Never traveled on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway? Here's a really good taste of what you can experience. The Oregon Department of Transportation film crew came through a little while ago and shot a lot of footage to create this comprehensive video about the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. What's nice about this particular video is you'll see the byway in all seasons.
It's a little bit lengthy at 8 minutes, but it really takes that long to see the scenery and some of the sights along the way. I'm thrilled they included a scene from the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts (3:58), our juried fine art show that takes place every first weekend of June here in Joseph Oregon. And there are scenes from Hells Canyon Mule Days (3:04) that takes place every weekend after Labor Day in September in Enterprise Oregon (the weekend after the first Monday of September). You'll even have quick view of one of your Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast innkeepers in the introduction (0:57)--it's amazing what sorts of things I get roped into doing for our area!
You'll find other posts on our Bronze Antler blog about things you can see along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway--just type "Hells Canyon" (without the quotes) in the blog's search box and a whole list of them will appear. This image is of Harle Butte, one of the historic staffed fire lookouts along the rim of Hells Canyon. It's at the end of a dirt road leading from the byway and a fabulous view (recommended for trucks and other higher clearance vehicles).
Just a reminder: the center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (Forest Road 39 or the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road) is seasonal--it usually closes in early November and doesn't open again until May or June depending upon snowpack. If you're planning to drive the entire Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, check in with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Office at (541) 426-4978 or 426-5546 or by visiting their website
And be sure to call us to see about your Hells Canyon lodging while you're on your trip. Our phone is (541) 432-0230 or visit our website for more information.
It always amazes me how much people rely on our little Hells Canyon lodging for information about the road between Joseph Oregon and Halfway Oregon. Everytime I look at the Google Analytics for the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast blog, I can see how often blog posts about this subject are searched for and read. Forget the "Joseph Oregon hotels" or the "Wallowa Lake hotel" search--seems like everyone wants to know if the road is open!!!
So, here's what's going on in 2012 for Forest Road 39 (aka Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, aka FR39, aka Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, aka the road from Joseph to Halfway). As of this week, the road is unofficially open--this information from the USDA Forest Service Visitor Center here in Joseph Oregon.
You might have to get out and move a few rocks, perhaps drive around a downed tree from last winter's snow--you drive it "at your own risk" since the Forest Service hasn't been able to maintain the road yet.
But it's a sign of spring! Lots of rain moving through the area and the temperatures are warm enough for snow to melt, so be careful out there. Not much cell service along Forest Road 39 (and definitely no gas stations) so plan accordingly! Let people know where you go if you decide to drive this route
And we'll see ya here on the Joseph Oregon end of the road!
It's been two years since Joachim Becker last visited our Hells Canyon lodging. Last time, the president of New York-based Zoho Music made us a gift of Zoho Music's upcoming release, Tribute to J.J. Cale. And just like last time, Joachim's stay was too short! We'd love for him to have the opportunity to drive the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway or take a run up to Hat Point for the incredible view.
But he did leave us with another parting gift. Zoho Music's 100th CD release is Hendrik Meurkens and Gabriel Espinosa with Anat Cohen & Antonio Sanchez entitled "Celebrando". Release in April 2012, this CD is fresh.
From the liner notes: The CD gathers the leaders and seven splendid colleagues to investigate 10 succulent Brazilian jazz originals – with a “Yucatecan and “European twist,” say Gabriel and Hendrik – and one classic bolero, all designed to enchant.
Cross your fingers! I think this one's headed for a Grammy Award. At least it's award-winning here in our Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast kitchen. The feel of this Portuguese/Spanish styling has me dancing through the dishes!
"Celebrando" is available throughout the US. Pick up a copy and enjoy the sounds. You'll be ready for that trip to Brazil in no time!
Here's something to do at Wallowa Lake: ride up the Wallowa Lake Tramway and feed the squirrels (oops, did I say that?). Or ride up the Wallowa Lake Tramway and enjoy the views! The Wallowa Lake Tramway is open (weather permitting) every day through the first weekend of October 2011.
And there's a lot to see from there! Views over the Wallowa Valley, views to the Seven Devil Mountains in Idaho past Hells Canyon, views into the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
It's a great way to see nature without hiking up 4,000 feet--let the tram whisk you up to the top of Mt. Howard so you can walk the two miles of trails with ease. When you're done, have a refreshing drink or snack at the Summit Grill.
And don't forget to feed the squirrels! (Photo of Heather and her pal at the Royal Purple Overlook on top of Mt. Howard--even the innkeepers of this Wallowa Lake lodging can get away every now and then).
News you can use from the Wallowa County Chieftain!
The center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (aka Forest Road 39 or sometimes incorrectly called Oregon Highway 39) in Northeastern Oregon will be repaired sometime starting in August 2011. The road is currently open but there are small sections that are gravel only--the repairs made in summer 2010 after the road was damaged during the 2010 spring runoff. Next month that will change (finally!).
