Marvel over the Painted Hills at Sunset

Well worth a detour off the usual drive along the Columbia river, the Painted Hills are one of Travel Oregon’s ‘Seven Wonders’ for a reason. Stroll past beautiful exposed earth on accessible half-mile hikes, then grab your sweetie to watch the sunset against the stunning striped earth. Get a drink or camp for the night in nearby Mitchell, OR. 

Photo: PaintedHillsPano4 by Cacophony - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. (image cropped). 

Hike or Glide up the ‘Little Alps’ 

Only a half day’s drive from Portland, this postcard perfect mountain range shoots up from the ranching grasslands on all sides. From June to September, mountaineers and backpackers trek all over the craggy granite peaks, passing pristine streams that wind through lush wildflower meadows. Whether you hike three miles or thirty, a dip in a peaceful alpine lake will energize tired legs. For hike information, pick up Bill Sullivan’s 100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Eastern Oregon (Navillus Press, 2015). For those who are less mobile or pressed for time, take the Swiss-made gondola up Mt. Howard from Wallowa Lake State Park ($30, wallowalaketramway.com). Enjoy views of the massive lake and the snowcapped mountains to the south from the patio of the summit cafe. 

Explore the Ancient Jungles of Oregon 

Now dry and dusty, the John Day Valley used to be a tropical rainforest filled with gargantuan mammoths, ancient rhinos and even crocodiles! Explore 40,000 specimens of skulls, fossilized leaves, eggs and more at the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center right in the heart of the John Day Fossil Beds (Admission free, 541-987-2333). 

Photo: Sheep Rock near sunset by Finetooth - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. (image cropped). 

Get Swept Away by Folksy Small Town Charm

Tired of Portland’s aloofness? Prineville, Baker City, Joseph... every Eastern Oregon town offers a slice of the Wild West’s pioneering culture with friendly faces at every turn. Cheer on wranglers at a Prineville rodeo, catch a flick at La Grande’s historic Granada movie theater, or stop by Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise for refreshing brews and artisan burgers (Terminal Gravity Brewery, 541-426-0158). The charming roadstop cafe in Dayville offers the best peach berry pie you’ll ever indulge in (Dayville Cafe, 541-987-2122). 

Photo: Bowen and Bamberger Buildings (Baker City, Oregon) via Wikimedia Commons. (image cropped). 

White-Water Raft Hell’s Canyon

We’ve all heard of the Grand Canyon. But what if there was a canyon twice as deep, right in the Beaver State? At it’s deepest point, the Snake River forges a mighty 9,000 ft deep border between Oregon and Idaho. Rafting Hell’s Canyon is not for amateurs, so secure your place on a guided trip and careen through Class IV rapids in style. Try Hughes River Expeditions, whose trips include stop-offs to see aboriginal art and a century old frontier house (Hughes River Expeditions, 1-800-262-1882).  

Photo: Hell's Canyon via Wikimedia Commons. (image cropped).