Stop to taste wine or sample fresh fruit in the gateway to the Willamette Valley.
In the Tualatin Valley and within commuting distance of Portland, Sherwood offers a mix of suburban sprawl and rolling countryside, plus easy access to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and other natural areas. The city is also at the edge of the Willamette Valley Wine Country, with the estate wineries here serving as the first stops for many wine tourists approaching the region from Portland. While wine is king in this part of Oregon, there’s also plenty of interest for teetotalers, from picturesque lavender and tulip farms to farm stands offering fresh organic produce.
If you like wine, you’re in the right place—Sherwood itself has a few wineries and is but a short drive from many, many more. You’ll find some of the highest concentration of wineries in the nearby towns of Dundee, Yamhill, Newberg, and McMinnville.
The Willamette is the closest major river to Sherwood, and is flanked with beautiful green spaces and state and county parks. Popular spots within a short drive include Molalla River State Park, Champoeg State Park, and the San Salvador Beach and Boat Launch.
East of Sherwood, the Clackamas River is known for its fishing, whitewater rafting, and summertime swimming opportunities. It’s also flanked with some great recreation areas, including the Milo McIver State Park, a darling among disc golfers.
If you’re looking to camp or spend a lot of time outdoors, try to plan your visit for July, August, or September, when temperatures are generally warm and the chance of rain is low. Temperatures begin to drop in October and things don’t often warm up again until April, but while autumn, winter, and spring in this region can be rainy, temperatures rarely drop much below freezing.