Local Attractions in Wallowa County
If you are tempted to leave Barking Mad Farm for even a moment, there is an amazing variety of activities available on a vast array of landscapes!
Stay around. Watch the eagles, hawks, pheasants, and deer. Listen to the sounds of the buffalo, birds, and occasional coyote or owl at night. Sit by the stream. Explore the 42-acres. Sunbathe on a deck, read a book, take a bike or horseback ride and explore the neighborhood. Or snooze the day away in total peace and serenity. In the evening join us for a campfire in the summer or a warm up by the wood stove in winter.
Explore. We are perfectly situated in the heart of Wallowa County. Adventurers will be tempted by Hells Canyon, the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Zumwalt Prairie, and more. Those who prefer something closer to home will enjoy the artist’s community of Joseph with its galleries, shops, restaurants, and foundries. Beer-lovers have several pubs to choose from including the local landmark of Terminal Gravity (only 2-miles away). Everyone enjoys postcard-perfect Wallowa Lake, and those seeking something more original may find themselves touring old barns, a ghost town, the local tractor museum, the local distillery, or creating their own adventure!
Naturalist tours. Join local naturalists, conservationists, biologists, outfitters, and photographers on full or half-day guided tours. Learn about the region’s amazing wildlife, wildflowers, ethnobotany, photography, as well as the extensive native and cultural heritage of Wallowa County, from the Nez Perce and Chinese immigrants to modern day ranchers and environmentalists.
Pamper yourself. You may be in cowboy country, but there’s no need to rough it. Whether you want a massage, facial, or manicure, we can arrange it for you.
We’ll continue to update this page and can always share more in person, but the following links are a good place to start for some of the information you may need to plan your days:
- www.josephoregon.com
- www.wallowalake.net
- www.wallowacountychamber.com
- www.eova.org East Oregon Visitors Association
Our daily, online paper is here.
The vast Eagle Cap Wilderness information page is at the US Forest Service’s website.
Joseph is the northern terminus of the Blue Mountains Trail, a 530-mile signature trail route through Northeast Oregon and ends in John Day.
Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area: Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and All-American Road: www.byways.org
DINING
Local Dining: There are a number of good places to go, but we suggest starting with Terminal Gravity and Silver Lake Bistro.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS
Hell’s Canyon Mule Days: Eccentric, quirky, engaging, enchanting – just some descriptions of mules and Mule Days! You don’t have to own, ride or even know a mule to appreciate one of the most interesting and entertaining events around. Mule Days is the first weekend after Labor Day Weekend. It’s worth coming to Wallowa County just for this event!
Eagle Cap Excursion Train: Train enthusiasts flock to this wonderful new attraction which runs along parts of the Wallowa, Minam and Grande Ronde river canyons that can only usually be seen from the river itself. An affordable and memorable excursion.
Chief Joseph Days Rodeo: The name says it all.
Wallowa Lake Tramway: When you reach the top you will see why this is one of the most special trips in America…and one of its best-kept secrets. Have lunch at the Summit Grill or start an alpine hike with a bit of a head start!
Nez Perce Homeland Project: This non-profit organization is dedicated to telling the story of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce nation.
OUTFITTERS TRIPS & MORE:
Winding Waters: This popular family-owned local outfitter leads rafting and fishing trips in the area.
Eagle Cap Fishing Guides is an Orvis-endorsed company offering guided fishing trips, natural history tours and shuttle services.
Joseph Fly Shoppe: Offers fishing on the Wallowa, Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers for one or multiple days.
Hells Canyon Adventures: For the adrenaline seeker, jet boat tours of North America’s deepest canyon are tough to beat!
Wallowa Llamas: If you like the backcountry but like someone else to carry the load there are a number of outfitters who specialize in llamas, horsepacking, and other trips.
Fishtrap: This local organization attracts some of the world’s best writers and hosts conferences, lectures, readings, discussions, classes, and a flagship southern gathering of writers.
Foundries: Joseph is home to amazing foundries that offer tours for the public by arrangement.
- Parks Bronze Foundry (Enterprise) 541-426- 4595
- Valley Bronze Foundry (Joseph) 541-432-7445
- Joseph bronze Foundry at 541-432-3116
Wallowa Buddhist Temple: You might not guess it, but we’re just a few miles from a small Buddhist temple for locals and visitors interested in Buddhist meditation and practice.
The Nature Conservancy’s Zumwalt Preserve: The pride of Wallowa County are its spectacular, diverse, and vast public lands. However much of the Nature Conservancy’s growing Zumwalt Preserve is open to the public.
WINTER & FALL:
Things slow down and some may call it the off-season, but winter, spring, and fall are some of the best times to visit! We offer reduced rates to entice visitors, but once you’re here, you’ll find solitude, fall colors, backcountry and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife watching, and some of the best fishing of the year.
Wing Ridge Ski Tours: Offers backcountry skiing at every level.
Fergi: The local ski hill has lots to offer.
Wallowa Mountain Visitor Center: Gives up to date info on snowmobiling and cross country skiing at Salt Creek.