The 13 sections that will be paved are near the intersection of FR39 and Oregon Highway 86 and are in the seven miles between Lake Fork Campground and Highway 86 (at the eastern or Halfway end of Forest Road 39).
According to Mary DeAguero, ranger for the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, the work will take about 10 days and traffic delays will be up to 20 minutes. The road crew is expected to begin work in mid-August 2011.
So, what does this mean for our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast guests? C'mon through--your Hells Canyon lodging will be waiting for you at the end of your scenic drive!
Okay, by now FR 39, aka the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, or the center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway--the connecting road between Joseph Oregon and the Hells Canyon area of Oxbow on the way to Halfway Oregon and Baker City--has been open about three weeks for the 2011 season. And it looks like it'll stick--the road hasn't washed out (yet).
The next popular question: Is the road open to Hat Point Lookout at Hells Canyon? The answer to that is yes and no. Last I checked with Dave Tanzey at the venerable Imnaha Store and Tavern, the road was open past 5 Mile Lookout (looking into the Imnaha River drainage & to the Wallowa Mountains), but not quite open as far as Granny Overlook (still looking into the Imnaha River drainage). He said there'd been crews up there cutting back trees that had fallen over the road. And, the road all the way to Hat Point was still snowed in.
Take heart! We've had some fairly decent weather, so Hat Point should be opening up soon. It's quite the view into Hells Canyon from over 8,000' and the wildflowers are fabulous (see the photo taken in July 2009).
If you really need to know right away about the road, give the Imnaha Store & Tavern a call at 541-577-3111. Better yet, drive on down and meet Dave yourself over one of his famous sandwiches and a Terminal Gravity beer.
And when you're looking for Hells Canyon lodging, look for us in Joseph Oregon. We'll do the checking for you and make sure you're well equipped with maps and binoculars (we'd like to see you return for the evening!).
So here we are, June 8, 2011, and the unofficial word is that Forest Road 39, the center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, is open to through traffic!
Winding Waters River Expeditions posted this status on their page on Facebook today: The FS 39 road is open over Salt Creek Summit to Halfway. The crew headed out that direction this morning for our first Hells Canyon multi-day trip. They're excited to get down there as the wildflowers are BEAUTIFUL right now and 45,000 cubic feet per second flow should provide quite the adventure!
About 4 pm, Jon Rombach reported the following comment in response to the status: Just got back from the [Hells Canyon] dam over 39 and it looks really good. No down trees, a few little snowy patches up around Wayside, but no big deal. Passenger cars were going over and it's in good shape.
Well, I can tell you this little Hells Canyon lodging is excited for the news! We've been waiting and waiting for the Hells Canyon Byway to open all the way from Joseph to Halfway for 2011.
Anyone from Eastern Oregon knows that an Eastern Oregon vacation isn't complete without a cattle drive.
Especially when you're in the middle of it!
Bill & I decided to drive out to the Zumwalt Prairie today to see what's blooming on the Nature Conservancy's land. As we came through the intersection of Crow Creek Road and Zumwalt Road, the sign said, "Cattle Drive Next 14 Miles." Hmmm. . .
At mile 12 or so, we found them. Lots of cattle. Lots of calves. Lots of mooing by cows checking on their calves. And a few stalwart cattle dogs, cowboys and cowgirls to keep the cattle on track. One mounted cowboy offered to lead us through the herd so we could get on our way. "Stay close," he advised. One needs to know the proper etiquette around such matters.
Not far from Hells Canyon National Recreation Area or the Zumwalt Prairie. Stay with us at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast and we won't necessarily guarantee you your own cattle drive, but we'll point you in the right direction!
Spring is a great time of year for birdwatching in Eastern Oregon. Many species are on their way back from winter in the south or just passing through on their way north. And because we're so far east in Oregon close to Hells Canyon, you'll see the intercontinental birds that you won't necessarily find near the Oregon coast.
Bill put up feeders in the south garden last year so guests at breakfast can enjoy birds having their breakfast too.
Who's on the feeder this week? We're seeing our first Black-headed Grosbeaks, both male & female. The Western Goldfinch and the House Finch have been eating us out of house and home when it comes to sunflower seeds. Downy (or Hairy--can't tell them apart) Woodpeckers drop by for a quick bit of suet. Flickers are also suet fans.
Of course an Eastern Oregon vacation wouldn't be complete for birdwatching without a trip out to the Zumwalt Prairie. Plenty of raptors and other species, plus the wildflowers are starting to bloom. Guests of our Hells Canyon lodging are equipped with maps, binoculars and what-have-you for a visit to the Zumwalt Prairie. Only about an hour away and Oregon's largest privately owned nature sanctuary--it's worth the trip!
