Hells Canyon Scenic Byway

Northeast Oregon doesn't get the traffic that the coast or the Cascades do, which works in your favor on this 218-mile loop. The route circles the Wallowa Mountains and runs along the edge of Hells Canyon — the deepest river gorge in North America — connecting a series of small towns across high desert, river valleys, and mountain forest. It's a full day's ride, and a long one if you stop properly.

La Grande is the natural starting point. Fuel up at the Chevron in town before heading out, because services thin out considerably once you leave the valley. The first stretch northeast toward Elgin is straightforward — open farmland, gradual elevation change, a good warm-up before the terrain gets more serious. From Elgin the road begins climbing and the character shifts. The Wallowas come into view as you push further east, and by the time you're rolling through Lostine and into Enterprise, the scale of the mountains is hard to ignore.

Enterprise sits at the base of the range and is worth a brief stop to orient yourself. Joseph, a few miles south, is a small town with more going on than it looks — Terminal Gravity Pub and Brewery in Enterprise is a reliable stop for food before you head into the more remote section of the loop. After Joseph, the route takes FR-39 south through the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest toward Halfway. This segment is the most isolated stretch of the ride — forested, higher elevation, with limited cell service and no services between the two towns. Road conditions here can vary; watch for gravel and debris, particularly after weather. FR-39 closes in winter and doesn't reopen until conditions allow, typically late spring. Do not assume it's passable based on the calendar alone.

From Halfway the route swings west and eventually south, skirting the rimland above Hells Canyon. The canyon itself isn't visible from the road at most points — the terrain is too broken and the drop too abrupt — but the scale of the landscape makes the geography clear enough. The return leg through Baker City completes the loop back to La Grande.

Before you go: This is a 218-mile loop with one fuel stop in La Grande at the start and limited options through the middle. Carry water. The FR-39 segment has no services, no reliable cell coverage, and is genuinely remote — a breakdown there is a serious problem. Check road conditions for that segment before leaving, especially early or late in the season. The full loop is achievable in a day but doesn't leave much margin for delays if you also want to stop and look around.