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The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
This Hells Canyon National Scenic Byway forms a rough horseshoe shape to the east of Interstate 84 in northeastern Oregon. The north end of the byway is anchored at La Grande and circles through Wallowa County with the southern end at Baker City. The route covers a distance of approximately 208 miles, much of which passes through the Wallowa National Forest. (See also the Hells Canyon page on the Baker County web site and Hells Canyon Scenic Byway)
The first leg of the byway runs to the northeast from Interstate 84 at La Grande through Elgin via state route OR82/The Wallowa Lake Highway. OR82 then turns southeast to the towns of Enterprise and Joseph on the north side of Wallowa Lake.
The byway continues to the northeast via OR350 / The Little Sheep Creek Highway and southward on Forest Service Road 39, part of the Wallowa Mountain Loop, through the Wallowa National Forest and past the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
| A diversion on from the byway on Forest Service Road 4240 / The Hat Point Road leads to the Hells Canyon Overlook. This detour is mostly along a gravel road with a long section on a steep winding road, part of which is adjacent to a steep precipice. It is not a road for the faint-hearted or long |
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| vehicles. The reward for this detour is spectacular views into the Hells Canyon. See also The Hat Point Scenic Drive | |
The eastern section of FS39 passes through the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area before connecting with state route OR86/The Baker-Copperfield Highway in Baker County. The Snake River as it approaches the southern end of the Hells Canyon can be viewed from the eastern end of OR86.
OR86 westbound to Interstate 84 and Baker City forms the final section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. The National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill is located a short distance east of I-84. The byway ends in Baker City where it connects with the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway.
There are many scenic views, historical points of interest and recreational opportunities to be found along this route.
See also the Hell's Canyon All American Road on the National Forest Service web site and the Hell's Canyon Scenic Byway page on the Oregon.com web site for additional information and a useful map to assist with travel planning and driving directions.