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Oregon Road and Recreation Atlas
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Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, Oregon
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Contact Us About this Site
Description: The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway takes you on a 225 mile journey
through the Wallowa Mountains, and some of the oldest scenery in the
northwest. As the supercontinents moved apart, tectonic plate
movement first formed this ancient coastline. After settling for
millions of years, fissures spewed lava, which spread across the
Columbia River Basin in thick layers, and later buckled and folded.
The Snake, Grande Ronde, and Imnaha Rivers carved deeply through the
uplifed basalt-- all of which creating an extraordinarily beautiful
canyon country. Mighty rivers rush through dizzying canyons;
snow-clad mountains tower over lushly green valleys.
The Wallowa Valley was the home of the Nez Perce, famous for their
assistance to Lewis & Clark, and their later escape toward Canada
under the leadership of Chief Joseph. The Powder River and Grande
Ronde Valleys were important emigrant stops on the Historic Oregon
Trail beginning in 1843. The discovery of gold in the Blue and
Wallowa Mountains in the eighteen-sixties brought a major influx of
miners and settlers into the region. Today, the land has retained its
rural character; the lands still held privately are mostly low-lying
farmland.
Recreation along the route is predictably varied: an entire vacation
could profitably be spent on this route. Developed campgrounds,
nature trails, overlooks, picnic areas, interpretive pull-outs, and
visitor centers offer a delightful taste of the history, nature, and
scope of the surrounding lands. Off the highway, many visitors enjoy
wildlife watching, hiking, backpacking, horse riding, fishing, and
floating in the backcountry. Others like to take their ATVs to the
Virtue Flat Recreation area off OR 86, go jet-boating in the Snake
River, boating and angling in Wallowa Lake, or hunting big game in
the forest.
Location: The road loops from I-84 at Baker City to I-84 at La Grande. From Baker City, travel east on OR 86, north on Forest Road 39 and Forest Road 3955 (Imnaha River Road), then west on Little Sheep Creek Highway and OR 82, including the spur which branches south to Wallowa Lake.
Address: Eastern Oregon Visitor Association
490 Campbell St.
Baker City, OR 97814 |
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Phone: (541) 523-3356 |
Season: year round |
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Fee: for some developed recreation sites |
Reservations: no
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Activities
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Biking
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Fishing |
Picnicking
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| Boating (Motorized) |
Hiking/Backpacking
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Scenic Driving
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| Boating (Non-motorized) |
Horseback Riding |
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| Boating (WW) |
Hunting |
Water Sports |
| Camping |
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Wildlife Viewing |
| Caving |
Off Highway Vehicles
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Winter Sports
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| Climbing
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Services and Facilities
indicates availability indicates unavailability  indicates the service or facility is accessible to people with disabilities |
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Visitor Center
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Group Campgnd
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RV Sites
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Exhibits |
Campgnd, Primitive
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Electric Hookup
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Interpretive Programs
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Drinking Water
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Dump Station
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Cultural-Historic Sites
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Restrooms
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Boat Ramp
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Campgnd, Developed
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Showers
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Marina |
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| Rental Cabins |
Notes: Call the Forest Service Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center for more information (503-426-4978). The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill is on the route, on OR 86. The Nez Perce Interpretive Center is located near Wallowa, on OR 82.
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