The FS 39 road is now open to through traffic. Just be aware that the road requires caution, especially around curves, due to potentially cattle on the open range, and because there can be debris such as rocks and sticks in the road early in the season. The road is paved throughout (including the two-mile side trip to the Hells Canyon Overlook you won’t want to miss), but some sections have potholes – so, another reason for taking the loop slowly in addition to enjoying the scenery.
And stop by the ranger district office at Halfway or Joseph for the very latest on the condition of trails, campgrounds and backroads, as June is still a little early for the highest elevations.
I always recommend taking the side trip down to the Hells Canyon Dam below Copperfield – go to the Snake River for this before you head out on the FS 39 road – so you can see the depth of the canyon from riverside. There is also a small interpretive center there with information about the geology and history of the canyon. Then when you backtrack a few miles on OR 86 and hit the FS 39 road (aka Wallowa Mountain Loop Road), you will be seeing the canyon lands from above. The most amazing view is from Hat Point Lookout, which is another side trip taking a gravel road up from Imnaha. From there, you look a mile down to the river and across the canyon to the Seven Devils on the Idaho side.
And last, I also always recommend the Wallowa Lake Tramway, which takes you right up into the peaks of the amazing Wallowa Mountains. This is just one of the many things to enjoy at Wallowa Lake.
Stop by the visitor center in Baker City, Enterprise or La Grande, and we will load you up with maps and information about recreation and sightseeing throughout the byway and region. Enjoy your travels!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and families are making plans for the long weekend. If you are looking for ways to fill the four-day weekend with fun, check out these activities along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in Northeast Oregon.Continue Reading
An Announcement from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Wednesday, October 31, 2018: As fall quickly turns to winter, it’s time to prepare for your favorite winter activities. Oregon’s Sno-Park program helps provide snow removal at about 100 winter recreation parking areas (Sno-Parks) across the state.Continue Reading
LA GRANDE, OREGON__The Grande Ronde Symphony Association celebrated 70 years of music during their annual fundraising event in La Grande last month.Continue Reading
ELGIN, OREGON__The Elgin Opera House opens another lively musical fit for the whole family this month. Opera House gem Jeannette Smith returns to the Opera House stage as the lead in Mary Poppins, the classic Walt Disney musical, running September 21st through mid-October.Continue Reading
Summer is coming to an end and fall is in the air. That means harvest is well under way in northeast Oregon and there are ample opportunities to fill your plate with fresh, locally produced food and stock up the cellar in preparation for winter.Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, Oregon__Motorists can expect to see 1,500 bicyclists on eastern Oregon routes this week as Cycle Oregon continues its week-long event that started Saturday in Baker City. The annual two-wheeled pilgrimage saw hundreds of bicyclists travel along OR86 between Baker City and Halfway on Sunday. The group will ride the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway...Continue Reading
The 40th edition of Oregon’s Alpenfest, takes place Thursday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 30. Swiss, Germans and anyone else who appreciates Alpine traditions gather each September in Wallowa County to celebrate lively polka, soothing alphorn music, melodic Swiss yodeling, savory bratwurst and eastern Oregon craft beer. Oregon’s Alpenfest, the only Swiss-Bavarian cultural festival in...Continue Reading
ELGIN, OREGON__The fall season is here, with the weather getting milder and fall colors just beginning to show in the river canyons. The Eagle Cap Excursion Train volunteer car hosts and engineers anticipate a relaxed autumn, with opportunities for learning, along with great sightseeing. Saturday, September 8, is what we have been calling the Mystery...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY OREGON__National touring artist Cale Moon will perform during Hells Canyon Mules Days at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds in Enterprise, Saturday, September 8, at 7 p.m., and again in Baker City at Powder River Pavilion in Geiser-Pollman Park, Sunday, September 9, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. According to his website: “Cale has become one...Continue Reading
The Oregon Department of Parks & Recreation announced today a special pilot program that will offer discounted rates for electrical and full-hookup RV campsites is now available at selected state parks during September and October. Two parks in Eastern Oregon are included, Starting today, campers will be able to apply a special online code to receive...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, OREGON__Join a living history encampment of re-enactors sharing the sights and sounds of an Oregon Trail Wagon Train, September 1st and 2nd at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City. The Wagon Encampment will be active 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., populated by a variety of pioneers recreating a “nooning” lunchtime...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, OREGON__With forecasts for smoky days and potential thundershowers, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center offers some ideas for indoor things for residents and visitors to do at the Center. Take in a performance of “Dr. Balthasar” in the air conditioned Leo Adler Theater. Portraying a mid-1800s medicine show, Dr. Balthasar sells miracle...Continue Reading
Flora, Oregon__At the north end of Wallowa County, in the tiny community of Flora, skills associated with pioneers and early settlers are valued and passed along. These skills are demonstrated each year during Flora School Days, while classes and activities from July through October teach the skills. Vanessa Thompson describes the upcoming activities: If you...Continue Reading
See the canyon from a raft or jet boat for a really refreshing and up-close view or the dramatic scenery. Hells Canyon Adventures operates on the Snake River, in the very heart of the canyon. Here is the schedule for the week of August 13, 2018. All tours begin and end one mile below Hells Canyon...Continue Reading
It’s County Fair time in Byway Country! Attend a quintessential county fair to see farm and ranch animals, 4H and FFA competitions, and to experience life in the close-knit communities of Northeast Oregon. Sample fair food and visit commercial and non-profit booths to learn what is available and the hot topics in our neck of...Continue Reading
Flora, Oregon—School Days, a celebration of old-time skills, food and music, now encompasses old-time contests and competitions. The annual celebration, held the first Saturday in June, starts at noon, Saturday, June 2, with music, demonstrations and a pie social. Lunch, the “two-handed plate” of food from the Dutch oven, starts serving around 1 p.m. Blacksmith...Continue Reading
Information provided by Hells Canyon Adventures Oxbow, Oregon__Hells Canyon Adventures has launched their 2018 season and is offering rafting and jet boat tours on the Snake River in Hells Canyon. HCA is the only company that provides a variety of jet boat tours, raft adventures, fishing charters, and shuttle services into the heart of Hells Canyon – South Entrance /...Continue Reading
When reading this week’s issue of the Wallowa County Chieftain, I felt Kathleen’s entire Biz Buzz column might be of interest to byway travelers. So, we thank the Chieftain for allowing us to post the column in Byway News. If all of this doesn’t get you excited about visiting Wallowa County, then, well…you haven’t been to...Continue Reading
