Early in August, Portland, Oregon, cycling enthusiast Jonathon Maus spent some time exploring northeast Oregon and the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway by bike. His resulting blogs on BikePortland.org will leave you yearning to park the car, hang up the keys and use just two-wheels to experience our beautiful corner of the state. Following is the prelude to his first two installments and links to the blogs. Thank you, Jonathon, for sharing your adventure!

Jonathon Maus, BikePortland.com Last week I spent five days taking a closer look at bicycling and bike tourism in Wallowa, Baker, and Union Counties as part of a partnership with Cycle Oregon. Starting in the small town of Halfway on Monday, I rode northeast to circumnavigate the Wallowa Mountains and Eagle Cap Wilderness. I camped, rode rocky dirt roads, did some bushwhacking, sampled singletrack on a mountain bike, rolled on an official State Scenic Bikeway, and met the people working to make this region a biking destination. All this week I’ll share stories and photos from the road.

First installment: Five Days In Eastern Oregon; Halfway and an adventure to Ollokot

Second Installment: Five Days in Eastern Oregon; Riding Rails and talking tourism in Joseph

more to come…

See more fantastic photos of the journey on flickr.

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!

“We’ve promoted Hells Canyon All-American Road as a motorcycle-friendly destination before. But over the past two years, our message has really focused on inviting two-wheel riders to visit Hells Canyon, which is one of the Top 10 Scenic Drives of the Northern Rockies (www.drivethetop10.com),” said Alice Trindle from the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association, a regional Destination Marketing Organization for eleven counties east of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. “It’s exciting to see the increased interest among riders in this incredibly scenic route.”

Developed in conjunction with public awareness initiatives at the America’s Byways Resource Center, the promotion awarded a year of free advertising on the RoadRUNNER website, http://www.roadrunner.travel/. It also included professional digital ad design and upload services.

“We’re pleased to recognize the work of Hells Canyon All-American Road,” said Michelle Johnson, Director at America’s Byways Resource Center. “The byway’s submission showed a strong commitment to reaching out to biking visitors.”

To win the recognition, Hells Canyon All-American Road submitted various materials demonstrating its motorcycle-friendly positioning. For example, a message-specific rack card was distributed to more than 5,000 participants at the Seattle Motorcycle Show in December 2011 and a print advertisement is now running in the American Road Magazine and the Eastern Oregon Visitor Guide. In addition, the byway has created digital ads for Travel Oregon and other online media.

“We saw many marketing examples from America’s Byways that are wisely reaching out to motorcyclists—travelers who truly appreciate the best drives in the nation. We’re excited to share byway information with our readers,” commented Melanie Brown from RoadRUNNER.

For more information about Hells Canyon All-American Road, visit byways.org. To see the new ad online beginning in April 2012, visit RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel.

For more great motorcycling curves in Eastern Oregon, Visit Eastern Oregon.com.