Hells Canyon Scenic Byway


State: Oregon
Length: 218.43 miles / 351.5 km
Time to Allow: Allow about six hours to three days to tour this Byway.

Follow the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway for a circuitous 218 mile drive through northeastern Oregon. The byway encompasses the La Grande, Wallowa Mountains, and Baker City area, with tons of local history and incredible views. People looking for gorgeous scenery, camping, and rapids will love this trail. Bordering Washington state and Idaho, it’s a great starting point for an adventure for those living nearby.

Drive time takes between seven and eight hours without stops, and it’s best to drive between June and October. Plan for a few days to see all the sights, including mountains, rivers, ranches, and small towns ripe with shopping and local food. This byway is a great choice for families with different interests in attractions with a little bit of something for everyone.

Start out in the town of La Grande for a day exploring the downtown shops. Antique lovers will love finding unique items along with other local shops, including local meat markets. You can also find clothes, decor, jewelry, pottery, and much more. Make sure to visit the town of Joseph for shopping along with arts, museums, and galleries. Find unique items, including chocolates, to rival famous chocolatiers.

Stop in the Terminal Gravity Brew Pub in Enterprise for a drink and meal. Another notable destination includes the town of Halfway, with several whimsical shops and excellent coffee at the Cornucopia Coffee House. Shoppers will also love Historic Baker city with unique dining and artwork.

The byway offers more than just culture with tons to do and see outside, sprawling through eleven communities. If you have the time, you can even take a tramway to the top of the mountains for epic views. Otherwise, it’s a great place for camping, rafting, horseback riding, water skiing, and even hang gliding. If you need to park your RV, head to the town of Eglin, as they offer parking and have groceries and gas nearby.

For boating, choose the town of Minam, where the Minam and Wallow Rivers collide before flowing into the Grande Ronde River. The three converge to provide incredible fishing, rafting, and wildlife. Find primitive camping and beautiful shores along with views of the mountains. While this byway has the name hell, it’s actually a haven for many with national forests, mountain passes, and valley floors.

A few notable places along the byway include Snake River and Hells Canyon, with naturally formed streams and mountain ranges. Find signs of human life dating far into the past, including pictographs and petroglyphs. Stopover Hells Canyon Overlook for breathtaking views unlike any in the world at 5,400 feet up. Of course, you need to see the Wallowa Mountains with campgrounds, trailheads, and pristine forests. Finally, stop along the historic Oregon Trail to find out how countless people sprawled across the country through the mid-west. Find beauty, culture, and nature all in one small area.

More Oregon Byways

You can check out additional Byways in Oregon by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Oregon Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.