Now is an amazing time to enjoy the scenery along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway All-American Road. The hillsides are many shades of green and wildflowers are in full bloom. There is still snow on the high peaks, adding depth and character to your photos.

Please take the road slowly and watch for hazards such as speeding vehicles and larger vehicles taking wide corners. Although it is a paved, two-lane highway, it is a backroad through a forested area, and anything can happen at any time. Always use caution and be aware that cell phone service is often not available, so getting assistance can be daunting. Be prepared – fill your tank before setting out (Joseph and Halfway have fuel stations) and carry drinking water, snacks and jackets for changes in the weather. Forest Service campgrounds are open and serviced by mid-June.
To experience the canyon from the bottom looking up at the dramatic basalt cliffs, go to Copperfield and cross the bridge to the Idaho side, then follow the Snake River downstream to the Hells Canyon Dam (24 miles of paved highway) and the Hells Canyon Dam Interpretive Center. This is in the heart of the canyon and the scenery is spectacular. Then backtrack toward Halfway to where the FS Road 39 leads into the forest for the section that offers grand views from the top, looking down into canyon country from the Hells Canyon Overlook. (Don’t miss the turn-off to the 2-mile drive to the overlook!)

AS mentioned elsewhere, there are highway construction projects in a couple of places along the byway’s state highways. In our region, highway officials must cram a lot of work into a few months of good weather. You may have to wait for up to 20 minutes in some situations, or you may just experience a slow-down through sections where one lane is closed during weekdays. Please use caution – we all appreciate the work it takes to keep our highways safe.
One last note: be sure to also watch for livestock along all sections of the byway. Ranchers are turning their cattle out to summer grazing and cattle have the right-of-way in Oregon, so may be on the road in remote places that aren’t fenced or where fences haven’t yet been fixed after the impacts of winter. Cattle drives take place on byway roads, as well. When encountering a cattle drive, please slow down. Cattle, calves, horses and dogs can be very unpredictable around vehicles, especially when stressed. Honking the horn won’t help and can cause an accident. Watch for signals from people tending the livestock, as they will help you navigate through the herd, whether you are traveling with or against the flow of animals. We appreciate your patience and hope you will enjoy this enduring and necessary spectacle of the West.

Watch wildlife from a distance – June 10, 2021

Leave them where you find them

Young wild animals are rarely orphaned – mom’s probably just off foraging for food. So if you see a deer fawn, elk calf or other young animal alone, leave it where it is. Chances are an adult animal is nearby. Read more reasons why trying to “save” an animal may do more harm than good.

Best bets for weekend fishing

Weekend fishing opportunities include trout, salmon, steelhead, bass and warmwater species, and a variety of ocean fish. Check out the zone reports for details, including occasional updates.

https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/snake-zone

ODFW braces for drought

What anglers can expect – March, April and May of 2021 were among the driest spring months since the 1890s, and ODFW is bracing for a serious drought as summer arrives. Currently, 72 percent of the state is in severe or extreme drought status.

As the summer progresses, anglers should continue to expect changes to fish stocking, and possible emergency regulations. See more details here. The weekly Recreation Report will be your best source of information on conditions and any emergency regulations.

New map shows wildfire impacts on recreation

Natural resource agencies in Oregon have teamed up to create an interagency status map that shows open, closed and reduced service areas on a single map, regardless of reason for closure. The map now also includes an updated boat ramp status map.

Register for shotgun skills, pheasant hunting workshops

ODFW is offering several of its popular shotgun skills and pheasant hunting workshops beginning in June. A shotgun skills class is a prerequisite to a pheasant hunting workshop. These classes fill quickly, so sign up soon. See more details and register.

ENTERPRISE, OR__On the morning of June 11, at 6:00 a.m., NW Team 7 transitioned management of the fire back to local agencies. Northwest Team 7 would like to thank the entire Wallowa County community for their support as well as firefighters for all their hard work throughout this incident. Local agencies will continue to monitor conditions and will remain ready in the event there are changes to the current status.

