Sheridan State Scenic Corridor
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Scenic corridor along the South Yamhill River — Oregon wine country with sweeping views of the Coast Range foothills.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Yamhill County, Oregon |
| Entry Fee | Free (Oregon Coast) / Day-Use Permit |
About Sheridan State Scenic Corridor
Sheridan State Scenic Corridor preserves a stretch of forested hillside along Highway 18B near the city of Sheridan in Yamhill County. The corridor protects mixed-forest habitat in the transition zone between the Willamette Valley and the Coast Range. While modest in size, the park provides a scenic rest stop for travelers heading between Portland and the coast via Highway 18.
Things to Do
The park offers shaded picnicking and short nature walks. The Yamhill River nearby provides seasonal fishing opportunities. The corridor is conveniently located between the Willamette Valley wine country and the coast — making it a natural rest stop for wine-and-beach road trips.
Getting There
Located along Highway 18B near Sheridan in Yamhill County, about 60 miles southwest of Portland. Free to visit.
About Sheridan Corridor
Sheridan State Scenic Corridor in Yamhill County preserves a forested corridor in the Willamette Valley wine country. The corridor sits in the heart of Oregon’s pinot noir country — the Willamette Valley is recognized as one of the premier wine regions in the world, comparable to Burgundy, France for pinot noir quality.
Things to Do
Driving through the forested corridor, stopping for a forest walk, and visiting the surrounding Willamette Valley wineries — world-class pinot noir is produced within miles of this corridor.
Insider Tips
Wine country corridor: Sheridan sits at the edge of the Willamette Valley wine region — Oregon’s world-famous Pinot Noir territory. Pro tip: Combine a scenic drive through the corridor with a wine tasting at nearby Eola-Amity Hills wineries. Oak savanna: The corridor passes through remnant Oregon white oak habitat — increasingly rare in the developed valley.
Best Time to Visit
Fall (October): Wine harvest season and fall colors. Spring: Wildflower bloom in oak meadows. Summer: Warm valley days. Winter: Green rolling hills — the valley is beautiful year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Oregon famous for Pinot Noir?
Oregon’s Willamette Valley has a climate remarkably similar to Burgundy, France — the spiritual home of Pinot Noir. Oregon’s first Pinot vines were planted in 1965. Today, the state produces some of the world’s most acclaimed Pinot Noir, competing directly with French Grand Crus.
Wildlife & Nature
Sheridan State Scenic Corridor preserves a strip of forest along a Willamette Valley highway — protecting streamside vegetation and scenic views. The Willamette Valley — Oregon’s agricultural heartland — was the ultimate destination for most Oregon Trail emigrants. The valley’s rich soils, mild climate, and abundant water attracted settlers who transformed the landscape from Native American-managed oak savanna to farmland. Today the valley produces 70% of the world’s grass seed, along with hazelnuts (99% of US production), wine grapes, berries, and nursery stock. The corridor’s riparian vegetation provides wildlife passage through an otherwise agricultural landscape — connecting forest fragments and allowing wildlife movement. Red-tailed hawks hunt from utility poles along the corridor. Great blue herons wade in the stream margins.
Nearby Attractions
Sheridan has a small-town atmosphere. Spirit Mountain Casino — operated by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde — is nearby. Grand Ronde has the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center. McMinnville — the heart of Oregon Wine Country — has 700+ nearby wineries. Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum houses the Spruce Goose. Valley wineries produce world-class Pinot Noir. Spirit Mountain Trail provides hiking through the Coast Range foothills.
