7 Stunning Lavender Farms near Portland
As beautiful as lavender fields are to the eye, the fragrance is what gives them a kind of magic. At once fresh and nostalgic, it’s the smell of clean linen drying on the line and old memories secreted away in a drawer, too precious to be stored without the reminders of summer ephemera. The bees feel its spell more keenly than we do. They buzz between flowers with the swoony fascination of new lovers, oblivious to curious dogs and eager photographers. Drunk on pollen, as I heard a farmer describe it. Here are my favorite lavender farms near Portland, OR. I grouped them by location so that it’s easy to visit more than one. I also threw in some suggestions nearby for day trip ideas. Enjoy!
Know before you go
Lavender starts blooming near Portland in June. Expect the best displays in July and early August. Mid to late July are excellent times to visit the farms.
Bees love lavender fields. They’re not aggressive and are way more interested in flowers than people. I’ve bumped into them many times without incident. If you’re allergic, bring an EpiPen just in case.
Lavender fields are in open, agricultural areas. Wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle. The weather is usually dry during the bloom season. I wouldn’t expect mud but wear shoes that can walk on grass and dirt paths.
Lavender farms are usually open to the public when the fields are in bloom, which can vary slightly from year to year. The dates I have here are for 2024. It’s a good idea to check the farm website or social media page to confirm the hours before heading there.
Dogs are not allowed on most lavender farms. Hood River Lavender Farms (#3), Mt View Orchards (#5), and Wayward Winds Lavender (#7) allow leashed dogs. Please keep them on the grass to protect the plants.
Columbia Gorge
1. Bates Lavender Farm
Cost: Free
When to visit: Daily 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM, mid-June through September.
Address: 33601 E Bell Rd, Corbett, OR 97019
Drive time from Portland: 30 minutes
Terrain: Flat grass paths
About the farm:
Despite being less than a half hour from Portland, Bates Lavender Farm feels rural and secluded among rolling hills dotted with big red barns and grazing horses. The farm is small and family-run. Its parking area is a grassy strip between the entrance gate and a little garden patch. As soon as you enter, you’ll see neat rows of around a dozen lavender varieties stretching out around you. In the center of the flower field, Adirondack chairs form a partial ring around a venerable tree. On the edge of the field, a farm stand sells lavender-infused products like soaps, jams, honey, and culinary seasoning. You can also pay for your U-pick lavender, which, at $7 a bunch, is about the best deal around. The farm is busiest during weekends in July but rarely gets crowded.
2. Columbia View Lavender Farm
Cost: Free
When to visit: Friday - Sunday 10 AM - 6 PM, mid-July until early September.
Address: 38401 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett, OR 97019
Drive time from Portland: 30 minutes
Terrain: Flat grass paths
About the farm:
Only five minutes down the road from Bates Lavender Farm, Columbia View Lavender has a similar feel. As you drive between the two lavender farms, you’ll pass a blueberry farm with a fruit stand that’s worth a stop. Don’t be discouraged when Google tells you that Columbia View is closed. It’s open Friday - Sunday in 2024 while the lavender is blooming. You can buy U-pick lavender and honey at their farm stand. Chances are you’ve driven by Columbia View Lavender Farm before. It’s only five minutes away from the famous viewpoint at Vista House. If your drive was during July or August, you may have seen the violet and periwinkle field from the road. Surrounding the flowers are tall pines, a reminder that you’re a stone’s throw away from the Columbia Gorge.
Make it a day trip:
Start at Bates Lavender Farm, then head east on E Bell Rd. Stop at the fruit stand at Kirby’s Blueberry Farm, then go to Columbia View Lavender.
Drive a few more minutes east to see the views from the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint and Vista House.
Drive up to the top of Larch Mountain to see five Cascade Mountain peaks from Sherrard Point.
If you have more time, head down to the Waterfall Corridor. You might want to try out one of the waterfall hikes near Multnomah Falls.
Hood River
3. Hood River Lavender Farm
Cost: Free
When to visit: Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 6 PM. The retail store is open all year. U-pick lavender is available July - September.
Address: 3823 Fletcher Dr, Hood River, OR 97031
Drive time from Portland: 75 minutes
Terrain: Grass paths, flat or slightly uphill
About the farm:
Hood River Lavender Farm has one of the largest and most stunning lavender fields near Portland. In the heart of the Hood River Fruit Loop, orchards and vineyards surround the long rows of purple and white flowers. As a bonus, Stave & Stone Winery has a wine garden that looks onto the flower fields. After wandering through the lavender, you can enjoy a glass of crisp pinot gris on a comfy patio chair under a shaded pergola. On a clear day, look for great views of Mt Hood to the south and Mt Adams to the north. On weekends in July, check out the farm’s Lavender Days Festival to find local vendors and food tents. Other times, the farm’s retail store sells just about anything that could conceivably have lavender in it. Next to the store is a stand selling lavender-flavored ice cream. Unlike many farms, Hood River Lavender Farms allows dogs.
4. Hope Ranch Lavender
Cost: Free
When to visit: 10 AM - 5 PM Wednesday - Saturday, 12 - 5 PM Sundays, June 1st - Labor Day Weekend.
