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What’s the best route to see the John Day Fossil Beds?

You can make a great loop between Portland and John Day. The most exciting route will be to take Highway 26 all the way. It will take you over Mt Hood into central Oregon and through The Painted Hills. Total driving time is about 5 hours. For a return trip, I recommend heading north through…

What should I stop and see between Portland and Pendleton?

There are so very many things! I recommend you request the most current copy of the Travel Oregon Visitor’s Guide, which will serve you for this trip and many others since it covers the whole state, region by region from local travel experts. As a frequent traveler on I-84 between Portland and Pendleton, I wish…

What is there to see in Pendleton?

Pendleton is a great place to get a sense of the Native American, pioneer and cowboy history of Oregon. This guide will give you an overview of the history-related activities. Not to be missed are the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute and The Umatilla County Historical Museum. The town is most renowned for the annual Pendleton Roundup Rodeo….

Can you recommend a good dude ranch in Oregon?

Wilson Ranches Retreat located near Fossil, Oregon is one of the most well-regarded dude ranch B&Bs in the state. You can learn more about them here https://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/oregon-stories/oregon-dreamers-2/ and contact them via [email protected]. Enjoy!

We are travelling along I-84 from Pendleton, Oregon to Salt Lake City, Utah. Are there any State Parks that are close to (or along) that stretch of I-84? –Zig

Hi Zig, Between Pendleton and the Oregon-Idaho border, there are 4 state parks close to I-84. Heading west to east, they are: Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area-just off the highway 25 miles past Pendleton, [only camping fees listed] Blue Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor-just off the highway past Meacham, free Farewell Bend State Recreation Area-1…

Are there any ghost towns or other places of interest off of I-84 in Eastern Oregon? -Harold

You’re headed in the right direction for ghost towns. There are several near Baker City, including Bourne and Whitney, but they’re still a bit of a drive off I-84. If you pick up Highway 7 west of Baker City, you’ll traverse the Sumpter Valley to the near-ghost town of Sumpter, 28 miles away, which is…

What are the best hikes in the Eagle Cap Wilderness? Are they crowded?

Honestly, I have never had a bad hike in the Eagle Cap because it is big enough to absorb the few people who venture in each summer. I love Glacier Lake and topping out on Eagle Cap is terrific. Bonney Lakes are at a lower elevation and can be buggy depending on the year. Certainly…

I would like to visit Eastern Oregon. I know it is very remote, so I would like to know the places to see by car. I plan for 3-4 days on the road, after which I will return to Portland. Any suggestions on where to go?

Eastern Oregon is off the beaten path, but you’ve planned the right amount of time for exploring it by car. There are several incredible summer routes, depending on how far you want to venture and your interests. Here are two dramatic driving routes to check out with key points of interest: Journey Through Time Scenic…

I will be traveling from Portland to Baker City and want to take 2 days for the trip. I love art/sculpture, local crafts, scenery and small towns. Can you suggest a good overnight point for my first night?

I recommend a driving route on the Old West Highway (26) that will take you over Mt Hood, through small towns along Highway 26 and along the scenic John Day River directly to Baker City. The total driving time is about 7 hours. For your first night—if you’re up for driving—is the quaint town of…

What are some fun festivals in Eastern Oregon?

A great music festival is the  The Bronze, Blues & Brews music festival. Over Labor Day weekend is Juniper Jam, a great showcase of regional musicians in the folk/rock tradition. I highly recommend both. Two important cultural festivals include the Maxville Gathering that celebrates the logging history in Oregon and the annual Nez Perce art…

What to visit in Eastern Oregon for 2 days?

Two days in Oregon will give you time to explore the Oregon Trail and native American history, including the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute around Pendleton or further east in Baker City at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Check out geologic history in the Painted Hills and the John Day Fossil Beds, including the amazing Thomas Condon Paleontology…

We are in Roseburg & want to go to Eastern Oregon beyond Crater Lake and head north towards Ione with our travel trailer. We like hiking and biking too. Where should we stop and what should we see on the way?

If you go north from Crater Lake toward Bend on 97, you can then head east on Highway 26. You will pass through wonderful small towns between Prineville and Mitchell as well as plenty of campgrounds and hiking options in the Ochoco National Forest. From Mitchell, you can follow the John Day River on Oregon 19,…

My wife and I will be traveling by car from Boise to Portland along I-84 in June. We have two or three days for the journey. What highlights do you recommend we consider?

As you may know, the trip from Boise to Portland is roughly a 7-hour car ride, direct. But I have a different idea for you that will take you a bit longer, but what sights and scenery you will see! First, you may want to plan a few hours in downtown Boise. It has come…

Hi we are planning a trip to Mount St Helens in July. We are coming in from Calgary with two tough girls aged 9 and 11. We will be very close to Oregon, and was wondering what fun things are there to do in Oregon? We had fun last year on the Hiawatha Trail in Idaho. I heard there were volcanoes near the coast? What fun ideas are there for a family visiting Oregon? – Jason W.

I think your girls would really enjoy spending some time hiking a few of the waterfalls along the Historic Highway in the Columbia River Gorge. I spend a lot of time there with my girls (5 and 11). We also enjoy visiting Bonneville Dam and feeding the trout at the fish hatchery there. Further out…

My friend and I are planning a motorcycle ride over to the Oregon Coast from Northern Idaho near the end of July. Any roads or towns you would recommend hitting? We would like to spend some time near the ocean and find some good local brews.

There’s a coveted motorcycle route through the Wallowas on the 39 road (Hell’s Canyon Scenic Byway) from Joseph to Halfway—if you have the time. To get to the Wallowas from North Idaho, you’d come through Moscow and Lewiston over highway 82—another epic two-lane roadway—to Enterprise. That’s where you’ll find Terminal Gravity brewpub, one of the first small crafters in the state and home of a great IPA. (I am a huge fan of  their single hop variety double IPAs only available at the brewpub.) If…

What do they have to do in Whitney, Oregon?

If you’re looking to visit ghost towns like Whitney, Eastern Oregon’s the place.