Dog Friendly Eastern Oregon Spring Loop

Join us for our EPIC SPRING FLING with EASTERN OREGON this 3rd week in May, 2022, as we PAWTRIP from Portland, OR to: The Wallowas; Hells Canyon; The Owyhee Canyonlands – Succor Creek State Natural Area, Leslie Gulch and Owyhee Canyon Overlook; Pillars of Rome; and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument – Sheep Rock and Clarno Units.

The Map Below shows our AMBITIOUS 6-Day route! Can you say SpeedTripping?

DAY 1, Sunday – PDX, EMIGRANT HILL PENDLETON, WALLOWAS, JOSEPH, OREGON

And we’re on the road to the wide open spaces of Eastern Oregon at 9 a.m., driving out the I-84 from Portland, through the Columbia River Gorge to Pendleton, where we make our first stop for GAS (For you musicians:  “All Cars Eat Gas”)

(Note to all:  Fill up at every opportunity when you travel through this remote area of Oregon!  And, for you Oregonians, in Eastern Oregon be prepared to pump your own gas.)

From Pendleton, We begin the climb up Emigrant Hill, exiting right when we see a sign that says, “VIEWPOINT.” And find ourselves looking out over an unexpected Sea of Yellow Lupine to the Valley below! Everything is sooooo GREEN!

JACKPOT!

Then, a little further up Emigrant Hill and  we reach Deadman’s Pass,  turn off, drive left back under the hwy, through the narrow tunnel pictured below…

…follow the “Viewpoint” sign right onto Old Emigrant Hill Road, and continue until we see another “Viewpoint” sign with an arrow pointing left, turn in, and find ISQUULKTPE CREEK!  (Note:  There is no signage that says Is Isquulktpe Creek!)

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED

🎶”I Love the Mountains, I Love the Rolling Hills, I Love the Wildflowers…
BOOM-DE-AH-DAH!”

…then, back to the 84, La Grande, a left onto Hwy 82/The Wallowa Lake Hwy, and we are driving through the SCENIC WALLOWA VALLEY also known as “THE ALPS OF OREGON…”

BE STILL MY FLYNN DOG BEATING HEART!

WALLOWA MOUNTAIN FACTS:   The Wallowas consist of 17 peaks, the highest reaching an elevation of over 9,000′

..where 1-1/2 hours later, we arrive in JOSEPH, OREGON, just in time for Dinner, and FLYNN’s FIRST TASTE OF JOSEPH at the Dog-Friendly DOG SPOT restaurant on Main Street. (In May, The Dog Spot closes at 5 pm on Sunday.  Be sure to check their hours.)

THAT SURE HIT THE
“Dog” SPOT! (😂)

JOSEPH FACTS: Named for Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, the town is at an Elevation of 4,190′

From downtown, Our VACASA Queens Court House Rental is only a stone’s throw away at the Northwest End of Wallowa Lake.

Boy Did We Score With This House
LUCKY DOGS!

…And, as we bring in our last suitcase, it starts to Sprinkle, then “Thunder, Lightening…KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK ON WOOD”

Just Made it!

WALLOWA LAKE FACTS:  formed by glaciers, 3.5 miles long, 3/4 mile wide, Average Depth 161′, 299′ max depth, elevation 4,372′ above sea level.

OVERNIGHT at the QUEEN’S COURT VACASA HOUSE RENTAL

DAY 2, Monday – WALLOWA LAKE STATE PARK, OLD CHIEF JOSEPH GRAVESITE, IWETEMLAYKIN ,JOSEPH, OREGON

“Morning Comes Early and Bright with Dew..” for the FLYNN DOG that’s 5:30 a.m. and it’s “Clear As A Bell”.  By 8:00 a.m., A dense fog has crept in!

Thankfully, when we head out on our day’s Adventure at 10:00 a.m., the fog has lifted just like that, and it’s “all systems go!”

The map below shows our day’s route.

From our house, It’s a short 15-minute drive on Power House Rd/351 along the east side of the Lake to the South End, and our first stop at WALLOWA LAKE STATE PARK.

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED.

VIEW OF WALLOWA LAKE from the STATE PARK MARINA

Notes:  The Tram, Wallowa Lake Lodge, and Wallowa Lake Trailhead  are also located at the South End of the Lake.  The Tram and Lodge are closed in May but expected to open Memorial Weekend; the Tram, weather permitting.  Note, The Lodge and Tram are NOT Dog Friendly.

