western hospitality - Oregon Coast Magazine

Photo by David Jensen
Wallowa Lake, near Joseph, is strikingly beautiful in every season.
Eastern Oregon
Western Hospitality
E
astern Oregon is called the Land of
Extremes for good reason. Rimrock
canyons, towering peaks, fragrant high
desert, wheat farms, bubbling streams, and wide
open starry skies—the east side of the state is
full of surprises. Every little town hosts its own
festival and rolls out the welcome mat for visitors.
Take the tram to the top of the majestic Wallowa
Mountains. Relish a ride on the Snake River’s
rapids as it courses through the continent’s
deepest canyon. Scenic byways roll past historic
mining towns, wildlife refuges, and ancient lake
basins, and pow wows, rodeos, and remnants of
the Oregon Trail allow visitors to experience the
magic of the West.
Wheeler County
Wheeler County, including the communities
of Fossil, Spray, and Mitchell, is famous for its
www.northwestmagazines.com Bear Hollow and Shelton Wayside parks,
located just south of Fossil on Hwy 19, are great
areas to camp or spot wildlife. Bear Hollow is
open year-round, Shelton Wayside from April to
early November.
The Wheeler County Courthouse, located
in Fossil, was built in 1901.
prehistoric fossils. In fact, visitors can hunt for
fossils at a public fossil bed right behind the high
school. Two units of the John Day Fossil Beds
National Monument, Clarno and Painted Hills,
are located just off Hwys 218 and 26. History
buffs interested in more recent artifacts can visit
the ghost town of Richmond, located on Hwy
207 north of Mitchell.
The John Day River snakes its way through
the area, providing world-class bass fishing and
unforgettable rafting trips.
Boardman and Condon
Boardman is a great jumping-off point for
visitors to Eastern Oregon. This little town has
grown quite literally from a “wayside” stop in
1962 to a bustling industrial and recreational
destination. With the mighty Columbia River at
its back door, the Boardman area offers a wide
variety of water-related sports and activities, as
well as a beautiful marina. This portion of the
river is famous for the fighting Walleye bass.
The local shop owners can offer tips for catching
Oregon Vacation Guide 2008~2009
21
Harney County
Gateway to the Steens & more. . . .
Visit the Land of Four Rivers
and Rugged Desert Landscapes.
Four Rivers Cultural Museum
Lake Owyhee
Succor Creek
Leslie Gulch
Pillars of Rome
Tax Free Shopping
Ontario Visitor &
Convention Bureau
676 SW 5th Ave.
541-889-8012
1-866-989-8012
www.ontariochamber.com
them. Information about the area can be found
at the Boardman Chamber of Commerce.
Heppner
Nestled among gently rolling hills in wheat
and cattle country, historic Heppner is the western portal to the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway.
Here, visitors can stop to experience the Morrow
County Museum, murals, the 1903 Flood
Memorial, the 100-year old courthouse, and the
biggest shamrock in the world, symbolic of the
annual Wee Bit o’ Ireland celebration.
Echo
The tiny town of Echo along I–84 boasts 10
sites listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, including City Hall, museums, churches,
a restaurant, and Echo Cemetery, dating to the
mid-1800s. The Oregon Trail passed through
Echo, which was built near a crossing for the
Umatilla River.
Pendleton
Located along the Umatilla River, Pendleton
got its start in the 1840s when settlers traveling
the Oregon Trail began ranching and farming
in the fertile countryside. Its famous woolen mill
draws visitors from all over, and its rodeo is one
of the best in the West.
22
Oregon Vacation Guide 2008~2009 Stay at:
America’s Best Inn, 999 Oregon Ave., Burns
800-237-8466 ~ americasbestinnoregon.com
Comfort Inn, 504 N. Hwy 20, Hines
541-573-3370 ~ choicehotels.com
Harney County Chamber of Commerce
www.harneycounty.com • 541-573-2636
First held in 1910, the Pendleton Round-Up
is a four-day celebration held in September that
includes a rodeo, cowboy breakfasts and barbecues, big-name concerts, a parade, and nightly
pageants that portray local Native American culture. The Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of
Fame is across the street from the arena and tells
the stories of the people and animals that have
made this event so famous.
Pendleton Woolen Mills was founded
in 1899 by Thomas Kay, an English weaver.