Joseph Canyon Fire –   Start Date: June 4, 2021     Cause: Lightning     Size: 7,610 acres     Containment: 95%  Location: The Joseph Canyon Fire is located in steep rugged terrain of Joseph Canyon area of northern Wallowa County, Oregon.

Status: Weather patterns continued to provide favorable conditions for suppression actions due to cooler temperatures and scattered showers in the fire area yesterday. Minimal fire behavior occurred due to higher fine fuel moisture.

Dry Creek Fire – Start Date: June 3-4, 2021     Cause: Lightning     Size: 1,585 acres     Containment: 95%
Location:  The Dry Creek Fire is located in a remote and rugged part of Hells Canyon, northeast of Joseph, OR.

Status: Weather patterns continued to provide favorable conditions yesterday for suppression efforts due to cooler temperatures and scattered showers in the fire area. Minimal fire behavior occurred due to higher fine fuel moisture and precipitation.

Weather: Cloudy skies are expected, with a slight chance for afternoon showers. South winds of 5-10 mph.

Evacuations: There are currently no evacuation orders associated with the Joseph Canyon and Dry Creek fires.

Closures: The Nez Perce Tribe has temporarily closed the Precious Lands Wildlife Management Area in Northeastern Oregon: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7513/59633/

Fire Season Declared: Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northeast Oregon District proclaimed fire season began Wednesday, June 9, at 12:01 a.m. They have new fire restriction signs located throughout the district, with a Fire Prevention information line; (541) 975-3027 and a QR code which will take you to www.bmidc.org, for current information on fire restrictions.

Prevention Message: Whether we are out in nature or home in our backyards, remember that it’s our role to protect the lands we love by preventing wildfires and recreating responsibly.

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The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest issued the following press release, June 5, 2021. Please be extra cautious when traveling and recreating throughout Eastern Oregon, as fire danger is high early this season, due to drought conditions and low humidity.

JOSEPH, OREGON__Lightning activity from thunderstorms passing through the area Thursday night and Friday morning ignited multiple wildfires in the northeast corner of the state. Responding resources have successfully contained some of the ignitions, however others remain active and uncontained.
The Joseph Canyon Fire, initially reported Friday morning by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is burning in steep rugged terrain in the Joseph Canyon area of northern Wallowa County, Oregon. Low humidity, warm temperatures, and breezy winds hampered firefighting efforts Friday and the fire rapidly spread through the grassy vegetation within the canyon and crossed over the state line into Washington. The fire continued to burn actively overnight in the flashy fuels and is estimated to be approximately 2,000 acres.
The fire is burning on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Bureau of Land Management. A local interagency Type 3 team will shadow firefighters today and transition management of the fire to the team at 6 p.m. tonight.
A second fire, Dry Creek, is burning just to the east of the Joseph Canyon Fire. It is estimated to be 328 acres and is located solely on Wallowa-Whitman National Forest land.
All jurisdictions involved share common objectives in managing these fires, which is to fight the fires aggressively while maximizing the safety of the public and all fire staff involved. Due to the remote location and steep rugged terrain, the fires are mostly being fought by air attack. Rappelers, smoke jumpers and air tankers were brought in for initial suppression efforts. Three large airtankers dropped retardant along the perimeter of the Joseph Canyon Fire Friday to slow the fire growth. In addition to firefighter delivery, three Type 2 helicopters were used to drop water on hot spots. These aerial resources will continue to support firefighters on the ground today, as well as the addition of Single Engine Air Tankers. Active fire behavior is expected today with low humidity and increasing winds as a cold front passes through.

