The Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway is just so-so. These scenic bikeways are mostly bureaucratic creations for
PR purposes. It's got a bit of fair to very good countryside riding, but not as nice as you would find in the Sacramento Valley, and a few issues where it goes through Salem. It's quite enjoyable, but not awesome by any means.
I wouldn't go so far as to characterize the scenic bikeways as "mostly bureaucratic creations for
PR purposes", as there are some really great ones, especially in the east (Old West, Blue Mtns, Grande Tour, McKenzie). But I do agree with B. Carfree's assessment of the WVSB's so-soitude. I would only really use it if I was trying to get from Portland-ish to Eugene or any of the destinations in between. Even so, there are more interesting ways to get between the two, but maybe not as flat.
In the same so-so camp would be the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway west of Portland. Some nice sections (including the Banks-Vernonia Trail) but there's a few hairy sections that I don't ever want to ride again if I don't have to.