Off the Grid Adventures

The very few tourists who journey to Oregon’s most distant parts — the kind of “unplugged” territory where your phone acts best as a pocket-size camera — are pleasantly surprised by seemingly hidden mountains, grasslands, rivers, and lakes.

There are a number of areas in Oregon where finding a western bar is often easier than locating a cell-signal bar. And that’s one of the things people enjoy about these analog adventures: the huge skies, rolling grassland seas, exposed geology, and tiny towns lull you into a more relaxed state.

Do you want to go on an off-the-beaten-path road trip? Then go to Eastern, Central, and Southern Oregon, where the cool wind sweeps through lush forests, grassland hills, and rippling volcanic vistas. Here are a few of these destinations into the remote.

Adventuring off the grid into the remote is a great way to get away from it all!

Diamond Craters

The weathered sign of Diamond Craters is a tell for how remote and scarcely visited this destination is.

Even if you’ve climbed through lava tubes or up the slopes of dormant mountains in Oregon, chances are you’ve never seen something exactly like Diamond Craters.

The scenery of southeast Oregon isn’t as spectacular as the Cascades, but it compensates with an amazing display of volcanic features: a sequence of craters, cinder cones, and calderas that appear out of nowhere in the otherwise dismal desert environment.

The modest attraction contains a broad array of volcanic characteristics, some of which may be familiar to visitors and others which are only recognized by those with a deeper geological interest. Whatever your level of skill, a side trip to Steens Mountain or the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is well worth it.

Diamond Craters is a one-of-a-kind site in Oregon and a great place to learn about the Earth’s inner workings. On the Diamond Loop Tour Route, the geology continues to direct you through a couple noteworthy stops. Short trails lead to pockets of swirling rock that is among the most diversified volcanic landforms in the country. Take a short diversion from the Steens Loop Tour Route to Alvord Hot Springs, a series of hot pools where you may also pitch a tent for the night at the on-site campground.

Hells Canyon

A great view of how deep Oregon’s deepest river gorge is!

Bring your hiking boots, a swimming suit, and a sense of adventure for this adventure. The continent’s deepest river gorge, a mountain range of 9,000-foot peaks, and nine Wild and Scenic Rivers are all crammed into Hells Canyon Scenic Byway’s 218-mile semicircle. Rodeos, outdoor activities, and creative artistry define the area.

From La Grande, the path traverses past mint, grass, and barley fields, as well as alongside the pure rapids of the Grande Ronde and Minam rivers, before following the Wallowa River to its source in the deep blue Wallowa Lake. Trails wind across bright fields and through valleys to forested hills with snowcapped peaks.

The path back into civilization passes a viewpoint 1 mile down into Hells Canyon Gorge from Joseph. A short detour goes to the dam, where you can try your hand at river rafting.  Stop in the funky tiny town of Halfway, where citizens opted to alter the town’s name to Half.com during the late-1990s internet boom, before finishing the drive at historic Baker City.

Alpine Lake Retreat

Anthony Lake with a serene mountain backdrop!

Combine two gorgeous paths into one lollipop loop that starts at the Columbia River and climbs through the Blue Mountains to Baker City, a historic town.

Ranching and gold were responsible for putting Northeast Oregon on the map. The Blue Mountain Scenic Byway begins at the Columbia River and heads southeast, across undulating grasslands and into jagged, pine-covered mountains. The Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway loops from mountain peaks into Baker City and the Powder River valley, the heart of Oregon’s cowboy country, from there. Thousands of elk follow the same pattern as ranchers in moving their animals from the lowlands to the mountains for the summer months.

Granite, the historic mining town at the heart of this road, isn’t quite a ghost town yet, but it’s going there, with a population of about 30 people compared to its heyday of 5,000. Despite this, the general shop is open most days, serving refreshing drinks and a glimpse into the past. The North Fork of the John Day River begins its long journey to the Columbia River nearby.

The Elkhorn section stays in the high country, passing by the family-owned ski resort Anthony Lakes, which becomes a serene alpine lake in summer — begging a quick, bone-chilling dip. The route ends in Baker City’s historic downtown, where the mining and ranching legacy lives on in restored hotels, shops, and restaurants.