CONTACTS: Sara Bethscheider (541-426-5585) or Christie Shaw (541-263-0661)

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In Northeast Oregon, summer and fall are packed with special events that celebrate the personality and history of each community. Special interest groups gather for car shows, motorcycle rallies, cycling events, rodeos and star-gazing. Go to the site’s Visitor Resources page and check out the calendars of events for each of the chambers of commerce. You are certain to find events that appeal to your interests.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City offers entertainment and events of its own throughout the year. Coming to the center June 26 through 29 is musical duo Bill Boycott and Joanne Orr, who perform as Buffalo Bill and Dr. Jo.  This Lander, Wyoming, couple tours around the west, sharing the legacy of traditional and folk music, as well as original compositions and stories about the west – pioneers, cowboys, Native Americans, and the railroads. The couple uses vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. Their performance titled “Along the Oregon Trail” includes multi-media, as well as a program on Indian Sign Language. Known for their outstanding vocal harmonies, they won a Western Music Association Harmony Duo Award. Bill has also won awards for his traditional western style yodeling.

Buffalo Bill & Dr. Jo perform each day at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., through Saturday, June 29.

Spring is finally in the air in Northeast Oregon. It’s been a long winter and we are pleased the season brought lots of snow to the high country and valleys. The deep snow means the FS 39 road that connects the Pine Valley with the Wallowa Valley will almost certainly remain closed to vehicles through May. We will post on this site when we hear from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest that the route is passable. In the meantime, you can explore the rest of the byway and all of the communities along the route and know that you will be enjoying beautiful scenery and a warm welcome from businesses.

The Oregon Department of Parks & Recreation announced today a special pilot program that will offer discounted rates for electrical and full-hookup RV campsites is now available at selected state parks during September and October. Two parks in Eastern Oregon are included, Starting today, campers will be able to apply a special online code to receive a $7 discount off the nightly RV campsite rate, bringing the current rate from $24-33 down to $17-26.

From Sept. 4-30, the discount can apply to reservations made for Sunday through and including Thursday nights. From Oct. 1–31, the discount is valid all days of the week.

Only reservations made online on or after Aug. 22 are eligible for the discounted rate. Campers must use a special code at checkout—FallFun7—to receive the discount. For more information and to start the reservation process, campers can go online to http://bit.ly/fall4fun.

The discount is available at these parks:

September
—Farewell Bend State Recreation Area between Ontario and Baker City
—Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park near Florence
—Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area near Crater Lake
—L.L. Stub Stewart State Park west of Portland
—Viento State Park east of Cascade Locks
—William M. Tugman State Park south of Reedsport

October
—Champoeg State Heritage Area near Newberg
—Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area east of Pendleton
—Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
—L.L. Stub Stewart State Park
—Milo McIver State Park near Estacada
—Prineville Reservoir State Park south of Prineville
—South Beach State Park near Newport
—Viento State Park

Chris Havel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) associate director, says the discount is a test meant to see if price can encourage campers to explore different parks and to keep the outdoors affordable.

“Americans left 700 million days of vacation on the table in 2017, and more than 80% wish they took the time to discover new places. Oregonians can think beyond the typical summer vacation and show the rest of the country how it’s done,” said Havel. “Price is just one of the ways to encourage new travel, and this is only a limited trial program, but if things go well we’ll expand the discount.”

Additional details:
—The discount is only for new reservations made on or after Aug. 22, 2018.
—Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
—The discount is for recreational vehicle campsites; current tent site rates vary from $10-22 with lodging tax and remain unchanged.
—ADA-accessible campsites are eligible for the discount. To reserve an ADA-accessible site and apply the discount, call the state parks information center at 800-551-6949.

More information about the parks included in the discount program is on oregonstateparks.org.

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• Hells Canyon Adventures operates on Pacific Time

TUES, Aug 13: Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure, 10:00-3:00; Granite Creek Adventure 10:00-12:00

WED, Aug 15:  Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:00

THURS, Aug 16: Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:00; Granite Creek Adventure 10:00-12:00
Granite Creek Adventure 2:00-4:00

FRI, Aug 17: Call for schedule

SAT, Aug 18:  Call for schedule

SUN, Aug 19:  Call for schedule

MON, Aug 20:  Call for schedule

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 800-422-3568 or 208-257-4564

Information provided by Hells Canyon Adventures

Oxbow, Oregon__Hells Canyon Adventures has launched their 2018 season and is offering rafting and jet boat tours on the Snake River in Hells Canyon. HCA is the only company that provides a variety of jet boat tours, raft adventures, fishing charters, and shuttle services into the heart of Hells Canyon – South Entrance / Wild River Section, in Oxbow, Oregon.