Reflecting the colors and designs of Native
American art, the blankets have long been extremely popular. Free tours of the mill are given
on weekdays; the shop is open daily.
Pendleton Underground Tours take visitors
through tunnels that were built and occupied by
Chinese workers around the turn of last century.
More than 5 miles of tunnels under Pendleton’s
Historic District tell stories of the city’s colorful
past.
Visits to the Heritage Station Museum
begin with a trip through exhibits housed in a
historic train depot—a one-room schoolhouse, a
caboose, and a homestead.
Children have fun and learn something too
from the interactive exhibits at the Children’s
Museum of Eastern Oregon.
Wildhorse Resort & Casino offers 24-hour
gambling, Scottish links-style golf, and a recently
renovated hotel. Services include a restaurant,
snack bar, swimming pool, gift shop, RV park,
and free shuttle service. The casino is 4 miles east
of Pendleton off I–84.
Tamastslikt Cultural Institute Museum
chronicles thousands of years of life on the
Columbia Plateau from the perspective of the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla.
Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area,
off I–84, is perched near the summit of the Blue
Mountains between Pendleton and La Grande.
Visit the Oregon Trail display or hike the nature
trails.
Tollgate and surrounding SnoParks offer premier snowmobiling in eastern Oregon.
Numerous SnoParks are spread out along Hwy
204 in the Umatilla National Forest northeast of
Pendleton.
La Grande
La Grande serves as the center of commerce,
higher education, and state government in a
three-county area. Home to Eastern Oregon
University, La Grande hosts many cultural and
sports events. It sits on the western edge of the
Grande Ronde Valley, surrounded by snowcapped mountains and national forests.
Eastern Oregon Fire Museum is in downtown La Grande’s century-old former fire station
and features six vintage engines, along with exhibits covering 100 years of firefighting.
Oregon Trail Interpretive Park describes
the challenges faced by pioneers as they crossed
the Blue Mountains 150 years ago. A paved trail
winds through pine trees along remnants of the
old emigrant road. Other paths lead to an early
20th-century logging exhibit and through an
old-growth forest.
Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area and Nature
Trail, 6 miles south of La Grande, covers nearly
5,000 acres of restored marsh and mountainside
elk habitat. A bird and wildlife watcher’s dream,
Ladd Marsh features a nature trail, photography
blinds, and a driving tour.
Union County Museum is acclaimed for
its “Cowboys Then and Now” collection, settlement history exhibits, and agriculture courtyard.
The museum is located in the town of Union, 15
miles southeast of La Grande. Union is also the
home of the popular Buffalo Peak Golf Course.
Gilstrap Brothers Winery is set on the
western slopes of the Wallowa Mountains above
the tiny town of Cove east of La Grande. Open
for wine-tasting and tours on Saturdays in summer and by appointment.
Meacham Divide Nordic Ski Area, located
www.northwestmagazines.com
off I–84 exit 243, offers outstanding scenery and
15 miles of ski trails.
Elgin
Elgin is a great stop along the Hells Canyon
Scenic Byway 20 miles northeast of La Grande
on Hwy 82 and is a jumping-off point for rafting and fishing. It is also the west portal of the
historic Wallowa Union Railroad on which the
Eagle Cap Excursion Train operates.
The Elgin Opera House, a restored theater
built in 1912, hosts movies, concerts, and plays
and also houses the Elgin Museum, where you
can learn about the history of Indian Valley.
Spout Springs is a downhill and crosscountry ski area with well-groomed slopes and
an extensive trail system. With a long vertical
drop, skiers enjoy plenty of powder and spectacular views. Spout Springs also boasts one of the
Northwest’s largest freestyle tubing hills.
Enterprise And Joseph
The communities of Enterprise and Joseph
are surrounded by beautiful mountains, attracting many artists to the area. This is a great
base point for excursions into the Eagle Cap
Wilderness or Hells Canyon.
as
drive that w
Saw a cattle
nd
a country a
right out of
ie!
western Mov
Eagle Cap Excursion Train carries passengers into the roadless canyon country along the
Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers on 60 miles of
historic line between Elgin and Joseph.
Eagle Cap Wilderness draws rock climbers, mountain bikers, hikers, llama trekkers, and
horseback riders to its granite peaks and glaciercarved valleys. Access the wilderness from trailheads in Wallowa, Baker, and Union counties, or
from the top of Wallowa Lake Tramway. Check
trail accessibility in advance with the Wallowa
Mountains Visitor Center.