We then head back to town stopping at OLD CHIEF JOSEPH’s GRAVESITE AND CEMETERY (on the left) where we pay our respect and honor this Great Chief by leaving Our “token,” reciting the poem:

“What is lovely never dies,
but passes into other loveliness,
Star-dust or sea-foam,
Flower or winged air .”

~ Thomas Bailey Aldrich

…followed by a 2-mile loop walk on the nearby sacred ancestral homeland of the NEZ PERCE at IWETEMLAYKIN, (parking at the pullout on our right opposite the Dog Paw Print on the map below)

…before heading into Joseph and the Dog-Friendly EMBERS RESTAURANT Patio for a bite to eat.  (courtesy of our friend Patty who sent a generous gift card with a note saying to have a meal on her our next Pawtrip!)

LET’S HEAR IT FOR PATTY
RUB A DUB DUB,
THANKS FOR THE GRUB!
YAY PATTY

After lunch, we take the ARTWALK on Main Street to see the BRONZE STATUES…

Here are just a few:

…then head back to our House for some R&R and to enjoy our View!

OVERNIGHT at the QUEEN’s COURT VACASA HOUSE

DAY 3, Tuesday –  WALLOWAS, HELLS CANYON, ONTARIO,

TRAVEL DAY!

GOOD MORNING WALLOWA LAKE!

And, we make One Last Stop, before heading out of town for parts east, this time at WALLOWA LAKE COUNTY PARK at the North end of the Lake for One Last Photo, of Wallowa Lake and the Wallowa Mountains…and they do not disappoint!

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED

HELLS CANYON Here We Come!

Note, On our visit In May, the section of the Hell’s Canyon Scenic Byway from Joseph to Hells Canyon is still closed for the Season, so we head Back the way we drove in, following the Wallowa Lake Hwy/82 along the Wallowa, Lostine and Minam Rivers to I-84E…

…then East to Baker City, the Snow-capped Blue Mountains on our Right/South…

We Fill up in Baker City,  then head out into the GREAT UNKNOWN on Hwy 86.

HWY 86 TO HELLS CANYON
🎶Wildflowers, Rolling Hills
BOOM-DE-AH-DAH! …

Finally,  6-hours after leaving Joseph, we cross the Snake River into IDAHO, and drive 22-mile through HELLS CANYON,  along the Snake River…

…to the HELLS CANYON DAM, drive across, and find ourselves back in OREGON, where we follow the road a short ways to the end, and find the HELLS CANYON DAM VISITOR’S CENTER, which is closed.

PICTURED BELOW:
HELLS CANYON DAM, AND VISITOR CENTER PARKING LOT
Without Another Soul, Nada, No One In Sight!

LIGHT’S, CAMERA, ACTION
FLYNN DOG !

Then, back over the Dam we go, through the Canyon, along the Snake River…

…crossing back into Oregon, taking a left onto the Brownlee-Oxbow Hwy/ Hwy 71, and continuing along the Snake River South, until once again, we cross back into ID, turn inland, curve up and over a section of the Payette National Forest, and arrive in Cambridge, ID, where we once again we Gas up, before taking the 95S to Ontario, arriving at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time, 11.5 hours after leaving Joseph, Long Day!

“You Can Bet Your Bottom Dollar,”
This FLYNN DOG is ready to HIT THE HAY!
(That’s Eastern Oregon COWSpeak)

OVERNIGHT at the CLARION INN, Ontario, OR

DAY 4, Wednesday –  ONTARIO, SUCCOR CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA, LESLIE GULCH, ROME, PILLARS OF ROME

Today we’re on our way to the OWYHEE CANYONLANDS where there is…”No Cell Service, No Phones..” which is NO PROBLEM for the PAWTRIPPING TRIO…since we’re prepared with paper maps (BLM, Oregon Atlas and William L Sullivan Map from his “100 Hikes in Eastern Oregon” book,) and have dowloaded a Google GPS Map of the area to use offline, just in case!

From Ontario, we take the 95 S, to the 201, a right turn onto Succor Creek Road, and drive the Nerve-racking, rocky 15-miles, cringing as rocks kick up and clank against our car’s undercarriage,….

“RUFF ROAD”

White Knuckle Drive

…to the SUCCOR CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA, and through this Striking canyon of jagged rock formations…

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED

…then, continue along what is now a fine gravel road (A Relief!) to…(Note: The BLM advised this road is sometimes washed out and impassable, in which case you have to go back to the highway 95! I shudder to think about it!)

…LESLIE GULCH (BLM) where we take a right,  and drive the 34-miles out and back through this JAW-DROPPING, UNBELIEVABLE, OUT OF THIS WORLD CANYON.

