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.

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.

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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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.

Hells Canyon Adventures offers jet boat rides, rafting, and fishing adventures at the south entrance of Hells Canyon, on the Snake River. It is an amazing time to experience canyon thrills, wildlife and awe-inspiring views of the rugged canyon walls and towering mountains above. This week’s schedule is below. All tours operate on Pacific Time.

MONDAY, June 6, 2016• Morning Wild Sheep Adventure with Lunch – 10:00-Noon *
• Afternoon Wild Sheep Adventure – 2:00-4:00 PM *

TUESDAY, June 7, 2016
• Morning Wild Sheep Adventure with Lunch – 10:00-Noon
• Afternoon Wild Sheep Adventure – 2:00-4:00 PM *

WEDNESDAY, June 8, 2016
• Morning Wild Sheep Adventure with Lunch – 10:00-Noon *
• Afternoon Wild Sheep Adventure – 2:00-4:00 PM *

THURSDAY, June 9, 2016
• Granite Creek Adventure with Lunch – 10:00-Noon
• Kirkwood Adventure – 10:00-3:30/4:00 PM

FRIDAY, June 10, 2016
ALL TRIPS FULL

SATURDAY, June 11, 2016
• One Day White Water Rafting – 9:00-4:00 PM
• Kirkwood Adventure – 10:00-3:30/4:00 PM

SUNDAY, June 12, 2016
• Kirkwood Adventure – 10:00-3:30/4:00 PM
• Morning Granite Creek Adventure – 10:00-Noon
• Afternoon Granite Creek Adventure – 2:00-4:00 PM

Call 800-422-3568 or 541-785-3352 for reservations.

* Minimum passenger requirements not yet met *

PLEASE NOTE: Check with the US Forest Service for road opening and conditions.

Guest Posted 2014:

Having not been there for a few years, I heard Hat Point calling my name. So, last Monday I took a road trip with my cousin Eric, who lives in Portland, driving from North Powder to Wallowa Lake where we met up with my sister Sandra and her BFF from California, Debbie.

We packed a picnic (recommended because you will get hungry!), huckleberry buckets, and lots of drinking water. It was a very hot day, about 101 when we made our mandatory stop at the five-mile overlook above the Imnaha Canyon and the tiny town of Imnaha.

The view from that spot is truly amazing and when you reach that point you have the added comfort of knowing the steepest, most winding and sometimes frightening climb of the road is behind you! So, breathe a sigh of relief, exclaim over the view and travel on to the forested ridges that take you to the edge of Hells Canyon.

We stopped a couple more times to scope out huckleberries and mark the road where we found some (Yum!), then stopped again at the Granny Viewpoint. There we got our first real view of Hells Canyon, ate our lunch in the shade, and reminisced about pack trips into the canyon many years ago.

This is where a good pair of binoculars is essential. The canyon is so huge, it is hard to gauge distances, and the trails we once traveled by horseback are far below. Layers of basalt cliffs, grassy open ridges and lines of giant pine trees give the scene texture and scale.

At 79, cousin Eric is a spry cancer survivor who put us all to shame as he scrambled over the rocks, climbed the tower with apparent ease and jogged down the trails. Eric spent nearly 30 years exploring Hells Canyon with his mule Mariah and pack horse Huckleberry. His knowledge of the trails and memory of every trip, each source of water, all of his favorite camping spots, is amazing.

Eric had not been back since the 1989 fire that burned the timber around Hat Point Lookout and scorched a large swath of the rim. We lamented the loss of the tall firs that had provided shade at the foot of the tower. Their skeletons stand as reminders of fire’s transforming nature. But the spectacular view of the canyon is otherwise the same and the landscape still has the power to make you feel tiny, insignificant, yet an intimate part of it at the same time. Even late in July, the wildflowers are plentiful and sprinkle brilliant color across the scene.

At Hat Point, the climb to the top of the 90-foot tower is a little frightening. Although I have climbed it many times, I had to stop and give myself a pep talk before going the final 20 feet! But that is the part of the historic tower that is most familiar and once at the top, the old green paint and wooden floor were like stepping back to my years as a teen.

