Eastern Oregon, OR

Travel Guide

Next Stop on the Eastern Oregon Swing is Leslie Gulch. A 20 mile dirt road leads past fantastic basalt rock formations terminating at the Owyhee River. There is a small but nice primitive campground (no water or electricity) with covered picnic tables and boat ramp access to the Owyhee river.
Next Stop on the Eastern Oregon Swing is Leslie Gulch. A 20 mile dirt road leads past fantastic basalt rock formations terminating at the Owyhee River. There is a small but nice primitive campground (no water or electricity) with covered picnic tables and boat ramp access to the Owyhee river.
You may have to stop for the occasional cattle drive on US Highway 395 in Eastern Oregon. We were one of only two cars waiting patiently as we admired the scenery of this beautiful herd being ushered across by real deal cowboys and their herding dogs. Yep, this may be the life for me.
The mountains of the Oregon Coast Range as seen from the eastern slope of Elk Mountain. None of these mountains tops off at much over 3000 feet (900 meters), but don't be fooled by that. Elk Mountain is one of the toughest short climbs (we're talking "hikes" here), that you'll ever find. And, if you're not a stickler about remaining on your feet the entire trail, you'll have a grand old time.
Here in the Great Northwest, those of us to take to the great outdoors generally have one destination, the Cascade Mountain range that runs pretty much through the center of Oregon and Washington going North/South. There is the Olympic Range to the north and west, the Blue Mountains to the East and Steens Mountain at the edge of the desert near Nevada. In fact, there are mountains all over the place, but those of us who hike and climb have essentially become snobs for the soaring peaks of the high Cascades. So much so that when someone tells us about a place called the “Coastal Range” sitting on the eastern rim of Oregon’s beaches, with its peaks topping out at a mere three thousand feet, we politely smile, and give off a glow of arch and patronizing wisdom. Three thousand feet is like a day in the park; a game of “Shoots and Ladders.” We’d hardly start breathing heavily before the whole thing was over and we were packing up the car. Well, folks, I am here to tell you; that kind of pride serves you well until you find yourself in the unenviable task of having to swallow it. This weekend my hiking partner and I took to the road to make what we thought would a pleasant little jaunt up a version of “Candyland” called Elk Mountain. What we “thought” could not have been further from the truth. Meter for meter and foot for foot, it is one of the hardest climbs we have ever done. Most of the first two miles is on no less than a 40% grade, some of it steeper, and I found myself clambering and clawing that ascension almost as often as hiking it. The next two miles start with a near vertical drop of almost 60 feet (what the hiking books call a scramble), in which I was forced to use a part of my body not generally applied to locomotion just to keep my arrangement with the law of gravity at an even status quo. At a certain point, the trail forks indecipherably, and the two of us found ourselves on the wrong tine of that fork as we watched the path erase almost like magic in front of us. We took our life into our hands (frequently along with handfuls of wild rosebush thorns) by pushing up a seventy-five foot embankment to get enough elevation to see where we had gone wrong. By grace or by fortune, that dropped us right back on the trail, at which point, the mountain seemed to believe that we had been taught our lesson. There were more deep vertical scrambles (always down, why down?) and belly scraping, heart-pounding ascensions, but nothing of the kind we had already seen. The last 4 miles bound and bounce down an old logging road, depositing you back at the place where you started, like Dorothy waking up in her bedroom; sad with newfound wisdom and heart aching with wonder. It was painful, it was dangerous, and I tell you, my friends, I had a blast. Beyond the sheer physical exertion, there are simply things to see that will make you marvel and gasp and keep you in a state where you feel as if you have permanently dropped your jaw. And if this hyperbolic rant didn’t convince you to try it for yourself, maybe some of discoveries I post in the near future will. If you’re up to the challenge, and don’t mind a little dirt, I highly recommend it.

Where to stay in Eastern Oregon

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Riverside

Riverside might not have many top sights, but Pendleton Woolen Mills and Pendleton Center for the Arts are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Riverside
Red Lion Inn & Suites Ontario

Red Lion Inn & Suites Ontario

2 out of 5
266 NE Goodfellow St. Ontario OR
The price is ￥10,165 per night from Jan 25 to Jan 26
￥10,165
￥11,393 total
Jan 25 - Jan 26
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Ontario. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,383 reviews)
Clean room, courteous staff and waffle breakfast.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2026

Red Lion Inn & Suites Ontario
Best Western Pendleton Inn

Best Western Pendleton Inn

2.5 out of 5
400 Se Nye Ave Pendleton OR
The price is ￥17,330 per night from Feb 1 to Feb 2
￥17,330
￥19,609 total
Feb 1 - Feb 2
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Pendleton. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
Friendly staff. Room clean.

