The 2017 season includes some new trips, designed for lovers of wine and artisan food. A Wine & Chocolates Train, leaving the depot at 4 p.m., June 10, features a tasting of wines from Tero Estates Winery, expertly paired with chocolates from Petits Noirs Chocolates. Both businesses are located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, at the south end of the Walla Walla Valley. In September, the focus shifts to wine and cheese, with Copper Belt Winery of Baker City and Umapine Creamery, located near Milton-Freewater, serving samples of their specialties.

“We have created two train rides that call attention to the amazing food and beverages produced in our region,” said Janet Dodson, a board member who helps design the trips and schedule. “Passengers will be served a light meal at the beginning of the trip and will have the opportunity to enjoy wine and chocolates (June 10) or cheese (September 30) during the return to the depot.”

Also new is a train ride designed for railroad photographers, with special stops to let photographers off the train for run-bys, giving them excellent views of the train as it passes. See the website for trip descriptions and the full schedule.

Reservations are required and are available through the online booking service on the website, www.eaglecaptrainrides.com; go to “Ride the Train” and select “Book Online” from the drop-down menu. Passengers who prefer to talk to an agent can call Alegre Travel, the excursion train reservations agency, 800.323.7330. Agents can also, upon request, book motel rooms and offer advice on other activities and attractions in the area.

Passenger train excursions use the section of track from Elgin to Minam. This section travels through mostly roadless country, staying north of Oregon Highway 82 to Enterprise, also known as the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. Volunteers with the Friends of the Joseph Branch, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, manage the excursion business for Wallowa Union Railroad, operating the train and hosting passengers, as well as restoring the rail cars and preserving the history of the railroad. See the web site, www.eaglecaptrainrides.com for the full 2017 excursion schedule and information about how to join the Friends and volunteer to assist with train activities.

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The businesses and communities along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway welcome participants in the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally this weekend. Thousands of motorcyclists are expected to gather in Baker City and spend the next few days exploring byway country and beyond. There are lots of events and opportunities to view the amazing bikes at Baker City. Go to www.hellscanyonrally.com for more information.

Via this byway website, we are often asked for byway travel tips. Below is my response to a recent request for RV parks along the byway:

As you may have seen on maps, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a loop that intersects Interstate 84 at Baker City and La Grande. From those two communities, it circles around the magnificent Wallowa Mountains. There are two nice RV Parks in Baker City. Mountain View RV, www.mtviewrv.com, is set back about 1/2 mile from the freeway, and Oregon Trails West RV Park is located at Exit 302. At and near La Grande, there is Eagles Hot Lake RV, with a nice country setting, www.eagleshotlakerv.com, and La Grande Rendezvous RV, right off the freeway in La Grande, www.lagranderendezvousrvresort.com. In Elgin, 20 miles north of La Grande on OR Hwy. 82 (the byway itself and also called Wallowa Lake Highway), HuNaHa RV is owned by the city and has a nice setting right on the Grande Ronde River, http://www.cityofelginor.org/Hu-Na-HaRVPark.php. There is an RV park in the town of Wallowa, and in Enterprise, Joseph, Halfway and at Wallowa Lake. My favorites would be Wallowa Lake State Park, http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=20, and Park at the River, www.parkattheriver.com, both at the South end of Wallowa Lake and just beautiful. You can find more about most of these and others in the area on www.goodsamcamping.com, then search under the zip codes 97814, 97850 and 97828. I recommend reservations for any of the RV parks during the summer season.

The byway covers over 200 miles and the landscape is very diverse with quite a variation in elevation, going from sage covered hills east of Baker City to high valleys surrounded by mountain peaks at Halfway, Joseph and Enterprise, to the forested mountain pass that links Halfway with Joseph, and the Minam Grade that connects the Wallowa Valley with Elgin. It then drops into the lush farm land of the Grande Ronde Valley at La Grande.

