{{Short description|Mountain range in Oregon, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox mountain range | name= Chehalem Range | other_name= | country= United States | state= Oregon | state1= | parent = | borders_on= Oregon Coast Range | border1= | geology= | geology1= | age= | period1= | orogeny= | length_mi= | length_orientation=Northwest-Southeast | highest=Bald Peak | elevation_ft=1629 | coordinates = {{coord|45|23|46|N|123|03|18|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | image=Bald Peak looking southeast.JPG | image_size=250 | image_caption=Southeast from Bald Peak. | map= | map_size= | map_caption= }}
The '''Chehalem Mountains''' are a mountain range located in the Willamette Valley in the U.S. state of Oregon. Forming the southern boundary of the Tualatin Valley, the Chehalems are the highest mountains in the Willamette Valley.<ref>{{cite book |last=McArthur |first=Lewis A. |author-link=Lewis_A._McArthur |year=1952 |orig-year=1928 |edition=3rd |title=Oregon geographic names |title-link=Oregon_Geographic_Names |publisher=Binsfords & Mort for the Oregon Historical Society |page=123 |isbn=1111097747 |id=Hardcover Enlarged }}</ref> The range extends from the Willamette River east of Newberg northwest to the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range south of Forest Grove.
==Toponymy== The word "Chehalem" is a corruption of the Atfalati Indian word "Chahelim," a name given in 1877 to one of the bands of Atfalati.<ref name="geo"/>
==Geography== Composed of a single land mass that was uplifted by tectonic forces, the mountain range includes several spurs and ridges such as Parrett Mountain, Ribbon Ridge, and Bald Peak.<ref name=pbj>[http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2006/12/25/daily8.html Chehalem Mountains now official wine area.] ''Portland Business Journal'', December 27, 2006.</ref>
The highest peak in the Chehalem Mountain Range is Bald Peak, rising to {{convert|1629|ft|m}},<ref name="geo">{{cite book | last = McArthur | first = Lewis A. | author2=Lewis L. McArthur | title = Oregon Geographic Names | orig-year = 1928 | edition = Seventh | year = 2003 | publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press | location = Portland, Oregon | isbn = 0-87595-277-1 | id = (trade paperback), (hardcover) }}</ref> which is also the highest peak point within the Willamette Valley.<ref name=pbj/>
==Chehalem Mountains AVA== {{Main|Chehalem Mountains AVA}} The Chehalem Mountains AVA has been a designated American Viticultural Area since 2006.<ref name=pbj/><ref name="Code">{{cite web |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=5f948e661aefa9fe8c6f203553598e50&mc=true&r=SECTION&n=se27.1.9_1205 |website=Code of Federal Regulations |title=§ 9.205 Chehalem Mountains |format=Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas |accessdate=January 29, 2008}}</ref>
==See also== *Picture of southern flank of the range *Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint *Chehalem Mountains AVA *Chehalem Ridge Nature Park *Ribbon Ridge AVA
==References== {{reflist|25em}}
==External links== *{{commonscat-inline}} *[http://www.oregonlive.com/travelguides/oregonian/related.ssf?/outdoors/biking/bike13.html ''The Oregonian''] *[http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=26791 Metro] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121011113959/http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?fid=23012 Map]
Category:Mountain ranges of Oregon Category:Landforms of Washington County, Oregon Category:Landforms of Yamhill County, Oregon