Reviewed on Dec 29, 2025

Best Western Pendleton Inn
Super 8 by Wyndham Baker City

Super 8 by Wyndham Baker City

2 out of 5
250 Campbell St Baker City OR
The price is ￥12,236 per night from Jan 28 to Jan 29
￥12,236
￥13,276 total
Jan 28 - Jan 29
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly motel in Baker City. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,114 reviews)
Nice and presentable!

Reviewed on Jan 14, 2026

Super 8 by Wyndham Baker City
See all 483 properties in Eastern Oregon
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Wallowa Lake Wahluna Terrace Retreat

Wallowa Lake Wahluna Terrace Retreat

Joseph OR
Stay at this vacation home in Joseph. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Wallowa Lake County Park Public Beach and Old Chief ...
10/10 Exceptional! (40 reviews)
Beautiful view!

Reviewed on Aug 6, 2025

Wallowa Lake Wahluna Terrace Retreat
Mountain Meadow Retreat Private Hot Tub-near lake

Mountain Meadow Retreat Private Hot Tub-near lake

Joseph OR
Stay at this vacation home in Joseph. Enjoy patios, an in-room coffeemaker, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Eagle Cap Wilderness Pack Station and Wallowa ...
10/10 Exceptional! (4 reviews)
We did need to turn up the hot tub a bit, but it was then great. Kitchen was basically well equipped but coukd use a scraping/mixing spatula. Also a tea pot and strainer?

Reviewed on Jan 2, 2026

Mountain Meadow Retreat Private Hot Tub-near lake
Unbelievable yurt home. 1300 sq ft. Not your average yurt.

Unbelievable yurt home. 1300 sq ft. Not your average yurt.

2 out of 5
Cove OR
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Cove. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios.
10/10 Exceptional! (29 reviews)
Our stay was amazing! The yurt is so wonderfully decorated and they have so much more than any other short term rental I have stayed in the past. We will definitely come back and stay again!

Reviewed on Jan 13, 2026

Unbelievable yurt home. 1300 sq ft. Not your average yurt.
See all properties in Eastern Oregon
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Wallowa Lake - Joseph Oregon

Wallowa Lake

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Wallowa Lake during your travels in Joseph. Stroll along the lakeside in this family-friendly area, or seek out the hiking trails.

Wallowa Lake
Motorcycle camping and touring

Wallowa Lake State Park

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Wallowa Lake State Park during your travels in Joseph. Wander the lakeside or discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area.

Wallowa Lake State Park
Shot from the park. Beautiful I'm winter

Hat Rock State Park

You can take time to visit Hat Rock State Park during your travels to Hermiston. While in this family-friendly area, you can savor the bars and coffeehouses.

Hat Rock State Park

Wildhorse Casino

Why not roll the dice with a visit to Wildhorse Casino during your visit to Mission? While you're here, you can savor the top-notch restaurants.

Wildhorse Casino

Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame

Catch an event at Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame during your trip to Pendleton. While in this family-friendly area, you can savor the top-notch restaurants.

Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame

Crystal Crane Hot Springs

You can take time to visit Crystal Crane Hot Springs during your travels to Burns. Stroll along the lakeside or discover the sunsets in this trendy area.

Crystal Crane Hot Springs

Things to do

Half-Day Multnomah Falls & Gorge Waterfalls Tour

Half-Day Multnomah Falls & Gorge Waterfalls Tour

￥13,308
per traveler
96% of travellers recommend
Half-Day Multnomah Falls & Gorge Waterfalls Tour
Portland: 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Willamette River

Portland: 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Willamette River

￥13,622
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Portland: 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Willamette River
Picture 11 for Activity Portland: Champagne Brunch Cruise on Willamette River

Portland: Brunch Cruise on Willamette River

￥16,283
per adult
92% of travellers recommend
Portland: Brunch Cruise on Willamette River
Portland: Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise

Portland: Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise

￥19,884
per adult
96% of travellers recommend
Portland: Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise
Aerial view of the Oregon Coast

Full-Day Northern Oregon Coast Tour

￥22,037
per traveler
94% of travellers recommend
Full-Day Northern Oregon Coast Tour
Portland Downtown Highlights: "The Golden Adventure" Exploration Game

Portland Golden Adventure Puzzle Quest and Tour

￥1,178
per adult
Portland Golden Adventure Puzzle Quest and Tour
See all activities in Eastern Oregon

Cities near Eastern Oregon

Base of Cabbage Pass near Pendleton, Oregon

Pendleton

Kennewick Washington

Kennewick

located outside the court house

Baker City

View of Cannon Beach from Ecola Point in Ecola State Park #beachbound

Hermiston