• It’s a wonderful day for a “Grande Tour” and a fitting end to your northeast Oregon journey. From Baker City, follow Hwy. 203 toward Medical Springs and Catherine Creek. With the Wallowa Mountains to the east and the Blue Mountains to the west, the road travels through sagebrush draws, rimrock vistas and mixed conifer forests. Watch for mule deer and Pronghorn antelope, along with a variety of raptors and their favorite prey—rabbits and ground squirrels. On the banks of a tumbling mountain creek, Catherine Creek State Park is a pleasant stop for a hike, picnic, or good fishing. Nearby is trailhead access to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Downstream, the little town of Union offers a glimpse into history. The beautiful Victorian homes, brick commercial buildings, and the historic Union Hotel make it easy to imagine the time when cattle were moved slowly down Main Street to the railhead. The Cowboys Then and Now Exhibit in the Union County Museum tells the history of cattle and cowboys in America, from real cowpunchers to rodeo cowboys to Hollywood and contemporary ranching.
Minam River, Photo by Jeffrey L. Torretta
• Leave Union on OR Hwy. 237, traveling to Cove. Protected from the harsh winds of the Grande Ronde Valley, Cove grows a healthy crop of cherries and other fruits. The little Ascension Chapel located here was built in 1869 and includes a stained-glass window that was brought around the Horn. The chapel is still used for worship today. The Cove Hot Springs Pool offers an opportunity to soak in naturally heated water, out in the open air.
• Out through the valley, grass seed, mint, wheat, barley, oats, and canola crops are testament to the fertile soil and agreeable climate. Once a huge lake bed and still very marshy in areas, the Grande Ronde Valley is a wildlife haven. At the southwest end of the valley, the Ladd Marsh Wildlife area has photography blinds, hiking trails and a view point, from which elk can be spotted year-round. Back in La Grande, stop by the Think Link Discovery Center. Located downtown in a turn-of-the-century house, the center offers fields trips, exhibits, and activities for children of all ages.
• A short drive up I-84 to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mt. Crossing or a night camping at Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area is a fitting end to exploration of the “Land of Scenic Wonders.” Here the Native People hunted the Wapiti—the white-rumped elk; Marcus and Narcissa Whitman passed with the first wheeled form of transportation along what would become the Oregon Trail; pioneers struggled on their way through the steep and rugged Blue Mountains to the “Promised Land” of the Willamette Valley and Oregon City. Listen. Is that the sound of drumming on the breeze, the creak of wagon wheels, or just the beating of your heart?
• Those who live in Northeast Oregon are passionate about their homeland. Many have roots here going back several generations. Others are relative newcomers. Some came to visit and decided to stay. Not everyone is drawn to wide-open spaces, small-town ambiance and a daily dance with nature. If you are, you will want to visit again and again.
