Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
4.5
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This 218-mile route between LaGrande and Baker City, which goes from rivers edge to mountaintop to valley floor, has been designated an All-American Road and one of America's premier scenic routes.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
37 reviews
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PatriceD97341
Depoe Bay, OR251 contributions
Mar 2022
We were there on 3/31 and half of the loop was closed due to snow! We didn't discover this until we got to the road closed sign. However, on our way, we had a "Yellowstone" moment but with cows in the roadway instead of bison. Cowboys were moving their cows from one area to another and part of the way was down the road. We didn't mind at all, since we got to see several little baby cows up close & personal.
We thought we were taking the dirt road out of Imnaha to the overlook, but boy were we wrong. We probably drove 25+ miles on a curvy, rocky, twisting dirt road until we came to a gate. Thankfully we turned around at that point. On our way back we ran into a Fish & Game employee who told us that was private property beyond the gate! We did get to see some sights of the canyon the most people probably don't get to see though. Definitely was an adventure!!
We thought we were taking the dirt road out of Imnaha to the overlook, but boy were we wrong. We probably drove 25+ miles on a curvy, rocky, twisting dirt road until we came to a gate. Thankfully we turned around at that point. On our way back we ran into a Fish & Game employee who told us that was private property beyond the gate! We did get to see some sights of the canyon the most people probably don't get to see though. Definitely was an adventure!!
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kevan j
Norman, OK1,503 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This is a great route to include if you're heading from southern Washington to Boise, and you want something more interesting than I-84. Take Oregon 204 from Walla Walla to Elgin where you meet up with the official byway. Follow the byway (Oregon 82) through Wallowa, Enterprise, and Joseph...all three quaint little towns with history to spare and few tourists. A few miles past Joseph, a hairpin turn leads to the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (Oregon 39), which is a fairly good quality road that winds up into the Hell's Canyon Recreation Area. Watch out for the pot holes on this road. After about 30 miles, start to look for the signs to the Hell's Canyon Overlook road that leads up to a wonderful overlook complete with signage, restrooms, short trails, parking lot, and picnic tables...and a wonderful long-distance view of the Hell's Canyon area. (Note: You cannot see the Snake River or the gorge from here, but it is a very nice place to have a picnic and enjoy the amazing views.) Once you're satisfied, head back down to 39 and continue down to where it meets Oregon 86. At this point, you can turn right and follow the byway to Baker City, however, we turned left and headed over to Oxbow, the Snake River, and the great views of Hell's Canyon from the bottom up...nice! We then turned south and headed to Boise through Cambridge, ID.
This is a very beautiful drive and I definitely recommend it, but I would note that is is probably not as spectacular as you might think. Everyone mentions the canyon being deeper than the grand canyon, but this is NOT what you see.
This is a very beautiful drive and I definitely recommend it, but I would note that is is probably not as spectacular as you might think. Everyone mentions the canyon being deeper than the grand canyon, but this is NOT what you see.
Written June 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jillben
Portland, OR58 contributions
Sep 2011 • Couples
this byway is definitely worth the drive, but to see Hells Canyon it is worthwhile to cross over into Idaho near Oxbow and drive the road up that side to the Hells Canyon Dam. On that road you will see magnificent scenery with cliffs coming right down to the Snake. Beyond the dam you will see the wild river (and can jet boat it if you want).
The scenic byway, on the other hand, takes you to the Hells Canyon overlook, which is really beautiful, but you cannot see the Snake River from there. The Byway takes you through Elgin (which has a really good Eagle Cap Excursion Train that runs into the Eagle Cap Wilderness for 3.5 hours on Saturdays in the summer), Enterprise, and Joseph, which is a lovely town with bronze statues along the main street (the foundry is there). Also Wallowa Lake is a recreation spot, with cabins to rent and very woodsy at the head of the lake. the Tram ride to the top of Mt. Howard is also at the lake and is well worth doing for beautiful views.
The scenic byway, on the other hand, takes you to the Hells Canyon overlook, which is really beautiful, but you cannot see the Snake River from there. The Byway takes you through Elgin (which has a really good Eagle Cap Excursion Train that runs into the Eagle Cap Wilderness for 3.5 hours on Saturdays in the summer), Enterprise, and Joseph, which is a lovely town with bronze statues along the main street (the foundry is there). Also Wallowa Lake is a recreation spot, with cabins to rent and very woodsy at the head of the lake. the Tram ride to the top of Mt. Howard is also at the lake and is well worth doing for beautiful views.
