Friends of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail | Outdoor Recreation

FRIENDS OF YAMHELAS WESTSIDER
TRAIL

FRIENDS OF YAMHELAS WESTSIDER TRAIL

The Friends of Yamhelas Westsider Trail is an Oregon non-profit organization that advocates for the development and operation of multi-use trails that support the health, safety and connectivity of our community.

Register Now For These Events

Public Zoom Event January 7 at 7 pm

Open To The Public

Phil Forve, FYWT Board Member

Introduction concerning the Yamhelas Westsider Trail

Presentation by Steph Noll, Coalition Director

Oregon Trails Coalition

Presentation by Neyssa Hays, Financial Director, Program Director & Co-Founder
Outdoor Education Adventures

Phil Forve, FYWT Board Member

Yamhelas Westsider Trail Update

Q&A

Registration is over but you can join directly. If early, save the link for 7 pm.

Annual FYWT Business Meeting January 7, Zoom at 6pm for members

A formal business session for members to vote on proposals and elect new board members.

Yamhill County Commissioners Meeting

Formal Session every Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

535 NE 5th Street, Room 32, McMinnville

The 2026 Agenda has not yet been posted. We are watching.

Link: Join Now

Link: Register Now

News & Media Comments

Trail Users?

November 23, 2025 Who will be using the Yamhelas Westsider Trail, the YWT? For over 13 years of planning there have been public meetings, summer festival information booths and even a professional survey to gage how the community is thinking regarding the YWT. A frequent concern is who we will be using the trail. That topic is almost always brought up by someone who is in a degree of opposition to the trail. The assumption seems to be that we will be invaded by people fro

To: The Planning Commission

November 25, 2025 To: The Planning Commission of Yamhill County From: Steve Harloff Yamhill, OR 97148 Re: Repeal of Ordinance 880 re: Yamhelas Westsider Trail During a recent visit to Utah’s great natural areas, I discovered a state covered with easily accessible pedestrian and cycling trails, but I found out something more important. Paralyzed and severely handicapped people want to get out and share the Utah’s lengthy trails with “Advenchairs,” a bicycle-like adaptation th

Stay the course

November 14, 2025 The Yamhelas Westsider Trail, a 17-mile foot and bike trail over a long-shuttered Union Pacific rail line, would connect three small towns along Highway 47 from an eastern terminus near McMinnville. The right-of-way was purchased by Yamhill County in 2017. The trail would eventually link up with the popular Banks-Vernonia State Trail and connect Gaston to Forest Grove, providing pedestrian access to Henry Hagg Lake. What vision our commissioners had back in

Jeff Knapp, Visit McMinnville

February 24, 2022 Jeff Knapp Executive Director Visit McMinnville To Whom It May Concern: Visit McMinnville enthusiastically supports the completion of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail. Completion of this important project will connect the county’s recreation assets, will create a new visitor draw that will also serve our community’s families, and support the expanding recreation needs of our growing workforce. Research completed by Travel Oregon in 2015 shows that cyclists who

Trails benefits

Oct. 10, 2025 Two of our county commissioners have chosen to eliminate the Yamhelas Westsider Trail from the county’s official transportation projects list. This would be shortsighted and counterproductive to the economic growth of Yamhill County. The Lafayette to Gaston trail has faced opposition from hazelnut growers fearing increased crime. The two commissioners seem to be in their pocket. I’ve ridden many trails in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia without s

County Eliminates Trail From TSP

By Scott Unger • Of the News-Register • October 3, 2025 Yamhill County moves to eliminate trail from transportation projects list. A...

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DID YOU KNOW?

A strong majority of respondents in every demographic group favor developing the Yamhelas Westsider Trail into a multi-use trail.

-Nelson Research, 2021 Survey Results

Nelson Research Survey Results