Wallowas/ Eastern Oregon Trip Report
 

Am just back from a week in the Wallowas of Eastern Oregon and promised a trip report so here goes:
Day 1: Portland to Pendelton-
Drive through the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular no matter how many times you do it. This time we made a stop at Maryhill Winery on the Washington side. It was 11 am and too early for tasting in my opinion but want to go back for sure. Beautiful tasting room overlooking the Columbia River with outside seating. The also have a large terraced area for concerts in the summer - and that night were having a dance-

Another stop at the Stonehenge of Oregon - replica of the one in England - interesting especially if you have never seen the real one.

On to Pendelton to spend the night and for Underground Tour. Pendelton is really an old cowboy town famous for its annual Rodeo/Roundup which was just beginning and the cowbowys were starting to arrive in town.

We found a great wine/coffe bar on main street while we were waiting for the Underground Tour. About 12 of the locals were there with instruments having a BlueGrass/western music jam which was very fun- guess this is a regular every Sat from 4-7.

Tour of the Underground very interesting- in the 1800's the Chinese built underground tunnels as they really werent allowed to mingle with the white folks so they lived down there, had business and opium dens.
During prohibition they had speak easys in the tunnels and bars and various businesses.

Pendelton is also famous for its brothels and one of them was part of the tour - called the "Cozy Rooms" run by Miss Stella who eventually was run out of town in the 1900's - I believe by the Methodists.
It was an interesting tour - the rooms refurbished in period style.

After an unmemorable dinner we went to the Rainbow Cafe for a drink- its been in the same spot for 127 yrs and furnished with lots of cowboy relics and pics of all the rodeo champs. I had a hard time envisioning a real cowboy at a place called the "Rainbow Cafe" but there were indeed some of them there and imbibing heavily.

Too noisy there so went across the street to Hamleys Steak House - wow! What a beautiful place that was - this is classy cowboy! Beautiful bar-interesting art and artifacts.
This is a "must stop" if you are going through Pendelton - even the menus on the outside were encased in tooled leather cases.

There was a party going on with several Hollywood people promoting a film on Indian rodeo champ - Jackson Sundown - so of course we hobnobbed with them and had a great time.

Hotel not worth mentioning -

Will continue Pendelton to Joseph tomorrow

I just loved the Pendleton underground tour. It was absolutely fascinating. Pendelton was pretty much a wide open town up until the '50s. There was an air base there which I think contributed.

My dad is from eastern Oregon and I briefly attended college in La Grande.

Please contine with your report.

Can't wait to read all about it! I've made that drive to Goldendale more times than I care to count, lol! We have not been to the Roundup, but have been to Pendleton. I'm a bit suprised more people don't visit there. Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip:)

Ok- Here we go onto Joseph
The country around Pendelton is not what people imagine of Oregon- rolling hills, wheatfields and tumbling tumble weeds but as we proceed towards Joseph the mountains get higher and more more forested.

Arrive at our resort at the south end of Wallowa Lake - The Flying Arrow Resort- there is a variety of cabins/houses on a river - some of the cabins are more "updated" than others
but there is a swimming pool, hot tub and we are right on a little river filled with spawning Kokanee.

Unloaded the car and noticed what looked like some yard art next to our house- until it blinked. It was a big buck just laying there by our house.
There were deer all over the yard- one came and stuck its nose in my wine glass as I was having a drink later- I think she preferred red. Warned not to feed the deer but obviously warning was too late as these deer were used to being around people.

Sept 10:

Walked down the street and took the Wallowa Lake Tram- steepest tram in North America - views of 4 states and beautiful Wallowa Lake from the top.
There is a restaurant on top and access to some walking trails and to the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

We walked all the trails at the top (probably only 3 miles) overlooking many beautiful vistas - had a picnic lunch and then sat out in the sun at the restaurant/lookout for awhile -

More to come later

Keep it coming, sunbum. I haven't been to Wallowa Lake in over 20 years, but your report is surfacing vivid memories of how beautiful it is.

Did you drive out the Gorge on the WA or OR side?

Guess you Oregonians are the only ones interested in this -
Beachbum- we drove out on the Oregon side.

Sept 11:
We are headed for our jetboat ride on the Snake River through Hells Canyon - its a long drive on twisty roads through very isolated country. Lunch at the Hells Canyon Overlook- the deepest River Gorge in North America.