Wallowa Lake State Park, 6 miles south of
Joseph off Hwy 82, is open all year. You’ll find a
campground, picnic area, showers, boat moorage,
and a boat ramp. Go-carts, paddle boats, and
miniature golf provide endless entertainment.
The tramway takes passengers to the top of
Mount Howard for summer or wintertime fun.
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
includes portions of three national forests. Hells
Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge.
Year-round campgrounds offer an opportunity
to experience temperate fall and winter climate
in and around Hells Canyon. The canyon is a
prime water recreation area. Services for Hells
Canyon Country are provided in nearby communities such as Pine and Halfway.
Richland
Richland, named for the rich soil settlers
found here, is located on Hells Canyon Scenic
Byway, Hwy 86, east of Baker City. The area still
supports farmers and ranchers, and now outdoor
enthusiasts who enjoy Brownlee Reservoir. While
the reservoir is known as a fishing paradise, upland game birds and waterfowl are also plentiful.
Baker City
Once the largest city in Oregon, Baker City
was considered the social center on the Oregon
Trail and was a major supply center during the
Gold Rush era. It has more than 110 buildings
on the National Register of Historic Places.
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center’s interactive displays and
living history demonstrations combine to make
one of the most comprehensive re-creations of the
Oregon Trail pioneers’ experiences. Visitors can
walk on paved trails alongside the scars carved by
wagons, or visit the Oregon Trail shop for books
and games about the Trail experience.
Oregon Trail Regional Museum has a
collection of rocks and gemstones as well as
historical displays. The building was built in
continued on page 28
 Kam Wah Chung
museum ~ There is so
much history here!
Strawberry Mountain
was beautiful.
Rode through John Day
Fossil Beds on the
Journey Through
Time Byway.
Grant County
Chamber of Commerce
John Day Oregon
Our trip
through
Grant
County
has been
amazin
Too bad
g.
we could
n
’t try all
861 mil
es of Sn
owmobil
ATV tra
e and
ils but to
day we d
hike Str
id
awberry
Mounta
and yes
in
terday w
e visited
Kam W
the
ah Chun
g
Museum
Can’t wa
.
it to com
e back a
experien
nd
ce the fis
hing, ra
ing, swim
ftming, a
nd boati
Note to s
ng
elf ~ ca
ll chamb
for more
e
r
informa
tion!
800-769-5664/541-575-0547 • grantcounty.cc • email: [email protected]
www.northwestmagazines.com Oregon Vacation Guide 2008~2009
23
Drive the
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
www.hellscanyonbyway.com
*Designated an All-American Road - One of America’s Premier Scenic Routes
See Byway map and businesses on the following pages.
Contact us for a Byway map and travel information
Baker City & County: 1-800-523-1235 or www.visitbaker.com
La Grande & Union County: 1-800-848-9969 or www.visitlagrande.com
Enterprise & Wallowa County: 1-800-585-4121 or www.wallowacountychamber.com
Eagle cap excursion train
Ride a train through Oregon’s most
beautiful scenery, in the roadless Grande
Ronde and Wallowa River canyons.
800-323-7330 • eaglecaptrain.com
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center
Full scale wagon train diorama, Oregon Trail ruts,
gallery exhibits, events and re-enactments, live
theater presentation & films, hiking trails & book
shop. 5 miles east of Baker City on Hwy 86
Open daily • Easy access
541-523-1843 • oregontrail.blm.gov
Photo by Eric W. Valentine, Praise! Photography • www.praisephotography.com
Open year-round • Riverside cabins
Heated outdoor pool • Hot tub
59782 Wallowa Lake Highway
541-432-2951
www.flyingarrowresort.com
Offering homes
& cabins in
Joseph and
Wallowa Lake.
Come & enjoy
our 4 beautiful
seasons!
wallowa lake Tramway
www.wallowalaketramway.com
Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Wallowa
Mountains & Eagle Cap Wilderness
area . . . From the 8,150’ summit!
Mountain biking, hiking trails.
Dine at the Summit Grill & Alpine Pati
o
Memorial Day–September • 541-432-5331
Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals
800-709-2039
WallowaLakeVacationRentals.com
One Day
White Water
Rafting
Tours
La Grande Farmer’s Market
Start at the Farmer’s Market, visit the
Eastern Oregon Fire Museum and shop
all
day in historic downtown La Grande.