Written September 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony K
Moreno Valley, CA935 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
We started in La Grande and followed it to Joseph and all of that was Farms and Grasslands then we took 39 out of Joseph and it entered the forest following a rough, patched up windy road for 43 miles with the same identical view around every corner. Finally we turned up to the view point and was shocked that it didn't have a view of Hells Canyon with Snake River flowing down it. Yeah it was Mountains and valleys and canyons all in a mix. After driving that boring rough road from Joseph we were was very disappointed. I don't recommend that section to anyone as it's not worth seeing any of it. We drove out of there to Richland. I know if we turned east/left that there is more byway up to OxBow but we had had enough for the day. Maybe I'll explore that OxBow area some other time.
Written September 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sand_Dollars_11
Issaquah, WA96 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
I've heard about the beauty and power of Hells Canyon for years and on our drive from Mcall, ID to Walla Walla, WA we decided to make a detour. We found it very confusing to figure out how to get there/what we'd see since OR, WA and ID tourist bureaus are all pushing their routes and TripAdvisor has multiple "Where to Go" entries. What we discovered is that if you reach the dam (via Oxbow), you've reached the end of the road. The drive is in the flooded canyon of the Snake River. The scenery and canyon are impressive, but it's a long, slow drive in and out. If you want to see the raw, untamed Snake River, my guess is you need to enter from the Lewiston, ID side and take a jet boat trip up the river to the dam. After leaving the dam we took the Wallowa Mountain Loop (Forest Service Road 39) to Hells Canyon Overlook - a long, slow going, winding road - but the views are impressive.
Written October 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leolady54
Kent, WA24 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
You really need a minimum of 2 days to drive the Byway. We weren't real clear on the entire Byway so missed one of the best parts, the dam. It goes off on a road by itself which dead ends so you have to drive back out to finish the Scenic Byway. We plan to go back and see what we missed.
If you follow the road around to Joseph and Enterprise we felt that scenery was better than most of the Byway from Baker City to those points. The mountains, Wallowa Lake and farmlands are magnificent.
If you follow the road around to Joseph and Enterprise we felt that scenery was better than most of the Byway from Baker City to those points. The mountains, Wallowa Lake and farmlands are magnificent.
Written July 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don224
Lafayette, LA722 contributions
Jun 2011 • Friends
The Hell's Canyon scenic byway is an out of the way type of drive, but is well worth it. We loved it! The lakes, dams, wild goats, waterfalls and the hiking by the dam. This drive surpassed all of our expectations!
Written June 24, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron T
Indio, CA33 contributions
Aug 2016
Drove the road to the dam...spectacular scenery...only a few towns on the way but as you approach the dam the cliffs rising from the green hued water against the blue sky is not to be missed...we wondered what it would be like to come in the late spring to see the numerous streams running down the almost vertical cliffs. We took our time, stopped often and recommend it...hardly anyone else on the 90 mile road.
Written August 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanne A
Palm Springs, CA5,298 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
The part I loved best was along NF 39 and the overlook. Really beautiful and hair raising driving. But really, all of it was excellent!
Written May 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinwiz74
fort wayne in6 contributions
It seems like a long drive but there are plenty of things to see along the way. The park at the end of the road is worth the three hour drive from Boise. Make sure to take the stairs to the bottom of the canyon floor at the Hell's Canyon dam. It is before the park and there are parking spots before you get to the dam.
Written October 29, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Curious824092
Buford, Georgia
would like to drive pdx to hells canyon to glaciea national park june 30 to july 8
Written April 19, 2019
Informative account of your trip. Thanks. Were all the roads you travelled on paved?
Written August 21, 2018
Is Hess Rd between Hwy 86 and NF 39 steep and paved? Thanks!
Written May 23, 2017
Rick S
Boise, Idaho
Hess road is a steep and unpaved road. It's more of an SUV/Jeep high clearance road. I wouldn't take a sedan or low clearance vehicle on it.
Written June 6, 2017
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