Three hour drive to get to the jet boat
but beautiful day.

Get our instructions and head out - first rapid is class 4-5 and a wall of water washes over the boat and drenches us from head to toe. We go through several rapids and see fabulous scenery.

Boat docks at "Karens" a farm home on the river- she has primerib, mashed potatoes and gravy and cobbler waiting for us- and we dine overlooking the river.

We head back and now have to go up the rapids- way fun!

we saw 12 bears on the trip, 2 big horn sheep and a couple of eagles.

This is a very fun trip and I highly recommend it - fabulous scenery!
The driver gave us lots of interesting history of the canyon-
For backpackers there is a trail that looks pretty rugged that goes all the way to Lewiston I believe.

If you take this trip and want to avoid a late night drive back - the jet boat company has a lodge just a few miles the put in place. Some of our group stayed there ( they rafted the same segment of the river the next day) and said it was great -

It was a long ride back in the dark but a great day.

sunbum--I think it is because too few people explore other parts of our state. They come to Portland or the coast and thats it, but like your report shows there is SO much more to Oregon! We are heading over for a week next summer. Keeping everyone happy, so doing a combo of hotels and backpacking. We did backpack up to Aneroid Lake which was amazing, and so have been itching to take in more of the area. So please keep writing as it will definitely help us plan.

mms- guess they dont know what they are missing do they

Anyway, here we go again.

Next day we hiked on the trail leading to Aneroid Lake - only went up to the dam- it was 4 miles RT- kind of rocky and dusty but needed exercise.
Some of our group rode horses up to the lake - 3 hours each way and 3 hours at the lake- they thought it was great and no one needed to be hoisted off their horses at the end of the day.

Sept 13: Took the Eagle Cap Excursion train from Minum to Elgin and back through the Grande LaRonde Canyon

It was a little too slow and too long for our tastes - not the highlight of the trip- but saw some pretty country.

However, if you are a fisherman, they do fishing trips in during steelhead season - its not that easy to get to so train might be a good option.

Sept 14:Hike on the Joseph Trail to another water fall- very pretty - only about 3 miles RT -

Afternoon spent in Joseph- what a cute western town - lots of shops and restaurants, art galleries - bronze statues on every corner .

Joseph is famous for its foundries and artists from all over the world sent work there to be bronzed- tours at several foundries available.

Sept 15: Did a foundry tour and I have a new appreciation of why they cost so much. Very interesting - didnt buy one.
The foundry we went to was working on big project for the National Archives building

Thats about it - only touched on the highlights - home on Sun

It was a great trip, we saw and did a lot but only scratched the surface of what there is to do. If you are a hiker/back packer there are endless possibilities

Its amazingly beautiful- kind of a well kept secret.

Sunburn, I'm one of those guilty of focusing west of the Cascasdes and just barely east. I just discovered the Palouse a couple of years ago. I'll have to spend more time exploring eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and Idaho! Your trip report has me eager to get on the road!

sunbum--Yes, that trail up to Aneroid is quite dusty. A few horses passed us, going both directions. Did the people who went up to the lake mention the old mining camp? That was the highlight for us! We were so dirty after that trip that we bathed as best we could in the park by the trailhead, lol!

Oh heavens no, sunbum. One North Carolinian who only lately learned about this glorious area (thank you, mms and johnthedorf) is fascinated with this report. Thank you!

hi sunbum, i enjoyed your trip report, just don't say "thank you" like i should. so thank you. oregon is beautiful and i'm still trying to figure out where to spend our next vacation.

when i was kid we drove from sfo to seattle and stayed in portland for a night. i think we were driving to my uncle's graduation, and stopped along the way for sightseeing. prior to the trip, i hardly saw my dad b/c he was always working. being in the car with him on that drive was probably the longest waking period i remember of him. plus we didn’t have to where seatbelts then, so i was in the backseat while he was driving and i remember leaning forward chatting with him. i'll never forget that trip. boy, i'd like my son to see what it's like to be in the car for 8hours and still not make our destination. then when we get home, he’ll keep his mouth shut. naa, wishful thinking…

Thanks again for the nice read, sunbum. It's convinced me we need to spend some time out in the Wallowas again. I agree with mms that eastern Oregon beauty is overshadowed by the coast, Gorge and Crater Lake, but that's okay with me. Some things are best left as secrets. :$