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED

AND FLYNN SAYS, BOW WOW WOW!
“THIS IS CANYON BATHING AT IT’S FINEST”

We are now Staggering Drunk, and feeling quite Tipsy from “The Wine of Beauty,” as we make our way back to the 95, and continue South to Jordan Valley. For? You guessed it, Gas!  Then to ROME STATION! To ROME STATION!

HWY 95S stretches in front of us,
the Snow Covered Steens Mountain Range in the distance!

It’s Late Afternoon when we finally reach our destination, and quickly becomes clear, “We’re not in Portland Anymore FLYNNIE!”  Welcome to ROME STATION, or “GREEN ACRES,” as we fondly like to call it, in the “Middle of Nowhere” – where two brothers run the RV Park, Cafe, Store, 3-Cabins, Gas Pump, and, Oh Yes, the local Towing Service…I think we even saw an Airstrip, By Golly!

OUR DOG FRIENDLY COZY CABIN at ROME STATION

By now, We’re Famished, and the Dog-Friendly Outdoor Cafe Deck has FLYNN’S NAME WRITTEN ALL OVER IT!

After dinner, we drive across the highway to the Famed PILLARS OF ROME for…

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED

GOLDEN HOUR

…and, SUNSET
PAWTRIPPING THE LIGHT FLYNNTASTIC!

OVERNIGHT at the ROME STATION, Rome, OR

DAY 5, Thursday –  ROME, OWYHEE CANYON OVERLOOK, PILLARS OF ROME, JOHN DAY

“IT’S A BLUSTERY DAY, SAID FLYNN”

YIPEE AYE O KAYEE, we’re back on the 95N to the Owyhee Canyon Turnoff, then take a right on THREE FORKS RD, and continue for 22-miles to…

FLYNN DOG SAYS,
“HAY THERE, MOOve OVER!”
(More COWSpeak)

…the OWYHEE CANYON OVERLOOK

GIT ALONG LITTLE FLYNN DOGGIE!!!

NO FEE OR PASS REQUIRED

OWHYEE CANYON FACTS: 32-mile Canyon, ranging from 800-1,000′ miles deep.

…then, BACK to the 95, BACK to ROME, and BACK to the PILLARS OF ROME one last time before MOOving On down the road!

Note:  There is no signage for The Pillars of Rome. You take the Road by the Stop Sign across from Rome Station, then a left on Kiger Rd.

PILLARS OF ROME FACTS: 100′ high, 5-miles long, 2-miles wide

“FLYNN DOG,
THAR’S A DUST STORM A’BREWIN’ In THEM THAR PILLARS!”

🎶”EVERYONE KNOWS IT’S WINDY!!!”

One last Gas Stop at ROME STATION, before we hop back on the 95S, take the 78, then 395 to JOHN DAY.  You wonder about the drive?  You name it!  We Have it ALL –  Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Hail.

🎶”…Through all kinds of weather, what if the sky should fall.  Just as long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter at all…”
~ Harry Woods

Last Stretch!

…JOHN DAY!
THE FLYNN DOG HAS LANDED

OVERNIGHT at the SUNSET INN. John Day, OR

DAY 6, Friday –  JOHN DAY, MASCALL OVERLOOK, PICTURE GORGE, JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS SHEEP ROCK and CLARNO UNITS, HOME

Brrr!  It’s Chilly Out this Morning!  Carole walks across the street for Breakfast Takeout from the Dog-Friendly SQUEEZE-IN!

(Note: They have a Dog-Friendly Deck which is under construction on our visit.)

Today, is the LAST LEG OF OUR PAWTRIP!

The map below shows our final route to the Mascall Formation Overlook and the John Day Fossil Bed Sheep Rock and Clarno Units!

From John Day, we travel west along Hwy 26 for 45 minutes to the well marked turnoff on the Left to the MASCALL FORMATION OVERLOOK.

…Then, we’re Back on the 26, take a right turn onto Hwy 19, and Pull over at the turnout to take a Snapshot of PICTURE GORGE…

…before entering the SHEEP ROCK UNIT OF THE JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT…

🎶”FLYNNstone, Meet The FLYNNstone…”

First Stop, CANT RANCH for a short walk…
.5-mile RT on the SHEEP ROCK OVERLOOK TRAIL

Then we pull over to take a picture of…CATHEDRAL ROCK

“YABBA DABBA DOO!”

