Prairie City

It’s no secret that Prairie City is pretty.

It sits on the edge of a vast grassland, surrounded by the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness on one side and layers of ancient lava rock on the other. Scenic trails are an easy trip from the historic downtown. Nearby lakes and rivers provide excellent steelhead and mountain trout fishing. In winter the landscape attracts snowshoers, nordic skiers and snowmobilers. See it for yourself.

Nearby Cities: John Day, Canyon City, Bates, Mount Vernon, Fox

Prairie City Trip Ideas

Journey Through Time Scenic Byway

The marks of time are stamped across the landscape on this 286-mile/ 460-kilometer route through prehistoric fossil beds, mining boomtowns and surprising sights like the Painted Hills — one of Oregon’s 7 Wonders.

By Travel Oregon
Eastern Oregon Lake Hikes

If fall is coming, nobody’s told Eastern Oregon. The warm, sunny days are...

By Eileen Garvin
Road Trip: John Day Fossil Beds Country

The first time I saw the Painted Hills in Eastern Oregon, I was...

By Eileen Garvin