Eastern Oregon

Understand

Several of the counties here are classified as "Frontier" counties, for good reason. The "Old West" is not necessarily gone in many places of this region. "Cowboys and Indians" are not some play characters in movies or dime novels, but real folks making a living in this beautiful and uncrowded landscape. Much has been modernized-- you won't find gunslingers walking about town with pistols strapped to their hips and horses are kept at the ranch, not ridden to town-- but the attitudes of individualism and mutual respect continue, for white-passing people.

Non-white visitors to Eastern Oregon may encounter hostile reactions due to racism. Prineville experienced backlash against George Floyd protests in 2021, including the flying of many Confederate flags. Eastern Oregon, along with Idaho bordering it, are hotbeds of libertarianism and anti-government; farmers and ranchers are skeptical of almost anyone on or near their land.

Cities

• Baker City — a small city on I-84 between Pendleton and Ontario with a number of nicely restored heritage buildings.
• Boardman
• Burns
• Enterprise
• Fossil — the site of only public fossil field in the U.S.
• Hermiston
• Huntington
• John Day
• Joseph — a town on the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway with many shops, galleries and little cafes.
• Kimberly
• La Grande — a small city on the I-84 between Pendleton and Baker City, one of the starting points of the Hell's Canyon Scenic Highway route.
• Lakeview
• Milton-Freewater
• Ontario — the last city in Oregon on the border with Idaho on the Snake River.
• Pendleton — on I-84, noted for its woolen mills and yearly Pendleton Roundup.

Other destinations

• '''[http://www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon/ Hells Canyon]''' - the part of the Snake River on the border between Idaho and Oregon. Parts of the River in this area are still wild but much of it is a series of reservoirs created by power dams. One part of the Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon but getting to the overlook is generally only possible during the summer because some access roads are not maintained during winter.
• '''John Day Fossil Beds National Monument''' - Within the John Day Valley are fossil beds. These sedimentary rock layers preserve a 40-million-year record of plant and animal life.
• '''Nez Perce National Historical Park''' - Since time immemorial, the Nimiipuu or Nez Perce have lived among the rivers, canyons and prairies of the inland northwest. Despite the cataclysmic change of the past two centuries, the Nez Perce are still here. Sites in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana.

Get around

This is a big area traversed by Interstate 84 (I-84) (along the Columbia River and through the northeastern parts) by US and by numerous U.S. Highways. Most off-the-beaten-path attractions (which most are) must be accessed by the many scenic roads running through the high plains and mountains of the area. Private vehicle is practically the only way to travel in the area, but cycling could be enjoyable (and physically demanding) on many of the smaller highways.

• US 20 travels east-west through the center and south part of the state, providing access to Burns and its attractions until it crosses into Idaho from Ontario along I-84.
• US 26 is an east-west highway in the northern part of Eastern Oregon connecting from Seaside_(Oregon)Oregon) at the coast to the Idaho border from Nyssa.
• US 395 makes its way roughly N-NE through Oregon and passes from the OR-CA state line to Washigton, passing through Lakeview, Riley, John Day and Pendleton on its way towards the Columbia River in Hermiston. It runs concurrent with I-84 between Pendleton and Hermiston and along I-82 across the Columbia River into Pasco, WA.

Stay safe

Eastern Oregon is very sparsely inhabited, especially in the southeast counties. Always make sure your vehicle is in good working order and that you carry extra fuel and food. Help can sometimes be a long way away and cell-phone services is spotty.

Eastern Oregon has a serious safety problem with radicalized right wing paramilitary groups. White Christian Nationalism is apparent throughout Eastern Oregon, and travelers of color are cautioned to stay in groups and avoid being singled out by locals, especially bands of young white men. LGBT+ travelers should be cautious in all parts of Eastern Oregon due to rising incidences of violence and other hate crimes.

The high-desert environment is one of extremes: autumn and winter can bring harsh snowfalls, while daytime summer temperatures can easily reach ninety degrees or more with considerable drops at night. Of course, altitude variances compound the issue: it could be 80F and sunny June day in Burns (4147' / 1264 m) yet snowing on Steens Mountain (9733' / 2967 m) - a major regional attraction - some seventy miles away. Always check the weather conditions of where you are and where you are going frequently, and carry layers of clothing so that you can adapt to any sudden changes.

Yes, there are rattlesnakes. No, they won't hurt you if you don't bother them. Same goes with the rest of the wildlife, to which the same usual rules apply: don't feed them, don't approach them...just leave them alone.

Be aware of hunting season if you plan on tromping around by foot and dress accordingly.

Go next

• Southwestern Idaho, to the east
• Columbia River Plateau, to the north
• Central Oregon and Cascade Mountains to the west