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.

While snow is still falling in the surrounding Wallowa and Elkhorn Ridge of the Blue Mountains, the valleys along the route are bright green with new grass, trees along the river banks are budding and pussy willows have spouted their soft kitty paws of seeds. Bright yellow forsythia bushes and a few pink and white flowering fruit trees add color to yards and garden patches of ranch houses.

For those of us who love animals, it is hard to beat the sight of frisky young calves in meadow after meadow – this is cattle country and there are thousands of cows getting anxious to take their babies from the winter feeding and calving grounds in the valleys to the fresh grass in spring and summer pastures in the hills. We noticed a lot of ranches were beehives of activity, as ranchers were taking advantage of the cloudy but dry weather to brand and vaccinate their herds in preparation of turning them out on the range. Brightly colored ear tags help match mother and calf, in case they get separated or need doctored. The family brand ensures a lost cow or calf can be returned to its owner or prevented from being sold by a cattle rustler – still the cause of economic loss across the west.

The spring scenery is truly spectacular! The mountains always look their bluest and tallest when tipped in white and partially shrouded by low hanging clouds. The rivers, streams and ditches are full and overflowing, giving the ground a good soaking that will keep fields green for several months. Flat-bed pickups, carrying black and white border collies and towing silver stock trailers, are ubiquitous on the country roads. Riders on horseback, mud-splattered ATVs and side-by-sides are everywhere, their people busy fixing fences, herding cattle and delivering minerals to tubs and feeders scattered across the fields.

We worked up an appetite just viewing it all and were pleased with the opportunity to try out The Main Place in Halfway. The restaurant and the building in which it is housed were given a complete renovation a couple of years ago, and the transformation is amazing. The historic building looks wonderful, inside and out, with a fine dining room, café and bar dividing the space in the ground floor and hotel rooms upstairs. A new patio and grassy enclosed lawn will be the perfect spot for outdoor dining and relaxing with a drink, once the weather warms. In our casual clothes, we opted for the café and each enjoyed a great meal that featured locally raised meat and fresh, flavorful side dishes. The staff was friendly, efficient and brushed away our apologies for the mud on our barn boots. We were assured that ranchers mix easily and often with visitors from urban areas and the café and town foster that exchange of cultures.

We didn’t travel the extra 14 miles to Oxbow Dam and the Snake River this time, but, will our next visit to the lovely Pine and Eagle Valleys. If not sooner, there is always our annual trip to Eagle Creek Orchard at New Bridge (near Richland, Oregon), where the organic peaches, pears and grapes are always sweet and delicious and well worth the scenic drive to seek them out. Jetboat rides, rafting, boating and fishing on the Snake River and Brownlee Reservoir bring lots of visitors to Halfway and Richland in summer and the winding roads through the rugged landscape are favorites for touring cyclists and motorcycle riders.

But don’t wait for summer! Now is the time for that scenic drive that only spring can offer.

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.

Visitors can learn about wild horses on western lands, see a trainer doing a demonstration on getting the “first touch” in on a wild horse, and meet an adopted wild horse. BLM Wild Horse and Burro specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the herds, adoption program, and history of the program.  Two wild horses will be on site and available for adoption. The film “Unbranded” will be shown in the Leo Adler Theater at 10:30 and 12:30. There will be educational and fun materials for both adults and kids.

Guest trainer is Lesley Neuman. She has been working with wild horses since 1999 and has been involved with the Mustang Heritage foundation since 2006. She is known as a gifted trainer with a rare ability to understand, communicate with, and gentle wild and unhandled horses. She also has an uncommon gift for communicating with her human audience, while in the process of guiding a wild horse from panicked captivity to comfort and confidence in humans.

Norm the mustang is an adopted wild horse who assists Debbie and Calvin Henshaw with the program “Horse Sense”. This ongoing program explains how a horse’s habits, senses, and reactions have helped them survive against predators throughout time.

The documentary film “Unbranded” will be showing and runs one hour 46 minutes, The film follows the story of 4 young Texans who adopted 16 wild mustangs, trained them, and undertook an epic journey on horseback border to border from Mexico to Canada.

The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.  Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a thriving this Memorial Day Weekend. Check out the following activities, then go to the Wallowa County, Union County and Baker County websites for even more happenings. Have a safe, fun and meaningful Memorial holiday weekend.

Saturday, May 27th
Eagle Cap Excursion Train / Two River Bonus, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Elgin Depot
Following the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers as they tumble their courses and join together at Rondowa, this longer ride takes you to Minam, before returning to Elgin. The ride offers beautiful views that can’t be seen from the highways. The scenery is fantastic! Lunch is included. Departs from Elgin Depot at 10 a.m. and returns at about 3:30 p.m.

La Grande Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, and Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.; Adams Ave. & Fourth St., Downtown La Grande
The La Grande Farmers’ Market is a seasonal open-air market featuring fresh local produce, baked goods, specialty foods, quality meat, eggs, garden products, arts, crafts, and live music. Enjoy shopping locally while interacting with farmers, artists, musicians, craftsman and friends. Also visit many of the market suppliers along the Cove-Union Farm Loop.

Wallowa County Farmers Market Opening Day, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m,, Joseph St. and Main St., Joseph
Spring Planting Fest/Opening Day for the Wallowa County Farmers’ Market!! Live music, plant starts, produce, handmade crafts, homemade baked goods and more!!

