Sept 23 - Season Finale

Our brief summer season has ended.  We offer this parting photo taken by one of our fun loving visitors at Hells Canyon Overlook to say Thank You for all the wonderful encounters we had with all of you this summer.  We are so glad that you enjoyed this beautiful slice of the world we call home, and hope that we enhanced your visit.  Please come see us again.

Sept 23 - Harl Butte Lookout

From Harl Butte lookout you can see the Seven Devils mountains in Idaho and the Wallowa mountains in Oregon.  What an awesome place to spend your summer!  We were glad to get a chance to see the landscape in autumn, a very different (but still stunning) landscape from the springtime riot of color.

Sept 22 - Granny View Vista

The seasons are changing.  Compare this view with the one on July 24th.  The snow is (mostly) off the Wallowa mountains, and the flowers have gone to seed.  Still, this country is magnificently beautiful, and the warm light of these first autumn days is liquid honey in the high country.

Sept 17 - Joseph Canyon Overlook

Late in the afternoon, or when the sky is cloudy, reflections on the water of Joseph Creek allow the visitor to see that there is water down in the bottom of Joseph Canyon.  Did you stop at Joseph Canyon Overlook?  There is so much history in this canyon.  We met many summer visitors here, and hope that you enjoyed your visit.

Sept 10 - Hells Canyon Mule Days!

We spent a day at Hells Canyon Mule Days in Enterprise, Oregon this year.  Did you see us there?

Sept 4 - Hells Canyon Overlook

Field rangers Blackhorse (left) and Lyman (right) at Hells Canyon Overlook with one of our many wondeful visitors.  Did you meet us here at Hells Canyon Overlook, or did you meet one or both of us at some other location?  Tell us about your visit. What did you see, what surprised you, what would you like to see on your next visit?

Aug 30 - The Snake River by boat

Many of our visitors get to see the Snake river (and Hells Canyon) first hand from a boat.  Did you take a trip on the Snake?  What did you see?  (we saw a black bear coming down to the water).

Aug 28 - Upper Imnaha River

How different (and inviting) the Imnaha river looks now - compared to the rushing torrent it was in June.  This view is from the Imnaha river trail (just starting out for the blue hole).

Aug 28 - The Blue Hole

The hike up to the Blue Hole (from Indian Crossing trailhead) is a favorite of ours.  The chinook have made it up this far now, finishing their spawning run.  Did you get up to the Blue Hole?

Aug 27 - The 1st Annual Kokanee Festival! (Wallowa Lake State Park)

We partner with other agencies/locations to spread the word about the wonders of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.  Here Kim is assisting a visitor to the first annual Kokanee Festival at Wallowa Lake State Park.

Aug 21 - Mountain Goats! (Hat Point)

Timing is everything.  On this day we got lucky and saw a herd of 35-40 mountain goats just below the picnic area at Hat Point Lookout.  Did you see any of these elusive animals during your visit?

Aug 19 - Joseph Canyon Overlook

Many of our visitors are looking to go hiking and often ask for more information or advice.  This man brought his hiking book and Kim was able to offer him first hand information about the trails he was interested in.  Did you chat with Kim on your visit?  She has a wealth of trail knowledge!

Aug 13 - A different view of 'the devils' - from the top of Mt Howard

Although Mt Howard (where the tram ride is) is not in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, you get a great view of the recreation area from up on top.  So we spent one day up there, pointing out the lay of the land and assisting visitors looking to venture into the HCNRA.
Did you take the tram ride?  Quite the view isn't it?

Aug 7 - Hat Point Wild Strawberries!

The wild strawberries are tiny (smaller than my fingernail) but oh so yummy!

Aug 7 - Granny View Vista (Hat Point)

The snow is really coming off the Wallowas now.  Still flowers to be seen at Granny View Vista.  The penstemon were in bloom late into the summer.  Did you stop at Granny View and take the interpretive walk?  It's one of our favorites.

July 31 - Hat Point Lookout

You get quite a view from the observation deck of the Hat Point Lookout, and when the fire lookout is on duty (and not busy with a fire), he may invite you up to see the view from even a bit higher!

