Hells Canyon Scenic Byway Hells Canyon is the deepest gorge in North America, and it’s only a two-hour drive from Baker City.
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■■ June 16-30 2014: The 13 mile North Pine section of FSR 39 will be closed (detour available) 24 hours a day beginning 8 a.m. Tuesday through 5 p.m. Thursday, at which point it will be open Fridays through Mondays for campers and other visitors. ■■ July 1, 2014 to Oct. 15, 2014: Visitors can expect up to one hour delays on the 13 mile North Pine section of FSR 39. Or, they may choose to use the detour route. ■■ Detour: Forest Service Road 66 will be the detour route that is available during the closure periods and/or delays. FSR 66 begins at the junction of FSR 39 and FSR 66 (also referred to as Duck Creek, Fish Lake Road, Twin Lakes Road, or Clear Creek Road) and continues west then south before connecting with Baker County Road 999, just north of Halfway. The detour route is 30 miles in length and is a well-maintained single-lane gravel road with pullouts. The route is suitable for vehicles with trailers; however it is not recommended for motor homes. If unsure of suitability, please contact the Wallowa Mountains District Office at 541-426-5546. Updates are also available through the “Go Northeast Oregon” app (see page 1 for details).
The entire Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is 218 miles, taking travelers into the far northeastern part of our state.This summer, a section will be under construction and detour route available. If you’d rather not tackle the entire byway, we have some suggestions for a nice day trip to the edge of Baker County (the green line, Pine Valley to Baker Valley). ■■ Richland: This small town offers a gateway to Brownlee Reservoir and two county parks — Hewitt and Holcomb — for camping, fishing and picnicking. Also, just before you enter Richland, look for the “Peaches” sign — these lead you to Eagle Creek Orchard, the county’s only certified organic fruit orchard. ■■ Halfway: The Wallowa Mountains tower over this town and valley, which means you can access hiking and backpacking. If you’re here in September, check out Pine Fest, “the tiniest little music festival in the tiniest little town” (pinefest.org; www.hellscanyonchamber.com/). ■■ Oxbow: A series of dams mean several reservoirs and various camping opportunities. Idaho Power maintains five parks within the Hells Canyon Complex: Woodhead Park, located in Idaho adjacent to Brownlee Reservoir close to Brownlee Dam; McCormick Park, located along the Idaho side of Oxbow Reservoir just below Brownlee Dam; Carters landing, located in Oregon next to Oxbow Reservoir; Copperfield Park, located at the upper end of Hells Canyon reservoir on the Oregon side of the river; and Hells Canyon Park - located on the Idaho side of Hells Canyon Reservoir. No reservations. For information on park availability call 541-7857209. ■■ Jet Boat Tours: Hells Canyon Adventures offers day and overnight trips down Hells Canyon — this is great way to see the canyon up close ... and cool down on sweltering summer days when you go through the rapids. For information, visit the website www.hellscanyonadventures.com. 20
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■■ Closed in winter: The Wallowa Mountain Loop Road and FSR 66 are often closed by snow from late October through late May or early June, and are not passable by automobiles during this time period. Both FSR 66 and FSR 39 are snowmobile routes. For additional information on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, please visit www. fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman.
For most current information, download Go Northeast Oregon at iTunes or Google Play www.bakercityherald.com
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