Come fall, Gervais is where half of Portland goes for pumpkins. Bauman's Farm and Garden has been working this ground since 1895, and every October they turn it into a corn maze, a hay pyramid, an apple cannon, a bin of hazelnuts for kids to dive into, and the cider donuts people plan the drive around. Spring brings GardenPalooza, two days of plants and garden art that Oregon gardeners treat as the start of the season.
The rest is farm country. Produce stands, nurseries, and fields that change color depending on when you show up. St. Louis Ponds northwest of town makes an easy afternoon if you've got kids and a couple of fishing rods, and a little further west the Wheatland Ferry still carries cars across the Willamette the way it has for 150 years.
One tip: go on a weekday in October.
Nestled in Gervais, Oregon is one of the States treasured historic parks, Willamette Mission State Park. This is a destination for kayakers, horseback riders, disc golfers and birdwatchers. In addition there is almost 15 miles of trails to explore whether on foot or by horseback. The park is made up of 1,300 acres of woodland, wetland, meadows and working farmland and has something for everyone!
Trip Ideas