We are having a rough summer when it comes to wildfires in Eastern Oregon. There have been several large fires in our region, including one that is burning near Halfway and Richland, north and west of OR Hwy 86. That means there is smoke in the air, so our scenery isn’t as clear as usual. However, there is still lots of beautiful country to see and do along the byway and all of its communities and attractions remain open for your visit and businesses look forward to serving you.
For a map and the most current information about this fire, please click this link: http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwwf-town-gulch
There are extreme fire restrictions if you are camping or spending time in the Wallowa Whitman national Forest or any forested or other recreation sites around the region. It is critical that you know the restrictions and precautions and follow them closely, so we don’t see more of our beautiful forests and range lands burned or structures endangered. Follow links on this site for the restrictions on the WWNF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/wallowa-whitman/alerts-notices or click here for the region’s restrictions: https://bmidc.org/restrictions.shtml
There is a new comprehensive outdoor recreation map of byway country available at all the visitor centers in the region. Stop by the Baker County Visitor Center, 490 Campbell Street, Baker City; the Union County Visitor Center, 207 Depot Street, La Grande; or the Wallowa County Visitor Center, 101 West Main Street, Enterprise, for a copy. Published by the Eastern Oregon Visitor Association in partnership with Travel Oregon and the three county tourism offices, it shows trails, campgrounds and all kinds of recreation sites across the Blue Mountains, Wallowa Mountains and in Hells Canyon itself. It includes lot of interesting information about the area’s geology, as well. Pick up a map and a guide to the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and get some insider tips and suggestions from the visitor center experts at each location. (Other locations along the route have the maps as well, including in Elgin, Joseph, Halfway and Union.)
Enjoy your journey along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and plan your next visit as soon as possible. There are great things to see and do every season.
