Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway Itinerary
| Departure: | La Grande, Oregon |
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| Destination: | Baker City/Baker Valley, Oregon |
| Time to allow: | 3 days |
Revel in Nez Perce, Oregon Trail and Settlement history, and in the scenery of the Blue and Wallowa Mountains, Hells Canyon country, the Snake River, ranches and farms, and small towns. (itinerary under construction--suggestions welcome.)
Day 1
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Start: La Grande
Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Nestled at the edge of the Grande Ronde Valley from which it takes its name, La Grande is the home of Eastern Oregon University and is a center for commerce, education, health services, and government as well as a popular recreation base for cyclists, hikers, hunters, fishermen, skiers, as well as snowmobile and ATV enthusiasts.
While you are here, be sure to enjoy breakfast at a restaurant in a restored historic building and visit the Eastern Oregon Fire Museum in downtown La Grande.
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Stop 2: The Grande Ronde Valley
Distance from Previous Site: 15 miles / 24.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours As you leave La Grande, you will travel through the Grande Ronde Valley. The largest completely enclosed circular valley in the world, it is rimmed by the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. Watch for the wide variety of crops as you drive past lush fields - smell the mint!
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Stop 3: Elgin
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 7 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes From rodeos to theater, Elgin hosts many community events such as the roaring Elgin Stampede PRCA Rodeo held each July. The former location of Fort Baker and a trading area since the 1880s, this little town is also the gateway to recreation and adventure in the region. When you arrive be sure to tour the Elgin Opera House & Museum.
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Stop 4: Historic Elgin Opera House and Museum
Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Built in 1912, the beautifully restored and acoustically perfect Elgin Opera House is a great place for movies, plays, concerts, and tours.
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Stop 5: Minam
Distance from Previous Site: 14 miles / 22.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 30 minutes Stop for a picnic and fish on the Wallowa River at Minam State Park. The Minam and Wallowa Rivers meet here and flow into the Grande Ronde River a few miles down stream. The rivers offer excellent steelhead fishing, rafting, and year-round wildlife viewing. If you are traveling the Byway in winter, keep an eye out for bald eagles and other raptors.
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Stop 6: Wallowa
Distance from Previous Site: 11 miles / 17.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Wallowa (pronounced "Wuh-lau-wuh") shares its Nez Perce name with the mountains, lake, river and valley you're now entering. The Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce knew the area for it's great fishing - Wallowa is the name of the tripod used to support their fish nets. Don't forget to visit the Nez Perce Homeland Project and museum while you are here.
Also be sure to check the schedule and make your plans for a ride on the publicly owned Eagle Cap Excursion Train; scheduled trips run twice a week from Wallowa or Joseph. Be sure to allow additional time in your trip as trips range from 1.5 to 7.5 hours.
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Stop 7: Lostine
Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 25 minutes This tiny turn-of-the century town comes alive during the Lostine's big 4th of July Flea Market. Also, numerous Forest Service roads in the vicinity provide access to year-round recreation in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. A side trip up the crystal clear Lostine River leads to rustic campgrounds, trailheads, and breathtaking scenery.
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Navigation Point: Enterprise
Distance from Previous Site: 10 miles / 16.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 13 minutes The largest of the Wallowa Valley communities, Enterprise offers an array of shops, accommodations and back country and river outfitters. As you leave town, watch the fields to the right, between mile posts #66 and #67, for the big black Clydesdale draft horses raised here.
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Navigation Point: Joseph
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 7 minutes Drive through Joseph, a flourishing art community with a national reputation for its top quality bronze galleries on your way to Wallowa Lake.
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Overnight Point: Wallowa Lake
Distance from Previous Site: 6 miles / 9.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Beautiful Wallowa Lake was shaped by glaciers which covered this region three to seven times. At six miles in length, Wallowa Lake is a playground to water skiers, jet skiers, and paddle-boaters. Go-carts and miniature golf are popular pursuits on shore.
This area was part of the ancestral homelands of the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce and a monument to Old Chief Joseph rests at the north end of the lake. Finish your days journey here and spend the night in a bed and breakfast inn or at the historic lodge.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 74 miles / 118.4 km
Day 2
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Stop 1: Wallowa Lake
Breakfast at the lake, then explore the shops and ride the tramway to the top of Mount Howard on the edge of the Eagle Cap Wilderness for eye-popping views that include three states.
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Stop 2: Joseph
Distance from Previous Site: 6 miles / 9.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 3 hours After lunch, return to Joseph to tour a bronze foundry and the town's renowned galleries and shops. Afterwards, travel the Byway on your way to Halfway, taking advantage of the exquisite late afternoon and evening light to highlight the canyon contours.
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Stop 3: Salt Creek Summit
Distance from Previous Site: 12 miles / 19.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Salt Creek Summit is a favorite location for winter recreation. Improvements include a snowpark, rest stop, cross country ski and snowmobile trails, and a sledding area. There are trailheads and a mountain bike trail system for summer use.
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Stop 4: Hells Canyon Overlook
Distance from Previous Site: 20 miles / 32.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 45 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes The paved overlook provides outstanding views of McGraw Creek, Hells Canyon, and the Seven Devils Mountains. From the 5,400 foot high canyon rim, visitors can enjoy sweeping views and interesting displays about the canyon formation.
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Overnight Point: Halfway
Distance from Previous Site: 31 miles / 49.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour A popular winter destination for snowmobilers, Halfway lives up to its name, as it is the midway point between the town of Pine and the gold mines of Cornucopia. Spend the night at the unique bed and breakfast inn here. Or use this as the gateway to some of the smaller towns just past Halfway to stay at the lodgings there. Several places are avaliable to let you take your pick of resting spots to get you ready for another day of traveling.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 2: 69 miles / 110.4 km
Day 3
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Stop 1: Snake River
Distance from Previous Site: 21 miles / 33.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 5 hours Rise early and take a jet boat ride or raft trip on the enchanting Snake River through North America's deepest river canyon. The views are spectacular and the ride is wild! Watch for wildlife, and traces of Native American or early settler dwellings in the canyon.
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Stop 2: Richland
Distance from Previous Site: 37 miles / 59.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 45 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes Named in 1897 for the rich soil settlers found here, the area still supports farmers and ranchers and now hosts the fishing and boating enthusiasts who recreate on nearby Brownlee and Oxbow reservoirs. Take a break to enjoy the small time atmosphere here. As you leave town, look for the Hole-in-the-Wall Landslide, between mile posts #30 & #31. The 1984 landslide covered the road and temporarily dammed the Powder River.
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Stop 3: National Historic Oregon Trail Center
Distance from Previous Site: 35 miles / 56.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 45 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 3 hours Drive to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City. This highly acclaimed center tells the stories of Native Americans, explorers, pioneers, and settlers along the Oregon Trail. It is highly regarded for the quality of exhibits and the commanding view from its hilltop location.
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End: Baker City/Baker Valley
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Baker City sits along the Powder River between the dramatic Elkhorn Ridge of the Blue Mountains and the Wallowa Mountains. Turn-of-the century Victorian architecture dominates the commercial and residential buildings of the city's beautiful, restored downtown, earning it distinction as a National Historic District. When you arrive, take the opportunity to stay and dine at one of the historic hotels here.
Like the other communities along the Byway, Baker City is friendly and casual.
