Day 9: Baker City to Joseph and the Wallowas
(Driving time: 112 miles/2.5 hours)
Get ready for your fifth Wonder! Today’s itinerary will land you at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, aka “Little Switzerland,” whose snowy peaks reach nearly 10,000 feet.
Head west on I-84 and then north on Highway 237 to the town of Union, home to the historic Union Hotel and Buffalo Peak Golf Course, and close to Catherine Creek State Park.
Along the way to Joseph, you’ll pass through Hot Lake (home to the Hot Lake Springs, a historic mineral springs resort and now bronze gallery), as well as Lostine and the town of Enterprise, where you’ll find the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center. This museum tells the little-known story of an African American logging town that once existed north of here during the 1920s and 1930s.
Stop in the town of Joseph to enjoy a number of shops, restaurants and brewpubs, as well as a craft distillery and a chocolate shop. Pay a visit to the Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, a sacred site for the Nez Perce people at the confluence of the Wallowa and Lostine rivers.
This is part of an epic two-week road trip to see all of Oregon’s 7 Wonders. See Day 10 or view the full itinerary here.
