Are you planning your summer vacation with the family? Or looking ahead to an autumn getaway? The Eagle Cap Excursion Train has posted its 2014 schedule, offering a variety of opportunities for viewing a segment of scenic byway country from the perspective of a train. The train passes through roadless country along the Grande Ronde...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
BAKER CITY, Ore. – The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is offering several activities during President’s Weekend, including reopening the popular annual children’s exhibit “Wagon’s Ho! An Interactive Oregon Trail Experience” Feb. 13, and celebrating Oregon’s Birthday Feb. 14. Friday, Feb. 14 through Monday, Feb. 17 are all free days. The Center will resume...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
Baker City, Oregon – The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will be on a winter schedule from Sunday Dec. 1 through Saturday Feb. 15. During the winter schedule the Center will be open to the public Thursdays through Sundays for viewing exhibits, films and interpretive programs, Oregon Trail Shop and hiking from 9 a.m....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 Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For families with youngsters and holiday visitors looking for an alternative...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
Fall has arrived along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway! After a hot and dry summer, the autumn overcast and bluster is a welcome change, although we are adjusting to that nip in the air. The first traces of snow have dusted the high peaks and the amber and rusty colors of fall are appearing in...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, Ore. – A special exhibit of quilts will be on display at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Sept. 27 through Nov. 17. “Enduring Patterns: A Quilted Heritage” includes two dozen quilts representing popular traditional patterns and explores how these patterns have been interpreted by quilt makers over the past two hundred...Continue Reading
BAKER CITY, Ore.__The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will hold a local event on Saturday, Sept. 28, as part of the nationwide “National Public Lands Day” volunteer effort to improve public lands. For 19 years the last Saturday of September has been designated as National Public Lands Days(NPLD) with an estimated 170,000 volunteers throughout the country...Continue Reading
The sun is out and the festivals and fairs of Union County kick off the final leg of your summer adventure for 2013. With such mainstays as the Union County Fair, Cove Cherry Festival, Grassroots Festival and the Highland Games, the last leg of Union County’s Summer journey is shaping up to be a great...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
It’s lovely spring in northeast Oregon! The hills are green, the weather is “changeable,” as we like to say, and the road beckons all who have felt a little bit of cabin fever over the last few months. The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a wonderful way to see the magic of the region and...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
The BLM’s National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is offering a special opportunity for visitors to learn about pioneers and frontier lifestyles with the “Meet the Pioneers” event Friday to Sunday, Memorial Day weekend. Each day from Friday May 25 through Sunday May 27, historical re-enactors will show authentic clothing, crafts, and demonstrations of “frontier life”...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
Northeast Oregon is known for its natural beauty, from snow-capped mountains to crystal clear rivers. However, one natural asset that is often overlooked is its grasses. The Wallowa Valley region is home to some of Oregon’s richest grasslands and oldest ranches, raising grass-fed cattle long before it was popular. In fact, the high-altitude grass here...Continue Reading
The Hells Canyon Adventures jetboat tours take you right into the heart of America’s deepest canyon, for eye popping views of the rugged cliffs and towering ridges that form the canyon. Wildlife is plentiful and photo opportunities are everywhere. For the schedule and information, contact Brandie Lincoln, Hells Canyon Adventures, 1.800.422.3568. P.O. Box 159 Oxbow,...Continue Reading
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway Update June 9, 2011 – The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has announced the Forest Service section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (Forest Road 39 or the Wallowa Loop Road), has been maintained and is passable for visitors. The opening is just in time for sightseers to enjoy the canyon country at...Continue Reading
