Northeast Oregon. Northeast Oregon Living

Northeast Oregon. Northeast Oregon Living

CITIES: Adams, Arlington, Athena, Baker City, Boardman, Canyon City, Condon, Cove, Dayville, Echo, Elgin, Enterprise, Fossil, Greenhorn, Haines, Halfway, Heppner, Hermiston, Huntington, Imbler, Imnaha, Irrigon, Island City, John Day, Joseph, La Grande, Lexington, Long Creek, Lostine, Medical Springs, Milton-Freewater, Monument, Mt Vernon, North Powder, Oxbow, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Prairie City, Richland, Seneca, Summerville, Sumpter, Ukiah, Umatilla, Union, Unity, Wallowa, Weston

AREAS: Hell's Canyon

Northeast Oregon, rimmed on the east by the mighty Hells Canyon, is a land of contrasts. It is known for its lush, fertile farmlands and its awe-inspiring chasms. Home to the deepest gorge in North America, it is considered by some to be a symbol of the Northwest’s historic claim as this continent’s last great frontier.

At least five grand rivers intersect this region. The Snake, comprising Oregon’s rugged eastern border, is known for its jaw-dropping scenery and challenging rapids. Millions of people may have rafted these waters, but the Snake remains one of the Northwestern United States’ most dominating waterways. Other rivers, such as the Imnaha, which intersects the Snake at the northeast tip of this region, the Columbia and the John Day have played their own roles in nurturing this landscape into one of North America’s most popular adventure destinations.

Blanketed by three different national forests, the Northeast Region is a recreational paradise. The area is renowned for its steelhead, rainbow and bullhead trout fishing, particularly on the Grande Ronde, Imnaha and Wallowa rivers. The pristine alpine lakes of 341,446-acre Eagle Cap Wilderness (located in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest) have their own attraction for those who enjoy the solitude of a remote natural paradise.

But Northeast Oregon isn’t just about wilderness, or the spectacular beauty of untouched nature. The small communities that pocket Oregon’s northeast corner tell their own unique story. Historical landmarks dating back to the Nez Perce’s domain hundreds of years ago can be found throughout this region, as can various cities and towns that were founded by European settlers in the late 1800s. The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, both in La Grande, offer two fascinating reflections of this region’s history and the people who call Oregon’s most remote region home.