Where to Fuel Up on the Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway

April 9, 2015 (Updated February 20, 2018)
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A great bike tour demands good food and drink, so we invite you to taste your way along the Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway in Eastern Oregon. The 134.5-mile ride figure-eights through La Grande and Baker City, and can easily be broken into a two days (which leaves plenty of time to enjoy delicious local fare). This route offers beautiful views of the Elkhorn, Blue and Wallowa mountains, and you’re certain to see plenty of wildlife on these quiet back roads. For maps and ride descriptions, see here. For culinary delights, look below.

La Grande

Joe and Sugars Café, 1119 Adams Avenue: Start your morning with a hot cup of java and a sweet cinnamon roll or muffin at Joe and Sugars Café. Chicken enchiladas, soup of the day and tuna melts star on the lunch menu.

Ten Depot Street, 10 Depot Street: You’ll find soups, sandwiches and smaller plates at Ten Depot Street, a charming restaurant and bar in an old brick building. But you can also get full dinner reminiscent of days gone by; each includes a relish tray, soup or salad, potato, pasta or rice, and vegetables and bread. (Good thing you have that big ride ahead of you.)

Benchwarmers Pub & Grill, 210 Depot Street: Tip a pint (or fill your growler for the road ride) at Benchwarmers Pub & Grill. The bar offers craft beer on tap from around the state — including Terminal Gravity Brewing from Enterprise and Prodigal Son Brewery from Pendleton.

Baker City

Lone Pine Café, 1825 Main Street: Freshly baked pies, cookies, breads and salted caramel cinnamon rolls adorn the bakery case at this little diner. And the lunch menu extends surprisingly varied flavors, such as báhn mì, a roasted squash sandwich, and a soup of bacon, tomato and polenta on a recent day.

Barley Brown’s, 2190 Main Street: Award-winning brews and hearty pub grub are served up at Barley Brown’s restaurant and taproom. Try the Fresh Hop Pallet Jack, which won gold at the Great American Beer Festival, or the Joan, which took gold at the North American Beer Awards.

Peterson’s Gallery and Chocolatier, 1925 Main Street: With rich drinking chocolates, handcrafted confections and delicate desserts, Peterson’s offers a delightful reward for your long day in the saddle. Enjoy your treat while browsing the work of local artists. Gallery shows change monthly.

Geiser Grand Hotel, 1996 Main Street: At this beautifully restored 19th-century hotel, food and drink can be enjoyed in the elegant setting of the Palm Court or the lively atmosphere of the 1889 Cafe (including a bullet hole from the Old West days.)


Editor’s note: In Oregon, a bicycle is legally considered a vehicle, and the same Oregon road laws apply. Please “be seen” and practice safe riding. Vehicle traffic, farm equipment and narrow shoulders exist on many Oregon roads, and you may find that construction projects, traffic or other events may cause road conditions or signage to differ from the map results, ride descriptions and directions. For travel options plus weather and road conditions, visit TripCheck.com, call 511 (in Oregon only), 800.977.6368 or 503.588.2941. Routes listed on this website are for informational purposes and intended as a reference guide only.

About The
Author

Eileen Garvin
Eileen Garvin lives and writes in Hood River. When she’s not hunched over her keyboard or digging in the garden, you can find her mountain biking, kiteboarding, hiking, skiing or camping somewhere in Oregon.