Seems like every spring people start searching, wanting to know if the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway road between Joseph and Halfway is open. Here we are after Easter 2011 and it's not yet open for the season--sometime in May is more like it. This road is not plowed so the opening date is (among other things) weather dependent.
In late Spring 2010 the road suffered major damage in a few places from spring runoff. The roadbed was repaired by Fall 2010 but not paved in those damaged places. We're hoping that the paving will occur in Summer 2011. You can see an interesting video about the repair here (one of my blog posts from last year).
Does anyone have friends in high places? Would you please convince them we need this road paved soonest? And while you're at it, the rest of Forest Road 39 could use a new surfacing too! This road, as remote as it is, is very important to Eastern Oregon travel and the communities of Wallowa Lake, Joseph Oregon and Halfway Oregon to name a few.
If you're planning your Eastern Oregon vacation and want to know the status of the road, give the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest office a phone call at (541) 426-4978 and ask the Visitor Center. They are keepers of official word on the road.
In the meantime, please do check before planning to travel the center section of the Hells Canyon Byway. We hate it when our incoming guests have to backtrack over an hour of travel time to reach Joseph Oregon! And I'll keep my fingers crossed here at our Hells Canyon lodging that the road opens and stays open in 2011!
One of our favorite Joseph Oregon restaurants opens on April 14, 2011, for the spring/summer season. Calderas is one of those romantic getaway Oregon style restaurants. Great wine list, fresh produce from their own farm near Hells Canyon, creative cuisine, tremendous views of the Wallowa Mountains--all wrapped up in one location at the north end of town.
Starting Thursday, April 14th, Calderas is open Thursday through Saturday 11 am to 8 pm. Once June arrives, the hours are Wednesday through Monday, 11 am to 9 pm.
We like sending our guests to Calderas because we're confident they'll have great food and great service in a very unusual atmosphere. And the second floor balcony has a nice little gift shop featuring owner Nancy Lincoln's glass art.
Think Parisian Art Nouveau bistro with an art gallery twist. And don't miss the bathrooms if you like glass art!
Let us know you'd like a reservation for dinner at Calderas when you arrange your stay at our Joseph Oregon lodging. Reservations aren't required but are highly recommended, especially on busy Friday and Saturday nights.
A lot of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is not for mountain bikes because the Eagle Cap Wilderness lies within the forest boundary. But, there still is mountain biking near Joseph Oregon and inside the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Trailheads used are the Salt Creek Summit (south end)--19 miles from Joseph Oregon and part of the Redmont and Wagon Road Trail networks, and the Ferguson Ridge Snow Park (north end)--only 14 miles from Joseph Oregon and part of the Redmont Trail network.
Riding season in the Wallowa Mountains is typically mid-June to end of October (depending on snow), with trail clearing using completed by early July.
Routes range from 7 to 20 or more miles and vary from multi-use trails to single-track, with terrain for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders. Some routes intersect so the beginner can reconnect with the advanced rider on the same ride.
We keep mountain biking-specific maps here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast for guest use. Guests can store their mountain bikes in our garage (along with their road bikes, kayaks, etc.) for easy access.
When you're planning your Eastern Oregon vacation this year, think about some mountain bike rides in the Wallowa Mountains. Plenty of views of the Wallowas and the Seven Devil Mountains across Hells Canyon in Idaho--and a great bed and breakfast to return to at the end of the day!
We often are asked whether it is easy to drive to Joseph, Oregon. In general, driving to Northeastern Oregon is pretty straightforward. Even in winter. . .
There are three paved routes in/out of Wallowa County (where Joseph, Oregon is located), two of which are open year around:
Oregon Highway 82 (leaves Interstate 84 at LaGrande Exit 261 for a scenic drive along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway eastwards through Union County into Wallowa County)
Oregon Highway 3 (starts as Washington Highway 129 in Clarkston, WA, then becomes OR 3 at the state line, continuing south into Wallowa County to the town of Enterprise, which it ends at OR-82)
Forest Road 39 (starts at Oregon Highway 86 between Halfway and Oxbow near the Idaho border and winds its way northwestward into Wallowa County). This road is NOT MAINTAINED in the winter! (It's normally closed from mid-November through early/mid-May or sometimes into June.) The Wallowa-Whitman Forest Service Visitor Center (tel 541-426-4978 Monday-Friday) is the offical information source for this road.
In winter, it's always advisable to have traction tires or carry chains when you're in Eastern Oregon--and that means through the month of April!. Les Schwab Tires often provides a great service to occasional winter drivers. They will sell you a sealed box set of tire chains for your car or light truck and, if you return them unopened in the Spring, you'll get a full refund--one more reason to visit Wallowa Lake and Joseph, Oregon even during the Winter/Spring seasons.
Have we convinced you yet? If you need a little more assistance planning your Joseph Oregon vacation, call us and we'll give you a hand with your routing to Wallowa County.