The tower has been upgraded and widened at the bottom to allow more people to enjoy the scenery. Old weathered wood and chicken wire is reinforced with new, solid beams and shiny bolts. The last few landings of stairs are only open when a fire ranger is on duty. We were in luck! Michael Shaw, of Boise, Idaho, was there to greet us and to point out landmarks. He and Eric had a nice conversation about old trails and experiences in the canyon.

It is always hard to pull yourself away from Hat Point, where the Snake River is just a ribbon of blue a mile below the rim and jagged fingers of rock point skyward to the Seven Devils Mountains on the Idaho side. But we had berries to pick and miles to go before we slept, so we promised the breeze we will return and headed back toward civilization.

We arrived at R & R Drive-In in Joseph with purple fingers, treasured caches of huckleberries and memories of another unforgettable venture into canyon country. My chicken fajita was delicious and Debbie’s taco salad looked equally appealing. (Choosing where to eat in Joseph is challenging because there are so many good restaurants. And alas, we didn’t make it this time to Arrowhead Chocolates as it was getting late and we had nearly 100 miles yet to travel.)

Note: Gas up at Joseph or Enterprise. Give yourself at least four to six hours to make the side trip from the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway proper to Hat Point and back. As mentioned, the gravel road is rocky, narrow in places and winding. You will want to take your time, both for safety and to fully appreciate this incredible place. There are campgrounds for those who want more time and lots of trails to explore. Just remember, when hiking here, what goes down, must come back up! Wear a hat, take lots of water, and pace yourself. Also, elevation at the rim is . This is wild country; know where to watch for snakes and how to steer clear of bears, cougars and wolves – sightings are rare, but they are around. Chances are better you will see mule and white-tail deer, elk, coyotes, and mountain goats.

Northeast Oregon is known for its natural beauty, from snow-capped mountains to crystal clear rivers. However, one natural asset that is often overlooked is its grasses. The Wallowa Valley region is home to some of Oregon’s richest grasslands and oldest ranches, raising grass-fed cattle long before it was popular. In fact, the high-altitude grass here is so rich in protein, it’s shipped to Kentucky and Japan to fuel top race-horses. Long ago, ranchers recognized this prized grass and set up ranching here. Today, two of these nearly century-old ranches produce some of the best grass-fed beef in the world: the Carman Ranch and the 6 Ranch.

Jump forward 100 years and along comes a local rafting company in northeast Oregon that uses this great beef on its river trips, along with other locally produced foods. In fact, one of the ranchers from the 6 Ranch even guides with the outfit. So, the owners, Paul and Penny Arentsen, brainstormed a way to celebrate this local food source with their guests. What better way than to visit the ranches themselves, then take everyone on the river- all in one trip! With this idea in mind, Paul and Penny searched for a partner to help put the trip together. They pitched it to a Portland pro: Erica Polmar with Plate and Pitchfork, a company that provides farm to table dinners prepared by known Portland chefs. It just so happened that this year is Plate & Pitchfork’s 10th Anniversary and Erica was looking for a special trip to celebrate. So, as they say, the rest is history!

Here’s a little about the trip: for a “Taste of Place” in beautiful, verdant Wallowa Mountain country, join Winding Waters River Expeditions, Plate & Pitchfork, and 2 of Portland’s top chefs: Chef Benjamin Bettinger of Beaker & Flask and Chef Jason Barwikowski of the Woodsman Tavern on a 4 day food extravaganza! You’ll spend the first day of your adventure on dry land. While you tour the ranches you’ll learn about the art and science behind raising great beef exclusively on pasture, and some of the tools of the trade like cow dogs, horses, and flying lariats. If you’re feeling daring you might just find yourself roping a calf. Your day will end with a traditional branding-style BBQ prepared by Ben and Jason. On day two you’ll head into Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. Your days will be filled with thrilling class III and IV whitewater, incredible scenery, wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities. And as long as you don’t toss the chefs out of the boat they’ll be happy to prepare gourmet lunches and dinners for you for the duration of your trip.

Contact Paul and Penny at Winding Waters River Expeditions (877-426-7238 or info@windingwatersrafting.com) for more information.