July 30 - Indian Crossing Campground

Visiting with happy folks at Indian Crossing Campground.  We meet so many fun people on our travels.  Did you stay in one of our campgrounds?  Which one?  Do you have a favorite?

July 29 - Twin Lakes

In mid-June we couldn't get to Twin Lakes due to snow, but by the end of July the road was clear.

July 25 - Upper Imnaha River

Did you hike up to the Blue Hole from Indian Crossing?  This is a view of the upper Imnaha River from the trail to the Blue Hole.

July 24 - Hat Point

Flowers are giving way to berries.  This is Utah Honeysuckle at the Hat Point Lookout parking area.  This isn't one you'll want to eat. 

July 24 - Granny View Vista

The view toward the Wallowa Mountains from Granny View Vista on the Hat Point Road.  The snow is visibly diminishing.

July - Hells Canyon Overlook and a happy group of visitors

Field Ranger Blackhorse assisting a fun-loving group of visitors at Hells Canyon Overlook.  Did you stop at Hells Canyon Overlook on your trip?

July 18 - Upper Imnaha River at Indian Crossing

All that spring snow meant the rivers were still running high late into the summer.  A disappointment for the fisherfolk.

July 15 - Fairie Pinks/Clarkia Pulchella

These uniquely shaped pink flowers are abundant in the higher elevations of the HCNRA.  They were first collected by Meriwether Lewis on June 1, 1806 near what is now Kamiah, Idaho.  It is the only plant of those the expedition collected which bears William Clark's name.
These were photographed on the road to Dead Horse Butte.

July 15 - Buckhorn Overlook

Mid-July and still a large variety of wildflowers and a very green landscape.  This is the view out into the Imnaha Canyon from Buckhorn Overlook.

July 15 - Mariposa lilies finally make an appearance

These little beauties occur in many parts of the HCNRA, including Hells Canyon Overlook (though they only last a week or so there). If you spend time at different elevations (as we do) you get to see them for several weeks.  I snapped this photo in the Buckhorn area.

July 9 - Hat Point Lookout

July 9 and Hat Point still shows some patches of snow.  In the distance you can see the Snake River.

July 3rd - Harl Butte Lookout

It's a long drive up a gravel road to get to Harl Butte lookout (one of our two actively operating lookouts in the Oregon HCNRA) but the views are spectacular.  Snow-capped peaks, flowers blooming everywhere, long long views.  You can see why there is a fire lookout here!

July 1st on Saddle Creek Trail - Hat Point

July 1st and the flowers were everywhere!  This is a view toward the Seven Devils Mountains from the Saddle Creek Trail.  We hiked down from the trail marker on the Hat Point Road.
Did any of you try this hike?

July 1st at 5 Mile viewpoint on the road to Hat Point

At the 5 mile viewpoint on the road to Hat Point, the Wallowa Mountains are heavy with snow.  Did you drive up the Hat Point road?  After the 5-mile marker the road improves considerably!

June at Joseph Canyon Overlook

Here is Field Ranger Lyman talking to visitors at Joseph Canyon Overlook in June.  The sky is so blue! 

June Snowpack

As throughout the western U.S., we received abundant spring snow in the mountains.  This is the view of the Wallowa Mountains from Buckhorn Overlook in June.

mid-June in the lower Imnaha canyon country

Near Cactus Mountain on the road to Dug Bar, spring was still in evidence this year in mid-June.  This country is hot and crisped brown later in the summer, but in mid-June the wild flowers were abundant.

mid-June - Little Brown Bat - Hells Canyon Visitor's Center

In June at the Hells Canyon Dam Visitor's Center, little brown bats congregate in small spaces in the eaves of the building.  You can hear them chittering and sometimes you get to see one, like this!

June - beyond Cow Creek

If you venture down to Dug Bar, or even just several miles beyond Cow Creek, you are likely to see one or more bighorn sheep.  It's a rough road and the country gets very hot later in the summer. 

mid-June in the uplands of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

In mid-June the Camas was in bloom in moist areas in the uplands.  This beautiful patch was near Thomassan Meadows (on the way to Buckhorn Overlook).  You have to be an early summer visitor to catch sight of these beauties.