Wallowa Mountains and Hells Canyon

Route description

From La Grande on I-84, OR-82 follows the Grande Ronde and Wallowa rivers through farmland and a narrow canyon to Enterprise. The snowy Wallowa Mountains fill the horizon ahead: this is the homeland of Chief Joseph’s band of the Nez Perce.

Joseph is a small town known for its bronze foundries, with sculptures along Main Street. Just south, Wallowa Lake sits between moraines at the foot of the mountains; in summer the tramway climbs Mount Howard, and trails lead into the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Forest Road 39 crosses the eastern Wallowas toward Halfway, with a short spur to Hells Canyon Overlook on the rim of the deepest river gorge in North America. The road is paved but narrow and closes in winter, usually from November to late spring; check conditions and fill the tank in Joseph first.

Beyond Halfway, OR-86 descends through dry hills to Baker City. Stop at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on Flagstaff Hill, where wagon ruts cross the sagebrush, then explore Baker City’s gold-rush-era downtown.