800-848-9969 • visitlagrande.com
Oversized Rooms, super clean & quiet,
Low rates/Senior rates, 25"color TV, Non-smoking
East of I-84, Exit 304
800-307-5206 • alwayswelcomeinn.com
The Rock
Bowling & Family
Fun Center
Bowling, mini indy cars, mi
ni gol
batting cages, Full coin-op arc f,
ade.
Barley Brown’s Brew Pub
Excellent family dining in a unique
atmosphere. Eclectic dinner menu.
National Award Winning Brewery.
Corner of Main & Church Street
Baker City • 541-523-4266
Wallowa Lake Resor
t
Cozy cabins or luxury vacatio
Hot tub,WiFi. Handicap acc n homes.
essible, king
beds, free snow shoes. Pets
welcome! Ask
about extended stay and off
season discounts.
84681 Ponderosa Lane
541-432-2391
wallowalakeresort.com
wallowavacation@wild
blue.net
Full &
1/2 Day
Jetboat
Tours
Always Welcome Inn
Highest in Customer Satisfaction
541-975-BOWL (2695)
2301 Cove Avenue, La Gr
ande
Value & Fun in Everythi
ng we provide!
Boulder Creek
Restaurant
FULL service restaurant
serving Certified Angus
Beef® brand steaks & burgers
.
Biggest and best selection of
food items in town
541-975-5595 • At The Ro
ck
Corner of Cove and Albany
, La Grande
Eagle Cap Chalets
nce
Cabins, condos, chalets, confere
edge
facilities & deluxe RV sites at the
of the Eagle Cap Wilderness
x
59879 Wallowa Lake Hwy
541-432-4704 or 541-432-8800
www.eaglecapchalets.com
1-800-HCA
(541) 785- -FLOT
Temperance
3352
Creek
Dinner
Jetboat
Cruise
Along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
at the south end of the
Hells Canyon on the
Snake River in Oxbow, Oregon.
[email protected]
www.hellscanyonadventures.com
Baker County Parks & Recreation Depart
Hewitt/John Holcomb Parks
on Brownlee Reservoir
Campsites, boating, swimming, fishing.
Come join us for a visit!
Open 365 days a year.
ment
Call for reservations: 541-893-6147
www.bakercounty.net/parks&recreation
Eastern Oregon
attractions
Where to Stay
Baker City
01 National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Baker City
14 Always Welcome Inn
800-307-5206 or 541-523-3431
08 Tamastslikt Cultural Institute 800-654-9453
A Native American Perspective of the Oregon Trail. I-84/
Exit 216, tamastslikt.org
09 Wildhorse Resort & Casino 800-654-WILD (9453)
Casino • Hotel • RV Park • Championship Golf Course!
wildhorseresort.com
Richland
10 Hewitt & John Holcomb Parks 541-893-6147
Sporting & Recreation fun on the Brownlee Reservoir. Open
Year round, off Hwy 86. bakercounty.net/parks&recreation
Wallowa Lake
11 Wallowa Lake Tramway 541-432-5331
Ride to the 8150-ft summit of Mt Howard, mtn bike & hike.
Open Memorial Day-Sept. wallowalaketramway.com
Where to Eat
Baker City
12 Barley Brown’s Brew Pub 541-523-4266
National award winning brewery. Family dining in the
historic district. Mon. - Sat. 4 pm - 10 pm. 2190 Main St.
La Grande
13 Boulder Creek Restaurant 541-975-5595
Certified Angus Beef Brand steaks to burgers on a FULL
service menu for all budgets.
2301 Cove Ave.
26
Oregon Vacation Guide 2008~2009 Broad way
N Egan Ave
19 Eagle Cap Chalets & Park at the River Ontario
541-432-2951
Vacation rentals. River front cabins on Wallowa Lake, heated
pool and hot tub, year round. flyingarrowresort.com
21 Wallowa Lake Resort
541-432-2391
Luxury vacation homes or cozy cabins with kitchens. Hot
tub with a view, pets welcome. wallowalakeresort.com
22 Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals.
