WELCOME TO NORTHEAST OREGON!
We're happy you're here!

Center your vacation in La Grande, the heart of Northeast Oregon, and plan on breathtaking scenery and exhilarating activities every day. Whether you are seeking outdoor adventures and strenuous action or laid back relaxation, we are happy to help you customize your visit to northeast Oregon. Union County has the best of everything you need for a vacation to remember: great food, comfortable lodging, fun shopping, quality entertainment and endless opportunities for outdoor fun. Fill your days with some of the best sights and unique experiences Oregon has to offer. Then return to the comfort and convenience offered by our quality visitor facilities.

Sample Five Day Itinerary

Day Trip Planner:

   Day 1:   From whichever direction you begin your vacation, you will travel through magnificent country to reach the northeastern corner of Oregon. On your first day in La Grande, stretch your legs with a walking tour. Choose the historic homes in one of La Grande's oldest neighborhoods, or trees and landscaping in the downtown. Walking tour guides are available at the visitor center, located downtown in the Eastern Oregon Fire Museum on the corner of Elm and Washington Streets. While there, see the community's antique fire engines and exhibits, and pick up a guide to The Grande Tour, a state designated driving tour route that helps you explore the history and magnificent diversity of landscape in Union County. Figure 2 - 4 hours for the entire tour with stops, or just enjoy segments. Start by traveling through fifteen miles of productive farm country and past Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. The marsh hosts a huge population of birds of many feathers. Reserve some time in a photo blind, hike the short nature trail, or drive through the marsh on the new auto tour road. Continue to the historic town of Union. Victorian homes and charming brick storefronts give the small community its flavor. On Main Street, the Union County Museum is the home of the acclaimed "Cowboys Then & Now" Collection, previously housed in Portland and now situated in the scenic heart of cattle country. Next, tour the charming Historic Union Hotel and seek a meal at one of Union's quality restaurants. Continue the driving tour to Medical Springs and Cove, where you can tour the Gilstrap Brothers Winery, 541-568-4646. Then cross the valley and head back to La Grande. You might choose to play an exciting game of miniature golf - there are high quality courses in La Grande and Union. If golf is your game, try the challenging 18 holes at Buffalo Peak Golf Course in Union or the beautiful 9 hole course at the La Grande Country Club in Island City. The Rock Bowling Center in La Grande has all of the latest bowling technology and family entertainment.

   Day 2:   Take the drive to beautiful Wallowa County. Spectacular scenery makes it hard to keep your eyes on the road as you drive into deep canyons, past rolling farmlands and tumbling rivers and through friendly rural communities. Watch for wildlife and curious cows. At Wallowa, take a leisurely ride on the Eagle Cap Excursion Train . In Joseph, tour the nationally acclaimed bronze foundries and art galleries. This thriving art community features well-known artists from across the country and draws collectors from around the world. Wallowa Lake is just around the bend. Take the Wallowa Lake Tramway for an awesome ride to the top of the Wallowa Mountains. Return to Union County, and catch a movie or concert at the restored Historic Elgin Opera House . Tie days 2 & 3 together by taking the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway to Halfway.

   Day 3:  Step back in time and imagine yourself on a journey along the Oregon Trail. The Trail passes right through La Grande, and the freeway to Baker County traces the tracks. The 45 minute drive will set the tone for a journey back to one of the most fascinating periods in our nation's history. Your visit to the magnificent Oregon Trail National Historic Monument , on a barren hill above Baker City, will inspire, enlighten, sadden, and delight. Allow time for a visit to the Baker Regional Museum, where one of the country's most extensive collections of rocks and minerals resides. A ride on the Sumpter Valley Railroad and visit to the Sumpter Dredge State Park will leave you hungry for a steak at one of several great restaurants. What a day! Those comfortable beds back in Union County are calling!

   Day 4:   Go wild! Large game, songbirds, or waterfowl; just passing through, or year-round resident, the list of wildlife to be seen in Union County may seem endless. A drive up the beautiful Grande Ronde River is a great way to enjoy nature. Pack a lunch; Hilgard and Red Bridge State Parks, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest campgrounds are great for picnics and camping. A hike on the Bird Track Springs Nature Trail is a bird watcher's dream. After enjoying the fishing and scenic wonders of the upper Grande Ronde River, seek out the soothing waters of Lehman Hot Springs . Relax in the hot pools or try a vigorous swim in the large pool. The huge Winom-Frazier Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Complex is nearby, for hiking, biking, horseback riding or ATVs. Tonight, find a camp spot in the woods and sleep under the stars.

   Day 5:   Rise early, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mountain Crossing is breathtaking in the morning light. Set in the pines near La Grande, this beautiful park is a perfect compliment to the National Monument near Baker City. Here, you can walk on paved paths beside the actual ruts, feel where the wheels scarred the trees, and imagine the hardship endured by pioneers as they began the most difficult part of their journey. Listen! There are voices in the wind, and the groan of wagon wheels, grinding over the rocks. The California Gulch Nature Trail through old growth forest starts at the lower parking lot. On up the road, take a side tour to the Whitman Overlook and gaze into the canyon that was later deemed too rugged for wagons. Use a four-wheel drive vehicle or mountain bike to explore the top of Mount Emily and gaze down into the Grande Ronde Valley, or have a picnic at Emigrant Springs State Park. Head back to La Grande, and spend some time exploring the specialty shops downtown. They offer a unique variety of gift items, art and antiques. Then, seek out a delicious meal in La Grande and an engaging concert or play at Eastern Oregon University's beautiful Loso Hall. Or, enjoy a community celebration.

   Head over the mountain to Pendleton to visit the magnificent Tamastslikt Cultural Institute Museum, the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, the Pendleton Underground, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and the Roundup Hall of Fame.

   *Some attractions are seasonal. Please call or visit the Visitor Center or refer to the full color Guide to La Grande & Union County for more information.

   If you only spend five days in beautiful Northeast Oregon, you will want to start planning your next adventure as soon as you return home. Next time, how about a raft trip down the magical Grande Ronde River? A train ride through canyon country on the new Eagle Cap Excursions train. Or a pack trip into the incredible high country of the Eagle Cap Wilderness. If you would rather fly than sit on a horse or walk, a small airplane can drop you right into the middle of the wilderness along the Minam River from which you can camp, hike, or stay at a lodge. Time your trip for the second week in June and catch the northwest's oldest rodeo, the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, where Pro-Rodeo cowboys and pari-mutuel horse-racing will keep you on the edge of your seat! Bring your bicycle, Union County has premier biking opportunities on country roads or mountain trails. Ask for route maps at the Visitor Center. Visit in winter for a skier's and snowmobiler's paradise of powder. What a Place! See you soon!