The Wild River Section is where you find the largest rapids, where the canyon is at its deepest elevations, and the scenery transitions from rock walls at the bottom, to high dessert grasslands in the middle, to alpine forests at the top.

One of three ways to access Hells Canyon – (1) South Entrance, Hells Canyon Dam (2) Pittsburgh Landing (3) Lewiston/Clarkston – the south entrance offers so much more than just access into Hells Canyon:

• Travel along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
• Tent and full service RV camping is available beside the Hells Canyon Snake River Reservoirs. Wood Head Park, McCormick Park, Copperfield Park, and Hells Canyon Park are well maintained, not crowded, and have great day use areas, fantastic for picnics.
• HCA has operated in the Wild River Section for 45 years. The company has shown the other operators that it is possible to safely operate in the Wild River Section.

Call 800-422-3568 or 208-257-4564 for assistance with your travel plans. See the weekly schedule updates at www.hellscanyonadventures.com.

Easy access from Oregon or Idaho to the South Entrance of Hells Canyon: (1) Highway 71 from Cambridge, Idaho (2) Highway 86 from Baker City, Oregon (3) USFS Road #39 from Wallowa Lake/Joseph, Oregon. All roads lead to the famed “Devils Tail,” the last 22 miles from Oxbow to the Hells Canyon Dam. Drive slowly and enjoy the scenery — drive too fast and join the scenery. All roads are paved.

The South Entrance of Hells Canyon is a remote location. We want you to enjoy all that a remote location has to offer so come prepared. Have a full tank of gas, have a cooler full of snacks and drinks, and be prepared to turn off your phone because the cell phone service is spotty.

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As is typical in byway country during the heart of summer, there are lots of ways to spend the weekend, soaking up the sun or cooling off in a watery wonderland.

In Baker City, it’s time for Minor’s Jubilee – a celebration of the region’s gold mining history and a great excuse for lining up lots of music and vendors in the park and bronc busting and bull riding at the fairgrounds. A visit to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will inform and delight history lovers of all ages.

In La Grande, Adams Avenue is alive with activity during the long-standing Crazy Days and Grande Ronde-a-View Car Show. You will find lots of great bargains as businesses clear out their seasonal inventory with tables on the sidewalk. Fire trucks will offer showers to dampen the heat, and the bay doors of the old fire station will be open to expose the new Side A Brewing & Pub, where you can cap off the day with a cool brew and delicious burger or spicy mac and cheese. Be sure to take the time to see the beautifully restored vintage fire trucks and exhibits in the adjacent Eastern Oregon Fire Museum.

At Wallowa Lake, meet at the lodge before 9 a.m., Sunday and take part in a family-friendly Discovery Walk. Billed as enlightening, opportunistic, engaging and flexible, Discovery Walks match participants with a resident naturalist for a morning walk. These can be many things: rambles with kids through the Lodge grounds, wandering up old moraines with curious visitors, or marches up Hurricane creek hunting basalt. Or, take a ride on the Wallowa Lake Tramway for a discovery walk of your own along the two miles of trails at the top.

And, in the heart of the canyon, Hells Canyon Adventures offers jet boat rides on the Snake River. Could there be a better way to see this amazing canyon and beat the heat? Here is this weekend’s schedule:

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2017 
Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:30 
Afternoon Wild Sheep Adventure- 4:00-6:00     

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2017
Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:30
Morning Wild Sheep w/ Lunch 10:00-12:00
Afternoon Granite Creek Adventure – 2:00-4:00

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017   
Morning Granite Creek Adventure 10:00-12:00
Day Rafting with Jet Boat Return 9:00- 4:00
Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:30
Afternoon Granite Creek Adventure – 2:00-4:00

There are many more choices of how to spend your weekend in Hells Canyon Country! Go to the Visitor Resources page and follow the links to area chambers of commerce for more ideas.