D iscover THINGS TO DO IN WALLOWA

County

The number 82 resonates throughout Wallowa County: Highway 82 is the main thoroughfare that connects the county to the outside world. And so this list contains 82 things to do in the county. But this list isn’t limited to attractions along Highway 82, because there’s so much more to Wallowa County than one roadway. So consider this list as a starting point, kindling to help fire up your imagination and curiosity. Because 82 things is just scratching the surface of what you can do in Wallowa County.

Entering the County at Minam

1. Float the Wallowa River

The Minam Store has your needs covered for floating the Wallowa River or casting a line for fish. Rafts are available to take a trip down the Class 2 rapids of the Wallowa, and guided raft trips are also an option. The store also offers a vehicle shuttle service. Fly fishing gear, food and other supplies are at the ready. A food truck is available. minamstore.com, 541-437-1111.

2. Pedal a railrider in Minam

Railroad tracks connect the main towns in Wallowa County and run to Minam, and since they aren’t currently used by typical trains, you can ride the rails thanks to Joseph Branch Railriders. A railrider is a small pedal-car that runs along the rails. There are two starting points in the county — one in Minam and one in Joseph (learn about the Joseph point later in this list). The two trips available out of Minam are each about four hours, one along the Wallowa River to a quaint picnic spot on the river’s edge and one that takes you to the confluence of the Grande Ronde and Wallowa rivers in Rondowa, which used to be a logging town. There is an opportunity to see deer, elk, many kinds of birds and birds of prey, foxes, snakes and much more. Also look for signs of old settlements on the trip to Rondowa. A guide will escort you on these trips, which are available between mid-May and early October. Minam trips require advanced reservations at jbrailriders.com or learn more by calling 541-786-6149.

3. Hike the Bear Creek Trail

It’s a bit off the beaten path — almost 20 miles off Highway 82 — but the climb to Standley Guard Station is scenic and relatively easy — just 4.8 miles with less than 1/4-mile of elevation change. To get to the trailhead, turn south off Highway 82 a mile east of Minam onto Big Canyon Road, or USFS Road 8270. Follow the road for 10 miles, then turn left on USFS Road 50 and drive seven more miles to the trailhead. The Guard Station itself is an old cabin that was the site of range studies in the early 1900s. The cabin is in good condition, but it’s not for public use.

Wallowa/Lostine

4. Watch Wallowa’s 4th of July Parade

The county is full of Independence Day celebrations, and a great place to start the party is in Wallowa at the Fourth of July Parade. The celebration includes all your traditional parade favorites, including dozens of floats, marchers, horses, veterans, fire engines and more. The parade is a big deal in little Wallowa, as the whole town turns out for the event.

5. Visit the Wallowa Band Nez Perce Interpretive Center

An ample display of Nez Perce history can be found at the Wallowa Band Interpretive Center. The Wallowa Band was the group led by Chief Joseph that retreated toward freedom in Canada. Where the city of Wallowa is located is their home, though this group of Nez Perce now live on a reservation in Washington. The Homeland Project has worked with the Wallowa Band Nez Perce to provide the interpretive center. It includes displays about their lives in the Wallowas and tells the story of the Nez Perce War in 1877. The center is located at 209 E. Second St. in Wallowa. Call 541-886-3101 for the center’s hours. For more information, go to the website wallowanezperce.org.

6. Hike the Homeland Project trail to the top of Tick Hill

The Homeland Project has installed numerous interpretive signs in the Nez Perce Homeland along the trail to Tick Hill. Take Whiskey Creek Road and enter the homeland in just a half-mile. Another quarter-mile in, you’ll find yourself at the base of steep basalt cliffs, where you can park and begin your hike. The signs along the way offer information about the Nez Perce people, and the summit brings a rewarding view.

7. Explore the Tamkaliks Pedestrian Bridge

Another element of the Homeland Project in Wallowa is the Tamkaliks foot bridge at the end of South Pine Street. This bridge crosses the Wallowa River and leads to the Homeland Project’s dance arbor and the rest of the Nez Perce Homeland site. Signs along the way explain Nez Perce history, customs, and the importance of creatures such as salmon and lamprey.

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