The tourism industry of Eastern Oregon extends its heartfelt concern for the residents, and communities that have been impacted by the recent wildfires throughout the region including, and especially those that have endured loss of property, and in some cases livelihood. However, visitors to the east side of Oregon should be aware that most events...Continue Reading
BOISE, Idaho, August 19, 2015—The boat ramp at Idaho Power’s Woodhead Park will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 25, until noon on Wednesday while crews apply seal coat to the road and parking area. Crews will begin road work at the park as early as Thursday, Aug. 20. That work will continue on Friday and into...Continue Reading
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will move to Phase C Public Use Restrictions effective midnight tonight. These restrictions are also in place for all Oregon State Parks properties across Oregon. Baker City, OR: Forest officials will implement Phase C public use restrictions at 12:01 AM on Thursday, August 20, 2015 on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest due to...Continue Reading
PENDLETON, BAKER CITY, and JOHN DAY, OREGON__Forest officials for the Umatilla, Wallowa‐Whitman, and Malheur National Forests urge caution and announce seasonal safety regulations for building campfires when recreating on the three national forests. Campfires will continue to be the centerpiece of family campsites across Northeast Oregon’s three national forests. However, beginning June 1, forest visitors...Continue Reading
People familiar with the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway know it is a prime route for cycling around that amazing mountain range known as The Wallowas! The two-lane band of pavement winds up and down, over and around, beside rivers, through forests and past sage brush, cows and all kinds of wildlife. Bicycles allow one to...Continue Reading
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City, Oregon, will have two days of living history presentations for visitors over the Memorial Day Weekend at the “Meet the Pioneers” event. On Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, volunteers and staff will demonstrate pioneer skills such as quilting, crafts, and food between 10...Continue Reading
The following is an important message that was released April 8, 2015 from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest concerning traffic on FS 39 Road, which connects Halfway and Oxbow with the Wallowa Valley. Please heed the warning and stay safe while enjoying the byway on both sides of the mountain pass. All communities are open...Continue Reading
Due to a wet spring followed by a hot, dry summer, forest and range fire season has arrived early. The Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry and Bureau of Land Management ask you to be extremely careful and follow all campfire, equipment and smoking restrictions when recreating in and traveling through Byway country...Continue Reading
Idaho Power has provided this information regarding their planned operations at Brownlee Reservoir. With the current state of the system (particularly snowpack and upstream reservoir levels) and future weather forecasts, the USACE has agreed to allow Idaho Power to begin refilling Brownlee Reservoir. The USACE remains concerned about local flooding potential, and therefore, is requiring...Continue Reading
It’s exciting to read about projects that come together as if planned by a higher power. The Lostine Tavern project in Lostine, Oregon, is just such an instance. The historic tavern that serves the ranching community, local residents and visitors to our corner of Oregon, closed early in 2013 for what might have been a...Continue Reading
Travelers throughout Oregon should be aware that summer is not only a busy time for vacationers, it is also the season when weather permits the Oregon Department of Transportation to repair and otherwise improve our highways. Below is information about such a project on Interstate 84 near La Grande. LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Oregon...Continue Reading
Those of us fortunate enough to live within view of the Blue and Wallowa Mountains of Northeast Oregon know why we like it here and love looking out at the peaks every day. We each tend to call them “my mountains,” eyeing them closely for passing weather and the change of seasons. We watch the...Continue Reading
The Eastern Oregon Visitors Association is the regional destination marketing organization for all of Eastern Oregon. Working closely with Travel Oregon (the state tourism agency) and the region’s chambers of commerce, visitors associations, tourism businesses and major attractions, the EOVA gathers and distributes all kinds of information, stories and ideas to help you make your...Continue Reading
Baker City, Oregon__It’s spring! Beautiful Spring! And activities along the byway are warming up. In addition to a greening landscape, frolicking baby animals everywhere, and the gorgeous blue sky, byway attractions and communities are creating fun and educational ways for travelers to enjoy Spring Break. Note: Spring in Eastern Oregon is very capricious. When planning...Continue Reading
Northeast Oregon’s magnificent Wallowa Mountains, the mountain range around which the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway loops, was selected by Travel Oregon as one of the states seven most spectacular natural wonders to feature in their new multi-media Seven Wonders of Oregon campaign. Watch the introductory video on YouTube, then watch all seven of the 30-second...Continue Reading
