We ventured to the east side of Oregon to take in the sights of the Oregon Trail, abandoned mining towns, lonesome prairies and forests, placer and dredge mining, and a little narrow gauge railway named Sumpter. We saw a part of the state that few people who live on the west side every will visit. Not only did we go to the highest and smallest incorporated city in Oregon at 6300 feet and an official population of 0, but we also stayed at the fanciest hotel in Baker City, saw the trailer park on the Eastern Oregon University Campus, and rode a narrow gauge steam railway.
Using a stellar guidebook, we located the Ah Hee Diggings, the tiny town of Granite, ruts on the Oregon Trail that we also happened to drive a car down, and some fascinating little hamlets that are wisps of their former selves. What a fascinating and diverse state in which I live!
- The View from Our Hotel in Pendleton: We stayed overnight in Pendleton. It was very impressive to wake up to a view of the desert.
- Looking West from the Old Oregon Trail Highway Scenic Overlook and Rest Stop: We stopped to look at the view of Pendleton and what the pioneers would have seen.
- Viewpoint on Old Emigrant Hill Road: Looking out into the canyons of the Blue Mountains.
- Emigrant Springs State Park: We found a wagon in the park and some old stone monuments.
- Meacham and Trains Pulling the Grade: The local fire district was meeting when we drove past. Trains were going up and over the pass in both directions, too.
- Gangloff Park Overlooking La Grande: An overlook of the town of La Grande and a small wooden cabin.
- Classic Houses in La Grande: We went through some of the historic neighborhoods of La Grande to see some of the beautiful old houses.
- Eastern Oregon University’s Trailer Park: The entrance to the Eastern Oregon University campus has a rather interesting trailer park. Stay classy, EOU.
- North Powder: A sleepy little town just off the interstate.
- Haines: A town that hasn’t changed much in the last 100 years.
- Cows Outside Haines: We found where beef comes from.
- Valley Overlook on the Anthony Lakes Highway: Looking out into the valley north of Baker City before we head up into the mountains.
- Anthony Lakes Ski Area in the Early Fall: I now know what this ski resort looks like. It’s tiny!
- Elkhorn Summit: At the high point of our travels.
- Fire Scars in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest: A good burn went through the forest several years back. The recovery is ongoing and remarkable.
- Abandoned Mine Buildings at the Cougar-Independence Mill Site: We happened upon some abandoned buildings along the side of the road.
- Ah Hee Diggings — Chinese Placer Mine Tailings: Some piles of rock with a lot of history behind them.
- Granite: A tiny town where once there had been several thousand people. Such is life in the old gold country.
- The Sumpter Valley Railway Chugs Along: Engine #3 steamed past us on its way back to the McEwen Depot as we drove through Sumpter.
- A Town Called Whitney: Once there was a small town here. Now there are just a few buildings and people slowly rotting into the ground.
- Tipton Station: It must have been a real adventure to keep the rails clear of snow in the winter.
- Greenhorn, the Highest and Smallest City in Oregon: At 6200 feet and with an official population of zero, I am not quite sure how the city remains incorporated.
- Austin: A sleepy little hamlet along the old railroad alignment.
- Bates: The old company town and mill are long gone. Now the state park service runs it as a campground.
- Unity: There isn’t much in this town. Just a school, a store, and a lot of memories.
- Unity Reservoir: The water was a bit low when we visited. I don’t think anyone will be boating on that lake for a while.
- On the Road to Hereford: The river valley that meanders down to Hereford is very pretty.
- Hereford: Another sleepy town. This one relies on farming and ranching. It even has its own post office!
- Over the Mountains and Back to Baker City: The road over the mountains from Hereford to Baker City is full of hairpin corners and blind curves.
- On the Oregon Trail in an Audi: We managed to make it to the site of some good ruts on the Oregon Trail just as the sun went down. Heather was even able to drive her car on a section of the trail.
- The Geiser Grand Hotel: we stayed overnight in the luxurious Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City. It is beautiful inside.
- Around Baker City: In the morning we took in the highlights of Baker City.
- A Ride on the Sumpter Valley Railroad: Our trip wasn’t complete until we got to ride on the narrow gauge Sumpter Valley Railroad.
- A Walk Around Sumpter: We walked around the little town of Sumpter. I wonder what people do around this place for a living.
- Downhill on the Sumpter Valley Railroad: The return journey on the railroad allowed us to enjoy the steam engine and scenery.
- The Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge: The reason that the Sumpter Valley is so destroyed is because of this machine and two previous dredges.
- Up Cracker Creek Road to Bourne: A little exploration lands us in another tiny community that is probably pretty weary of having tourists drive through.
- The Strawberry Mountain Range: A beautiful panorama as we leave the Sumpter Valley behind.
- Driving Through Picture Gorge: This gorge reminds me of several gorges I saw in Australia.