Follow the contours of the land into slower times and wilder places. Journey from river's edge to mountaintop and down to valley floor. Enjoy expansive views of rugged basalt cliffs, sage covered plains and grassy open ridges. As you pass through lush valleys rimmed by the snow-tipped Wallowa Mountains, savor the scent freshly mown hay. Stand next to the majestic Snake River where it begins its tumbling course through North America's deepest canyon. Join a community festival or share in the excitement of a rodeo. Camp among the pine trees, under starry skies. The route of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a loop that encircles the Wallowa Mountains, offering people of all ages a northeast Oregon adventure.
Hells Canyon country offers a multitude of outdoor activities. Visitors should stop by the confluence of the Minam and Wallowa Rivers at Minam, a popular launch point for rafting trips on the Wallowa River. Take a ride on the Eagle Cap Excursion Train beside the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers. Spend some time camping and fishing near the banks of the Wild and Scenic Imnaha River. The Umatilla National Forest to the west is the perfect place for bird-watching, camping, or hiking, while the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area offer an abundance of camping, hiking and other recreational opportunities.
From Hells Canyon Overlook, enjoy the sweeping views of McGraw Creek, Hells Canyon, and the Seven Devils. With sculptured peaks rising over 9,000 feet, the Seven Devils Mountain Range on the Idaho side of the Snake River forms the eastern wall of Hells Canyon. The byway circles the snowcapped Wallowa Mountains and the Blue Mountains to the west and north are visible from much of the route. In the summer, take the tramway to enjoy the view from the summit of Mt. Howard and plan a day for picnicking on the shores of Wallowa Lake. Take a side trip through Imnaha to the Hat Point Lookout, where you can stare at the Snake River a mile below the edge of the canyon. In the winter, enjoy the sledding, skiing, and other winter activities offered at the Salt Creek Summit.
The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway offers a variety of unique geological formations, including the glacier carved moraines that contain Wallowa Lake, the land slide at the Hole in the Wall, and the flows of Columbia River Basalt that covered this land up to 200 feet thick in some places. Many different layers of basalt can be viewed in various spots along the canyon road. Stop by Virtue Flat, where you can still see the wagon ruts of the Historic Oregon Trail, traveled by pioneers as they passed through on their way to the Willamette Valley. As you walk part of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail near Wallowa, consider the desperate flight of the Nez Perce under the leadership of Chief Joseph. Watch cattle ranching and farming operations along the byway. Take the time to shop in the small towns that dot the route, exploring fine art galleries, real general stores and unique specialty shops.
The route of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a loop that encircles the Wallowa Mountains, offering a different kind of northeast Oregon adventure for people of all ages, ranging from rapids to calm lakes, high mountains and shadowed forests.
Hells Canyon: A Scenic Approach to Shopping
Cowboys and Chapels: Hells Canyon Scenic Byway's History
Taking to the Groomed Road on Hells Canyon Scenic Byway