News 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The questions always asked? What is the current status of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail (YWT)? and Is it defunct? To get to the answers...

Oregonians love their trails, and with good reason.

What is the recreational immunity issue in Oregon?

In the summer of 2021, the Chehalem Park and Recreation District commissioned a public opinion survey to assess the opinions of Yamhill...