800-709-2039
Your private home in paradise at Wallowa Lake.
wallowalakevacationrentals.com
visitor information
23 Baker County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
490 Campbell St., Baker City, OR 97814
800-523-1235
visitbaker.com
Boardman Chamber of Commerce boardmanchamber.com
206 N Main Street, Boardman, OR 97818 541-481-3014
Eastern Oregon Visitors Association 800-332-1843
15477 Sky Ranch Lane, Haines, OR 97883
eova.com
24 Grant County Chamber grantcounty.cc 541-575-0547
maps and services
25 Harney County Chamber 541-573-2636
76 E Washington St., Burns, OR www.harneycounty.com
Heppner Chamber of Commerce 541-676-5536
W May Street, Heppner, OR 97836 heppnerchamber.com
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce hermistonchamber.com
415 S Hwy 395, Hermiston, OR 97838
541-567-6151
Huntington Chamber of Commerce
541-869-2019
210 W Washington, Huntington, OR 97907
201
SW 4
Orego
20 Flying Arrow Resort
n St
541-432-4704
Cabins, condos, chalets, conference rooms, and deluxe RV
sites. Open Year Round. eaglecapchalets.com
301 W Main St., John Day, OR 97845
84
St
Pendleton
17
Wallowa lake
r
n
800-HCA-FLOT
1-day rafting trips. 2 to 6 hr. jetboat tours, 4 hr. dinner cruise,
Snake River thru Hells Canyon. hellscanyonadventures.com
ive
15
go
oXBOW
07 Hells Canyon Adventures eR
20
201
re
800-848-9969
Start your Saturday at the farmer’s market.visitlagrande.com
541-276-6111, 1-800-Red-Lion
Full service hotel with meeting space, restaurant and lounge.
304 S.E. Nye Ave. redlion.com
78
ak
395
O
06 La Grande Farmer’s Market 18 Red Lion Hotel
Sn
st
Fun for the ENTIRE family. Bowling, Mini-Indy Cars, Arcade,
Mini Golf and a full restaurant. 7 days a week. 2301 Cove Ave.
E Adams St
W Monroe St
Pendleton
NW 1
05 The Rock Bowling & Family Fun Center 541-975-2695
choicehotels.com ~ 541-573-3370
Indoor heated pool & spa. Deluxe continental breakfast. Inroom refrigerator & microwave, wireless internet. 504 Hwy 20
St
.
La Grande
Hines
17 Comfort Inn 20
25
E Washington St
Idaho
th Av
Ave
84
e
2nd
800-323-7330 (RESV.)
Ride from the Grande Ronde River to the Wallowa Mountains. Call for ticket information.
eaglecaptrain.com
541-493-2312
Naturally hot mineral water pond/tubs, cabins, Tent, & RV
sites. cranehotsprings.com
SW
Elgin
04 Eagle Cap Excursion Train
395
16 Crystal Crane Hot Springs Or
eg
on
541-493-2070
Gift shop, family museum, drinks & snacks. Open Mar. 1 ~
Jan. 1, 51955 Lava Bed Rd. Diamond roundbarn.net
5th
03 Jenkins Round Barn Visitor Center Burns
800-237-8466 / 541-573-1700
Indoor pool & spa, continental breakfast,internet access, Pet
friendly, 999 Oregon Ave.
americasbestinnoregon.com
SW
Jenkins Historical Tours 888-493-2420
Tours include historic, geological, wildlife,and heritage.
51955 Lava Bed Rd. Diamond
roundbarn.net
Burns
15 America’s Best Inn
Alameda Drive
Diamond
Oversized rooms, super clean and quiet, 25” TV, nonsmoking. I-84 exit 304. alwayswelcomeinn.com
Sunset Drive
541-523-1843
Living history, theater, indoor & outdoor exhibits, gift shop.
I-84 Exit 306, 5 miles East of Baker City
30
26
SE 5th Ave
Jenkins Round Barn Visitor Center 541-493-2070
Local information - Maps. Open Mar. 1 ~ Jan. 1, 51955
Lava Bed Rd. Diamond roundbarn.net
Milton-Freewater Chamber of Commerce mfchamber.com
541-938-5563
505 Ward Street, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862
Nyssa Chamber of Commerce 105 Main Street, Nyssa, OR 97913
541-372-3091
26 Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Center & Convention Bureau 866-989-8012
676 SW Fifth Ave, Ontario, OR 97914 ontariochamber.com
Pendleton Chamber of Commerce
501 S Main, Pendleton, OR 97801
800-547-8911
pendletonchamber.com
27 Union County Tourism & Visitor Center visitlagrande.com
800-848-9969
Your source for travel and tourism information 102 Elm St.
