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Janss's avatar
Janss
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2021

Northeast Oregon

Thinking of spending a week or 10 days in northeast Oregon this summer before going over to the central Oregon Coast. (No help needed with coast.) Probably coming north on I-84.

Wallowa Lake and John Day Fossil Beds and Painted Hills, maybe Sumpter dredge and railroad are all I know to include. Would like some help with itinerary in the area.

My spouse is handicapped....walker and mobility scooter are used as appropriate/necessary. So we mostly do scenic drives, viewpoints, visitor centers, museums, trams, boat tours (if easy to get on and off). No major hiking, though sometimes I walk a bit on a trail.

What other sites might we include? Anything in LaGrande or Baker City worth seeing?

Is this the best way to see Hell's Canyon? And is this road paved?
Joseph to Hell's Canyon

RV park suggestions? We need at least electric. I know about Wallowa Lake SP (or RV park in Joseph/Enterprise if SP is full). What is a convenient park for John Day Fossil Beds, with the different sections? Any other RV Parks near other suggested sightseeing?
  • the oregon trail interpretive center just out of baker is well worth a look
  • To answer your question aboot the Joseph to Hells Canyon drive, most of it is paved. There are a few miles of uphill gravel/dirt on the NF road heading south from Joseph, otherwise almost all pretty much good pavement (but curvy!!). There are a few, nice NF campgrounds along the way, but really all are dry camping

    Woodhead Park on the Snake is a very nice CG, water & elec with dump station. But would be out of your way if coming in from I84 to Halfway.
  • We enjoyed the Boardman Marina Park RV Campground in Boardman Oregon , full hookups on the Columbia river just off I84

    " take a walk or a bike ride along our paved, 3-mile walking trail"
    Full hookups - a truely great park

    We paid $40 in June of 2018 - do not see rates on their site
  • Baker Oregon has the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. East from Baker is Sumpter Oregon, which was a former gold mining town. Oregon State Parks has the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Historic Area there.

    Lots of other things to see in the area. I would check the Baker City and LaGrande Websites for tourist information.

    B.Guidinger
  • Thanks, but no, I'm not going to that area along the OR/WA border. I'll be coming up from the south on I-84 through Boise. After we finish sightseeing NE Oregon, will be going straight west to the coast, say from the town of John Day.
  • Don't know if this is near your area you are planning, but I stayed in Rufus, OR at the COE.. think it was called LePage. Very nice. Near the John Day Dam as I recall.

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