I hope all of my links work for you. There are also lots of Wallowa Whitman National Forest campgrounds,  and other, smaller RV parks throughout the byway. If you haven’t been to the websites below for further information on our area, including other types of lodging facilities, you might want to check them out. The byway goes through three counties, each with their own chamber of commerce, and the regional tourism website is a great resource. Enjoy your visit. I don’t know how much time you have to explore the area, but you are likely to want to come back for a longer stay, and we hope you can. Please let me know if you have further questions.

www.visitbaker.com

www.wallowacountychamber.com

www.unioncountychamber.org

http://www.basecampbaker.com/baker-county-oregon-rv-parks.html

www.visiteasternoregon.com and then select Northeast Oregon

Janet, Hells Canyon Scenic Byway

Photos by Timothy Bishop

The Mother’s Day Brunch Train departs at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 11, from the Elgin Depot. This ride offers a rare chance to see the canyon scenery in the vibrant colors of spring.

Brunch is served during the 3.5 hour ride beside the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers. The meal includes a selection of breakfast and lunch entrees, pastries, fruit and beverages. Passengers can relax in their seats or move about the train. Car hosts answer questions and encourage conversation among passengers.

Tickets are available through Alegre Travel, the excursion train booking agency, train@alegretravel.com or 800.323.7330. Agents can also, upon request, book motel rooms and offer advice on other activities and attractions in the area.

“This is one of our most popular trips of the season” said Peggy Weishaar of Alegre Travel. “We always sell out, so don’t wait to reserve your seats.” Weishaar noted the train robberies are also very well received, as are the Fall Foliage trips in October. “We are offering more variety this season, so that is getting lots of attention from a wide range of ages and interests.”

The historic Joseph Branch, now known as the Wallowa Union Railroad, was rescued from salvage in 2003 when the Wallowa and Union county governments formed the Wallowa Union Rail Authority and purchased railroad from Elgin to Joseph in Oregon’s northeast corner. Volunteers with the Friends of the Joseph Branch, non-profit organization, assist the rail authority with managing the excursion business and the depot, operating the train, hosting passengers, restoring the rail cars and preserving the history of the railroad. See the web site, www.eaglecaptrainrides.com for information about the 2014 schedule and how to volunteer.

Fall has arrived along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway! After a hot and dry summer, the autumn overcast and bluster is a welcome change, although we are adjusting to that nip in the air. The first traces of snow have dusted the high peaks and the amber and rusty colors of fall are appearing in the shrubs and deciduous trees. Soon, the aspen and cottonwoods will turn bright yellow, followed by the tamarack in the mountains. I have my favorite maple trees and sumacs that I always watch for this time of year. Fall is so wonderfully colorful and scenic in northeast Oregon! It’s a terrific time to tour, but bring your gloves and a jacket.

Hells Canyon Byway Country has lots of ways to warm up after a hike in the woods or a bike ride. Head to one of our many coffee shops or pull into the drive-through at any of the numerous espresso stands. They all have goodies to go, as well. My favorite coffee stop? Well, I just don’t drive through Joseph very often without stopping for a coffee and delicious confection at Arrowhead Chocolates, made right before your eyes! And, of course, I always come out with a few amazing pieces to go or share. At the other end of the byway, the freshly made chocolates at Peterson Gallery & Chocolatier on Baker City’s Main Street have a very high “Yum!” factor. And you get to enjoy viewing the art on display, too. Or, head down the street to Bella and sip your rich cup of coffee while browsing the delightful array of kitchen gadgets, wine, linens and gourmet foods. You’ll also find a Bella in downtown La Grande. Specialty shops throughout the byway are stocked up for the holiday season. It’s a great time to shop around and take home something special.

The last type of treat this time of year is the four-legged kind. Elk and deer are coming down from the high country and seeking out the valley meadows and cropland residuals. Keep your eyes pealed and your camera handy as you drive along. It is always such a gift to see these magnificent creatures. Do be careful on the highways, especially at dusk, and watch the sides of the road for wildlife waiting to cross. Happy travels!