Umatilla Chamber of Commerce
1530 Sixth Street, Umatilla, OR 97882
541-922-4825
umatilla.org
Vale Chamber of Commerce
151 B Street, Vale, 97918
541-473-3800
valeoregon.org
28 Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce
wallowacountychamber.com
115 Tejaka, Enterprise, OR 97828
800-585-4121
www.northwestmagazines.com
395
12
97
Washington
WA
12
Milton-Freewater
Pendleton
Umatilla
Hermiston
Enterprise
Heppner
Joseph
La Grande
39
Sn
Long Creek
te
ga
84
84
Huntington
26
20
20
16
Warm
Springs
Reservoir
Lake
Owyhee
Crane
03
Happy
Valley
78
Jordan Valley
395
ain
Frenchglen
unt
Burns
Junction
Mo
Lake
Abert
eview
140
ID
95
205
Andrews
Steens
Paisley
e.
84
To Elgin
La Grande
06 A
da
m
s
N Ave
Diamond
mmer
ake
08
09
Exit
216
Exit
210
18
iver
Sp ring
New Princeton
Malheur
Lake
Harney
Lake
30
20
Drewsey
Buchanan
11
Y Avenue
203
Nyssa
395
30
SE Nye Av
e
R on d
Idaho
Ontario
20
Rd
R
e
nd
ra
Unity
John Day
Burns/Hines
Creek
G
24
26
84
Tutuill
a
St
Dayville
Richland
set Dr Walnut St
Sun
Mitchell
30
Baker
City
uth
Granite
Sumpter
37
Halfway
So
Monument
27
e
Av
82
d
lan
Is
Exit
261 Buchanan Ln
05 13
Av
e Cove Ave
84
m
El
203
To exit
265
"C" Ave
Hart
Lake
CA
enterprise & joseph
Nevada
NV
Hells
Canyon
Hells canyon Scenic Byway
Campground
US Forest Service Office
Winter Recreation Trailhead
La Grande
G
Baker City
84
To Boise
ive
eR
on
ny
Joseph
Wallowa
Lake
11
D Canyon
D Overlook
Hells
Halfway
Richland
10
G
DDD
DD
e
ak
Sn
Exit 302
39
84
07
Baker City
Copperfield
Pine
Creek
86
86
19
22
Hells
Canyon
Dam
39
86
Riv
er
r
!
North Powder
Haines Oregon Trail
Flagstaff Hill
ak
Sn
39
84
Interpretive
Center 01
Hells Canyon
Creek Rec. Site
Salt Creek
Recreation
Area
Imnaha River
30
D
Joseph
D 21
Wallowa
20
Lake
G
350
Ca
Wallowa
Mountain
Visitor
Center
Island City
28
Sn
a ke
Riv
ha
na
G Enterprise
Imbler
Area
39
Enterprise
Campbell St 23
Brownlee Dam
14
12
Auburn
Powder Ri
ver
D
G
!
Paved, impassable in winter
Imnaha
Wallowa
82 Lostine
82
82
Main St
Paved Surface
3 To Lewiston
lls
04
Hells Canyon Overlook el. 5100'
84 To Portland
D
Dug
Bar
He
Elgin
Wallowa Mountain Loop
Pine Valley to Baker Valley
Minam
Recreation
Imnaha
Im
Grande Ronde Valley to Wallowa Valley
er
To Walla Walla
204 and Pendleton
National
Wallowa
r
BYWAY SEGMENTS
3
Rive
oose
ake
37
Oxbow
Haines
30
st
SW 1
395
Fossil
11
30
illa
St
Main
244
Ukiah
Wallowa
Lake
Union
ake
s Valley
t
U ma
N Spruce
Wallowa
Summerville
Pilot Rock
ve
r
82
Elgin
Ione
6th St
Pendleton
Arlington
Hells
Canyon
National
Recreation
Area
Ri
3
4th
84
2nd St.
Boardman
Riv
er
endale
e
Walla Walla
82
14
Exit 304
Baker
City
84
30
www.northwestmagazines.com Oregon Vacation Guide 2008~2009
27
canyon spires, and deep gorges as well as the
vibrant pinks, oranges, purples, and reds of
sandstone cliffs. The road is primitive and
open March–November.