Lower Valley Farmers’ Market, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m,, 301 E. 1st St., Wallowa
Year-round indoor farmers market. Our mission is to increase our community’s access to fresh, local products from local producers and to offer a vibrant social gathering place.

Bigfoot Hot Air Balloons Is Open For The Season, 
Bigfoot Balloons is now open in Joseph, OR. We will be offering sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flights all summer long. We have 2 special pricing options for local Wallowa County and Union County residents. If you have a specific date that you would fly you may book our Shared Flight at $50 off per person and if you are flexible with your dates we will put you on a standby passenger list for our shared flight with a $100 per person discount. Look for us up in the sky at sunrise! To make reservations call 432-443-7994 or go to our website.

Joseph Branch Railriders Is Open for the Season
Joseph Branch Railriders will open  May 20  and end Oct 9, 2017  for our 4th season.  We will serve you five days a week, Thursday thru Monday.
Choose between the 2 hour Joseph departure or the 6 hour Minam adventure which includes a lunch break in Wallowa. Now is the time to plan ahead for your summer adventures. We are looking forward to seeing you all this summer. Online reservations are open and can be accessed through our website,

Opening remarks will come from former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts, who cut the ribbon at the grand opening 25 years ago. Attendees will also hear from Randy Guyer, Dave Hunsaker, BLM’s Vale District Manager, Don Gonzalez, and a Congressional proclamation from U.S. Senator Wyden’s office. Immediately following will be a special anniversary encore performance of the living history drama “Fanny” by Joyce Badgley Hunsaker, and live music from Hank Cramer and Friends.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center opened Memorial Day Weekend in 1992, with community-wide celebrations. The event followed several years of efforts by community and government partners to build a tourism attraction focused on the Oregon Trail and to strengthen the regional economy through tourism.

Over the years, the Interpretive Center has hosted over 2.2 million visitors from around the globe, thousands of school students, tour groups and numerous special events. In addition to permanent exhibits and films portraying the history and legacy of the Oregon Trail, the Center has over four miles of hiking trails and a one mile stretch of the historic Trail route with wagon ruts. For the last 25 years, a staff of interpreters, volunteers, contractors, and partner groups have presented theater programs, living history, special exhibits, activities, and guided hikes averaging more than 500 presentations per year.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from Interstate 84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted. Call 541.523.1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Sixty years have passed, and Lyndall, a retired teacher and counselor, now shares her country property in the Grande Ronde Valley with two dogs, two cats, nine chickens and four horses – and with guests to her bed and breakfast inn. Now in its third year of business, Willow Creek Horse B & B is located near Summerville, a productive and scenic farming area north of La Grande, Oregon.

With horse facilities and ample parking for trailers, Lyndall invites her guests to bring their own horses and enjoy the easy access to trails into the mountains and quiet country roads. The restored historic home is beautifully furnished and filled with books. Friendly conversation about travels and life experiences is common around the breakfast table, where the meal often includes fresh produce from the La Grande Farmer’s Market.

“I’ve recently discovered how healthy I feel, and look, on a whole foods, plant-based diet,” said Lyndall. “So breakfast starts with fresh fruit and oatmeal with all the extras. If you want sausage, farm-fresh eggs and cinnamon rolls, we can do that, too.”

With grandchildren performing in theatrical and musical productions at both the historic Elgin Opera House and through Eastern Oregon University’s theater and music department, Lyndall says she will arrange for tickets for her guests and invites them to enjoy the high quality productions at both venues.

“I welcome my guests as friends, rather than customers,” said Lyndall, “and so far it’s working out well!”

Visit the website for photos and more information or
contact Lyndall, 541.534.4780 or lyndall.shick@gmail.com

Representatives from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Federal Highways Administration, Senator Ron Wyden’s office, Tidewater Construction, Oregon Department of Transportation, Baker, Union and Wallowa County governments, the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association and the Baker County Chamber of Commerce were among the crowd of about 25 individuals. Some provided recaps of the project and of the history of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, designated an All-American Road by the FHA in 2000. The importance of the road to the region’s tourism industry, ranching community and commerce was highlighted several times.

Why not mark the progression of fall with a scenic drive around the byway this weekend? There are still plenty of autumn leaves to brighten the landscape and make you want to stop for photo opportunities. Officials caution that wildlife is plentiful, so please slow down and take the time to enjoy this magnificent corridor through our corner of the world. Shops and restaurants are open throughout the byway to sooth a hungry stomach or provide what you want in picnic supplies or souvenirs. Check the Visitor Resources page for information from the chambers of commerce.

Grant McOmie, a popular Portland, Oregon, news man, visited Hells Canyon Scenic Byway country in August and put together a great segment on the Joseph Branch Railriders and the Eagle Cap Excursion Train for his Grant’s Getaways program on KGW TV. Watch this segment, then take the time to explore Oregon through his eyes. It will get you itching to see all corners of our magnificent state!

Also, see some amazing images of rafting and fishing on the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers with Grant Richie, owner of the Minam Motel and Minam Raft Rentals.

Fall is a beautiful time to visit the byway. The weather is mild, colors are beginning to pop and it’s easy to find accommodations. See our links page for visitor information resources and pack your car for northeast Oregon!