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.