Photo by Leon Werdinger
Burns
Painted Hills
from on page 23
1920 as a natatorium. It’s open late March–
October.
Adler House Museum was the home of a
local philanthropist. The 1889 home has been
restored with original Victorian furnishings.
The museum is open late March–October.
Sumpter is known as the liveliest ghost
town in Oregon. This Gold Rush town west
of Baker City on Hwy 7 has excellent fishing,
mountain biking, gold panning, ATV trails,
and 350 miles of groomed snowmobile trails.
Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage
Area, located at the base of the Elkhorn
Mountain Range along Hwy 7, saw millions
of dollars in gold extracted between the Gold
Rush and the 1950s. The dredge is an important link to Oregon’s pioneering past and is
one of the largest gold dredges in the country.
Sumpter Valley Railway, one of the oldest narrow-gauge railroads in the country,
takes passengers on a 5-mile run between
McEwen Station and Sumpter on weekends and major holidays from Memorial
Day–September. Elkhorn Wildlife Area has
elk viewing excursions from mid-December to
February. T&T Wildlife Tours’ horse-drawn
trolley takes guests on a narrated ride through
herds of elk wintering between Baker City
and La Grande.
The light, dry snow at Ski Anthony
Lakes attracts powder junkies to 23 runs at
this high-mountain resort. It’s a picturesque
setting for camping and fishing during
warmer months.
28
Oregon Vacation Guide 2008~2009 John Day
The largest town in Grant County, John
Day (junction of Hwys 26 and 395) is surrounded by thousands of acres of national forest and wilderness. Stop by the Grant County
Chamber. It’s an 1890s church rectory.
Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site reveals history through the eyes of the Chinese
immigrants who worked the mines and built
the railroads of Eastern Oregon.
John Day Fossil Beds National
Monument lies northwest of John Day. Plant
and animal fossils here are well-preserved. The
year-round park is divided into widely separated units: Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and
Clarno. At the Thomas Condon Paleontology
Center, located in the Sheep Rock unit, visitors can watch paleontologists at work.
Ontario
Ontario rests on the banks of the Snake
River, the boundary between Oregon and
Idaho. The area grows onions, russet potatoes,
sugar beets, peppermint, and much of the
world’s zinnia seeds. Three major highways
converge here: I–84 and Hwys 20 and 26.
Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum
honors the inhabitants and diverse cultures of
western Treasure Valley by preserving and recording their history and contributions to the
region’s development.
Leslie Gulch–Succor Creek National
Back Country Byway, off Hwy 95, traverses
some of the most rugged territory in Eastern
Oregon and offers views of ancient ridges,
Burns was the unofficial capital of highdesert cattle country in the late 1800s. Still a
friendly “cowboy town” with plenty of tourist
amenities, Burns is central to travelers headed
for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Steens
Mountain, and the Alvord Desert.
Harney County Historical Museum displays a wealth of history with its old-fashioned
pre-electric “entertainment center,” wagon shed
houses, extensive photograph collections, and
much more. Open April–September.
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, off
Hwy 205, is home to more than 250 species of
birds and about 60 species of mammals, which
can be observed year-round while hiking, biking, or fishing. Refuge headquarters is 32 miles
southeast of Burns on Malheur Lake. Open
daily.
Diamond
The Diamond area, off Hwy 205 and Hwy
78, offers a snapshot of ranch country.
Peter French Round Barn, a unique structure built in the late 1870s, was used originally
as a place to break horses in winter. A hundred
feet in diameter, it was designed and constructed by local cattle baron Peter French and
is now located on state park lands. Next door
is a visitor center, home of Jenkins’ Historical
Tours, the Jenkins Family Museum, and a gift
shop.
Diamond Craters, east of Hwy 205, is
about 55 miles southeast of Burns. Geologists
claim the area has the “best and most diverse
basaltic volcanic features in the United States.”
Within a 22-square-mile area south of Malheur
Lake, more than 100 cinder cones and craters
can be seen. There are no tourist facilities, so
come prepared.
Frenchglen
This tiny town, south of Burns on Hwy
205, is the gateway to Steens Mountain, a fault
block 30 miles long that juts almost 10,000 feet
above the Alvord Desert.
Frenchglen Hotel State Heritage Site,
along Hwy 205, is a historic eight-room hotel
built in the 1920s. It offers accommodations
from mid-March to mid-November.
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