…Last stop in the SHEEP ROCK UNIT, the FOREE PICNIC and REST AREA where we walk the…

STORY IN STONE .3-Mile TRAIL

and,
FLOOD OF FIRE TRAIL .5-MILE RT

Wildflowers SheepRock & Clarno Units

…Then, FLYNN DOG HO, To the JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS CLARNO UNIT we Go!

…Stopping along the way, for a Mid-afternoon PAWStretch and Snack at SPRAY RIVERFRONT PARK in the town of SPRAY, on the John Day River.

‘WHAT’CHA GOT THERE DANA?”

…before, Continuing our Scenic drive along Hwy 19…

..to Hwy 218, where arriving at the JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS CLARNO UNIT late afternoon and take one last 1.5-mile out and back walk, this time on the GEOLOGIC TIME AND TRAIL OF FOSSILS trails.  “Man it’s a Scorcher Out!”

PICTURED BELOW: THE PALISADES & ARCH ROCK

🎶When you’re with the FLYNNstone, Have a YABBA DABBA DOO Time,  You’ll have a Gay Old Time” – Lyrics by Jacob Collier

Then We are ready to GPS our way out to the 84, find ourselves back in familiar territory, and head west through the Columbia River Gorge for Home.

🐾🐾🐾

🎶”We’ve Been Everywhere, MAN, We’ve Been Everywhere…”

JOSEPH, PENDLETON, HELLS CANYON, SUCCOR CREEK, LESLIE GULCH, JOHN DAY, ROOOOME (slide word)…

ONTARIO, WALLOWAS,  BURNS, SHEEP ROCK, OWYHEE, CLARNO, PILLARS, OF ROOOOME (slide word)…

“We’ve Been Everywhere, MAN, We’ve Been Everywhere…”

 (based on a Johnny Cash song)

🐾🐾🐾

🎶”And, they Called it PUPPY LOVE;”
FLYNN DOG’s Spring Love Affair with EASTERN OREGON, is a PAWTRIP for the Books!

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

DAY 1 Sunday – Lake Oswego to Joseph

• I-84 east to Pendleton and up Emigrant Hill stopping at
  “Viewpoint” sign
• Continuing on to Deadman’s Pass Lookout, back under the hwy, right on Old Emigrant Road to Viewpoint Sign and Left at “Viewpoint” Sign with left arrow (This is ISQUULKTPE CREEK)
• back to I-84, Left onto Hwy 82 to Joseph, OR
• DOG SPOT RESTAURANT – 19 S. Main St., Joseph, OR
• VACASA Queens Court Rental – on Edgewater Drive, Joseph, OR

Other Dog Friendly Lodging:
Eagle Cap Chalet (Wallowa Lake)
Wallowa Lake Resort (Wallowa Lake)
Eagle’s View Inn & Suites (Enterprise)
Ponderosa Motel (Enterprise)
Wilderness Inn (Enterprise)
Minam River Lodge (Eagle Cap Wilderness)

For Camping & RV sites:
Contact the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce

DAY 2 Monday – Wallowa Lake State Park, Chief Joseph Gravesite, Iwelmketayn, Vacasa Rental

• VACASA QUEENS COURT RENTAL – on Edgewater Drive, Joseph, OR
• WALLOWA LAKE STATE PARK
• OLD CHIEF JOSEPH GRAVESITE
• IWETEMLAYKIN
• EMBERS RESTAURANT & BREWPUB – 204 N. Main St., Joseph, OR
• BRONZE ARTWALK ON MAIN STREET
• VACASA QUEENS COURT RENTAL – on Edgewater Drive, Joseph, OR

Other Dog Friendly Restaurants:
La Laguna (Joseph & Enterprise)
Outlaw Saloon and Restaurant (Joseph)
Side Town Cafe (Joseph)
Red Rooster Cafe (Enterprise)
Terminal Gravity Brewing (Enterprise)

DAY 3 Tuesday – Wallowa Lake Park, Hells Canyon, Clarion Inn Ontario

• VACASA QUEENS COURT RENTAL – on Edgewater Drive, Joseph, OR
• WALLOWA LAKE COUNTY PARK – Wallowa Lake Hwy, Joseph, OR (North end of Lake)
• Hwy 82 to Hwy 84 east to La Grande
• Hwy 86 to NF454/HELLS CANYON, HELLS CANYON DAM, HELLS CANYON VISITOR’S CENTER
• NF454 to HWY 71 to HWY 95, ONTARIO
• CLARION INN – 1249 Tapadera Ave, Ontario, OR

Dog Friendly Restaurant:
Mackey’s (Ontario)