Address: 2585 Fir Mountain Rd, Hood River, OR 97031
Drive time from Portland: 70 minutes
Terrain: Grass paths, flat transitioning to a slope
About the farm:
A little under 10 minutes away from Hood River Lavender Farm, Hope Ranch Lavender has more picture-perfect flower fields in Hood River’s Fruit Loop. Although I missed having a winery on-site here, I thought the lavender fields were just as lovely, and with fewer crowds. In the distance, look for views of the Cascade foothills, Mt Hood, and Mt Adams. Check out the farm stand for lavender-infused goods and flower bouquets to take home. They’ll also wrap up your U-pick lavender bundle with a more artistic eye than mine. Near the farm stand, a food cart sells crepes that you can eat at shaded picnic tables next to the fields.
5. Mt View Orchards
Cost: Free
When to visit: Daily 10 AM - 5 PM. Look for U-pick lavender around July and August.
Address: 6670 Trout Creek Ridge Rd, Mt Hood, OR 97041
Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes
Terrain: Flat gravel roads and grass paths
About the farm:
Mt View Orchards is still in the Fruit Loop but not a dedicated lavender farm. If you dressed in white for artsy photos in purple fields, I’d head to one of the previous two farms. While Mt View Orchards has a lovely lavender patch, it’s not the main event. If you want a fun excursion with several things to do, it’s a great destination. Peak lavender season overlaps with U-pick fruit like cherries and blueberries. Pick up some pre-picked fruit from the farm stand or grab a bucket to get it straight from the trees. If you visit later in the lavender season, you can catch the overlap with the neighboring dahlia field, both with U-pick flowers. Behind the fields looms a distant Mt Hood. While you’re there, stop by Grateful Vineyards to try out their wine and wood-fired pizzas. The winery’s outdoor space is next to the sunflower fields, where the flowers start opening toward the end of the lavender season.
Make it a day trip:
The Hood River Fruit Loop is one of my favorite day trip destinations from Portland in the summer. I’m a big fan of off-season travel but this place is special when the fruit ripens, beginning with strawberries in June and lasting through October with apples and pears. Lavender season is the perfect time to visit for fruit picking. Depending on your timing, you can get berries, cherries, peaches, and apricots. At any time of year, the wineries here are a treat. Expect many options of varietals, some mountain views, and perhaps an alpaca or two in the field out back.
Find details in my article about the best things to do in the Hood River Fruit Loop.
Willamette Valley
6. Wayward Winds Lavender
Cost: Free
When to visit: Daily 10 AM - 5 PM, July to mid-August.
Address: 17005 NE Courtney Rd, Newberg, OR 97132
Drive time from Portland: 40 minutes
Terrain: Grassy field with a moderate grade
About the farm:
This summer was the first time I went to Oregon’s wine country in search of flowers. It didn’t disappoint. The fields at Wayward Winds Lavender are on a gently rising slope that turns a soft shade of violet when the lavender blooms. True to the farm’s name, a gentle breeze rustles the stems, creating movement like ripples through the field. At the top of the hill, an outdoor seating area is the perfect place for a snack. You can find photo opportunities everywhere, starting with the classic rusty pickup truck in the middle of the flowers. Look for wicker armchairs, squashy loveseats, and a rustic wooden shack selling products made with lavender distilled on-site. Try out the lavender maze, an easier and more relaxing take on a corn maze. Wayward Winds is also one of the few dog-friendly lavender farms near Portland. I saw some delightful dog photo shoots when I visited.
7. Durant at Red Ridge Farms
Cost: Free
When to visit: Daily 10 AM - 4 PM. The farm and tasting room are open all year. Look for lavender blooming in the garden in July and early August.
Address: 5510 NE Breyman Orchards Rd., Dayton, OR 97114
Drive time from Portland: 50 minutes
Terrain: Flat gravel roads and paths. There are a few steps down to the flower garden.
About the farm:
Durant at Red Ridge Farms is a unique combination of vineyard, olive grove, and nursery. Its two small lavender gardens are lovely, if not as large or impressive as the dedicated lavender farms near Portland. Exploring the grounds is at least as much of the point here as the flowers. Durant’s retail shop sells a variety of goods from the farm and offers samples of all their olive oils. A 1-mile nature trail makes a loop around the property, passing through forest, vineyards, and the olive grove, ending naturally at the tasting room. Leave it to me to find a hiking trail at a winery. Durant’s tasting room patio has some of the most expansive views in the Willamette Valley, looking out onto the vineyard and the Chelahem Mountains. The wine tasting typifies what is special about Oregon pinot noir, plus included a surprise Viognier on the menu when I last visited.
Pro-tip: if you’re visiting on the weekend, be sure to make a reservation for the tasting room patio. On weekdays, you don’t necessarily need a reservation but you’ll get a better table if you have one.
Make it a day trip:
Start at Wayward Winds Lavender.
Stop at one of the U-pick blueberry farms on the way to Durant. You’ll see signs from the road.
Go wine tasting in the Willamette Valley. Or, check out the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge on your way back to town for some excellent nature trails and birdwatching.
Best lavender farms near Portland, the short version:
Bates Lavender Farm
Columbia View Lavender Farm
Hood River Lavender Farm
Hope Ranch Lavender
Mt View Orchards
Wayward Winds Lavender
Durant at Red Ridge Farms
Enjoy your time at the lavender farms near Portland!
With love,
Emma
More flower farms near Portland
Visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.
