Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
A loop from Baker City through ranch country, over the Wallowa Mountains to Joseph, with a side road to the Hells Canyon Overlook; summer only on Forest Road 39.
- Length218 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout six hours of driving, or three days to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"; TripCheck says a minimum of 8 to 10 hours
- RoadsOregon Highway 86, Forest Road 39 (Wallowa Mountain Loop Road), and Highways 82 and 350[2]
- Start and endBaker City (I-84 exit 304) to La Grande, by way of Halfway, Joseph and the Wallowa Mountains[2]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonSummer and early fall, when Forest Road 39 is open[3]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresForest Road 39 is usually closed by snow from late October to late May or early June, and becomes an over-snow-vehicle route in winter.[3]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway loops through northeast Oregon. From Baker City it follows Highway 86 through ranching country and the towns of Richland and Halfway, then takes Forest Road 39 (the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road) north over the mountains toward Joseph.
A short side road off Forest Road 39 leads to the Hells Canyon Overlook, looking into the canyon of the Snake River.
Forest Road 39 is usually snowed in from late October until late May or June, so this is a summer and early fall drive. TripCheck suggests 8 to 10 hours at minimum, ideally over several days.
Stops along the way
-
Halfway
Small town on Highway 86.
Official information · 44.88072, -117.11463 · about 1.1 mi from the route line
-
Hells Canyon Overlook
Viewpoint into Hells Canyon, reached on Road 3965 off Forest Road 39.
Official information · 45.1239, -116.83524 · about 1.2 mi from the route line
-
Joseph
Mountain town near Wallowa Lake.
Official information · 45.35432, -117.22963 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Lower Valley Farmers MarketWallowa, OR · about 0.0 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Wallowa County Farmers' MarketEnterprise, OR · about 0.0 mi from the route
- North Powder Farmers MarketNorth Powder, OR · about 16.6 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jul, Aug, Sep. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- HoneydewJul, Aug, Sep
- Prickly pearJul, Aug, Sep
- BasilJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- CantaloupeJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Sources
- America's Byways: Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (TripCheck, Oregon Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Wallowa-Whitman National Forest: current conditions (USDA Forest Service) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Hells Canyon Overlook (USDA Forest Service) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).