ODOT crews worked through the night and are continuing their 24 hour coverage plowing and sanding Oregon highways as they responded to the significant region-wide weather event that produced heavy snowfall over a large area of the state. Travelers are advised to be prepared for winter conditions throughout the state and review road and weather...Continue Reading
Fishing, hunting and viewing wildlife are popular activities throughout Eastern Oregon and the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway provides access to some of the best in the Northwest, any time of year. Opportunities change with the seasons so be sure to check out license requirements and regulations before setting out for some fun and exercise. The...Continue Reading
For all those looking forward to beginning their Christmas shopping in downtown La Grande, your first gift of the season just arrived. Starting the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 29, and running through the Friday after Christmas, December 27, the City of La Grande has granted an exception to the 2 hour parking time limit in...Continue Reading
The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are waiving fees at most day-use recreation sites over Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 9-11, in honor of U.S. veterans and members of the U.S. armed forces. This includes entry to the BLM’s National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City. People who have not...Continue Reading
Forest Service representatives say it was a productive week for Tidewater Contractors and the Forest Service along the 13 mile stretch of the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (FSR 39) that is currently under reconstruction. The contractor was busy clearing trees along the roadside, putting up signs, and placing barriers in preparation for more work to...Continue Reading
Snow has covered the valley floors in white today, showing us winter is just around the corner! While best known as one of the nation’s top scenic byways during spring, summer and fall, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in the northeast corner of Oregon has much to offer in *winter months, as well. Travelers can...Continue Reading
Fourth of July celebrations abound in communities throughout the byway. Parades take place in the tiny towns of Imbler (noon), Wallowa (11 a.m.), Huntington, (noon), and Haines (10 a.m.). There are flea markets in Lostine and Sumpter. Or, catch the cowboy action at the Haines Stampede Rodeo, beginning at 1:30. If you love fireworks, byway...Continue Reading
The Baker City Herald announced Monday, May 20, Forest Road 39 is open for the season. The road, also known as the Wallowa Mountain Loop, connects the southern leg of the byway (OR 86), including Baker City, Richland, Halfway and the Snake River parks and dams, with the northern segment: La Grande, Elgin, Enterprise, Joseph...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, OREGON__Are you yearning for the smell and taste of camp cooking? The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City invites you to learn the basic techniques of outdoor cooking using the versatile Dutch-oven, in a series of workshops. The workshops are lead by instructors from the Trail Tenders, the organization known...Continue Reading
Here is an amazing opportunity to mix the beauty and excitement of Hells Canyon with the fun of photography! Winding Waters River Expeditions, Joseph, Oregon, invites you to spend five wonderful days photographing the peak of spring bloom in Hells Canyon of the Snake River, while rafting your way through the deepest river gorge in...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, OR – A wagon encampment by historic re-enactors will provide a step back in time for families and travelers visiting the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center over Labor Day Weekend. Historic re-enactors will present an Oregon Trail pioneer wagon camp on Saturday and Sunday September 1-2, 2012, from 10 to 2 each...Continue Reading
Since the mid-nineteenth century, Baker City, Oregon, has been praised for its beautiful setting, friendly residents and fascinating history. Those traits were recently reinforced when a team from the Rand McNally Best of the Road competition paid a visit early in July. The community rolled out the red carpet and made a great impression, right...Continue Reading
Great news from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest today! Below is notification from the Forest Recreation Officer, concerning the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road section of the byway that closes every winter due to snow: The Wallowa Mountains District Office has reported that the FS 39 road (part of the HC Scenic Byway) is officially maintained. Crews...Continue Reading
In 2000, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway was designated an All-American Road, the top designation available within the America’s Byways® collection of 150 nationally designated routes. Interpretive markers throughout the route have since been added, with the assistance of grants from the Federal Highways Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program. Over the years, the byway has...Continue Reading
Baker City, Oregon – The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will offer a variety of pioneer style activities and simple frontier crafts for families to share together during “Family Fun Day” the day after Thanksgiving, Friday November 25 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For families with youngsters and holiday visitors looking for an...Continue Reading