DAY 4 Wednesday – Clarion Inn Ontario, Succor Creek State Natural Area, Leslie Gulch, Rome Station, Pillars of Rome

• CLARION INN – 1249 Tapadera Ave, Ontario, OR
• Hwy 95 to Hwy 201 to SUCCOR CREEK RD
• SUCCOR CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA
• Continuing on SUCCOR CREEK RD to
• LESLIE GULCH – Leslie Gulch Rd.
• Rt. on Succor Creek Rd. to US 95S
• ROME STATION – 3605 HWY 95, Jordan Valley, OR
  – Dog- Friendly Cabin
  – Dog-Friendly Cafe Deck
• PILLARS OF ROME – Rome, OR

DAY 5 Thursday – Rome Station, Owyhee Canyon Overlook, Pillars of Rome, Sunset Inn John Day

• ROME STATION – 3605 HWY 95, Jordan Valley, OR
• Hwy 95 N to Three Forks Rd., right turn
• 22 miles to OWHYEE CANYON OVERLOOK
• back to Hwy 95S
• PILLARS OF ROME – Rome, OR
• Hwy 95 S to the 78N, 395N, HWY 26 W
• SUNSET INN – 390 W. Main Street, John Day, OR

DAY 6 Friday – John Day, Mascall Formation Overlook, John Day Fossil Beds Sheep Rock & Clarion Units, Home

• SUNSET INN – 390 W. Main Street, John Day, OR
• hwy 26 W
• MASCALL OVERLOOK
• Right on Hwy 19
• PICTURE GORGE PULL OUT
• SHEEP ROCK UNIT JOHN DAY FOSSIL BED NATIONAL MONUMENT
  • CANT RANCH SHEEP ROCK OVERLOOK TRAIL
  • FOREE  STORY OF STONE & FLOOD OF FIRE TRAILS
• SPRAY PARK – Old Parish Creek Rd, Spray, OR
• Hwy 19 to Hwy 218W.
• CLARNO UNIT JOHN DAY FOSSIL BED NATIONAL MONUMENT – Fossil, OR
• HOME

RESOURCES

TRAVEL OREGON
VISIT EASTERN OREGON
PINTEREST- Various Blogs
ONLY IN OREGON
ALLTRAILS
OREGON HIKERS
OREGON STATE PARKS – Wallowa Lake State Park
OREGON STATE PARKS –  Succor Creek State Natural Area
OREGON STATE PARKS – Iwetelmyakin State Heritage Site
JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
BLM – OWYHEE RIVER CANYON
TRIPADVISOR
WALLOWA WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST
– HELLS CANYON
– WALLOWA MOUNTAIN VISITOR’s   CENTER (Joseph, OR. 641-426-5546)
WALLOWA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ONTARIO CHAMBER
VACASA HOUSE RENTAL
TRIPCHECK
BRINGFIDO
GOPETFRIENDLY

WALLOWA BARN TOUR MAP
“100 HIKES OREGON COAST AND COAST RANGE” – William Sullivan
”CHIEF JOSEPH” By Candy Molton”OREGON ROAD AND RECREATION ATLAS
NORTHWEST WILDFLOWERS

LODGING

CLARION INN

• 1249 Tapadera Ave, Ontario, OR
• (541) 889-8621
• Dog-Friendly Room
• Room Rate. Plus Pet Fee Per Night
• Amenities:  Refrigerator, Microwave; Complimentary Coffee; Breakfast; High Speed Wifi; Flatscreen TV; Sundry Items; Air Conditioning and Heater.

ROME STATION

• 3605 HWY 95, Jordan Valley, OR
• (541) 586-2295
• Dog-Friendly Cabin
• Room Rate. Plus Pet Fee Per Night
• Amenities:  Refrigerator, Microwave; Gas Fireplace; High Speed Wifi; Flatscreen TV; Sundry Items

SUNSET INN

• 390 W. Main Street, John Day, OR
• (541) 575-1462
• Dog-Friendly Room
• Room Rate. Plus Pet Fee Per Night
• Amenities:  Refrigerator, Microwave; Complimentary Coffee; High Speed Wifi; Flatscreen TV; Sundry Items; Air Conditioning and Heater

FLYNN’S PACKING LIST
Dog Food
Treats
Canned Pumpkin
Mushers Secret
Dog Boots
Dog Jacket
Towels
Toys
Kong Bone
Dog Bowls
Sheet for furniture
Dog Blanket
Dog First Aid Kit
Bottled Water
Leash – Regular and Handsfree
Dog Waste Bags
Safety Harness