No guests on the afternoon of January 2, 2011, so Heather & I took off for a lower elevation hike along the Imnaha River. We hoped to get to the confluence of the Imnaha and the Snake River in Hells Canyon, but got too late of a start (we did serve breakfast this morning).
If you're here for an Eastern Oregon vacation in winter and are tired of snow, then the drive down through Imnaha and on the Dug Bar Road leading to the trailhead at Cow Creek is pretty refreshing. Plenty of wildlife. We saw this eagle all plumped up keeping his toes warm--kinda like a penguin. Not a bad idea as it was below freezing!
Heather shot a little video about two miles short of the confluence.
'Course if you want to visit this place, you'd best have a truck or other kind of vehicle with heavier tires and higher clearance. As nice as they are on the open road, this is not the place for a Prius or a Mini Cooper!
Stop in at our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast and we'll tell you all about it and even send you out with a map so we'll see you again.
It's been a long summer without complete access along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway from Joseph Oregon to Halfway Oregon along Forest Road 39 (also called the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road). Spring flooding in June 2010 washed out significant sections of Forest Road 39 near the intersection of this road and Oregon 86. However, this report from Angelika Garroute of Wallowa Valley Online notes that the road will be open again (in gravel) probably by mid-November 2010. Paving will occur in 2011.
If you're thinking about that Hells Canyon/ Eastern Oregon vacation including a trip through Joseph Oregon, give us a call about the road. The Wallowa Mountain Loop Road normally closes to through traffic sometime in November because of snow, but is kept plowed from Joseph to the Salt Creek Summit for winter outdoor sport access.
Besides, the fall colors are really coming on and it's beautiful here even in November!
We love it here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast when our guests take the opportunity to do what they'd really love to do. Recently, we hosted a couple who arrived with their road bicycles and her yoga mat.
Turns out he enjoys serious cycling in the morning before breakfast and she enjoys her time on the yoga mat.
We sent him off on a leg of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway on the first morning--to the intersection of the Imnaha Highway and Forest Road 39. It's 8.3 miles each way--not a tough distance--but there's that gradual uphill slope with the abrupt drop off to the intersection. On the second morning he opted for the Hurricane Creek Road between Joseph and Enterprise. Not a lot of traffic and some lovely farm & ranch scenery.
She, on the other hand, enjoyed the peace and quiet of the Mirror Lake Suite with the Wallowa Mountains view from the windows.
Their guestbook comments:
Dear Heather and Bill:
You have created such a special place within such a special place. Joseph, the Wallowas and the sourrounding area are spectacular, and the Bronze Antler B&B is bliss. What a divine sanctuary! And this suite is sensational--I've never had a more stunning view than the mountains out the window while doing yoga.
Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, and for lovely vegan and non-vegan breakfasts!
If you're looking for that perfect Joseph Oregon vacation spot we'd be happy to help you find that place. Give us a call!
It's nice to find things to do near Wallowa Lake when you're on vacation in Eastern Oregon. With Highway 39 closed near the junction of Highways 39 and Oregon 86, you can still reach most of the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (Highway 39) from the Joseph Oregon side.
Even the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast innkeepers get to enjoy the sights around here every now and then! Bill & I recently drove out to Harl Butte off of Highway 39. There's an historic fire lookout there. When we arrived we were surprised to find not only the historic building but an individual manning the lookout as well. From his vantage point he could see into the Imnaha River drainage, plus from his location you could see the fire lookout tower at Hat Point and across Hells Canyon into Idaho.
What impressed us most was the hand-stacked volcanic rock wall surround the lookout site (he told us a previous lookout had spent 10 summers erecting the wall). Someone obviously had a lot of time on his hands in between watching for lightning strikes and monitoring fires in Northeastern Oregon and across Hells Canyon in Idaho!
Harl Butte is about 1 1/2 hours from Wallowa Lake. When planning your Eastern Oregon vacation, consider adding it as an out-of-the-way place for vast beauty. We keep maps here at our Eastern Oregon lodging to get you there and back again. Hope to see you soon!
So here we are at the end of May 2010 and the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is now unofficially open! Checked with the Forest Service this week and, although there are parts of the road that are down to one lane because of snow, the road between Joseph and Hells Canyon is passable. What a relief!
My contact at the Forest Service tells me that the road will be officially open once the snow is all melted and any rocks and debris are cleared from the road (which will be soon). So, if you've wanted to know about Highway 39, or the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, or the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (all the same places)--the answer is yes!
This photo was taken in July 2009 at Hat Point and you get the idea of the abundance of wildflowers in the area. It's a little early yet, but the flowers are coming soon too!
If you're looking for some Hells Canyon lodging along the way, our Eastern Oregon bed and breakfast is right along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. We're not the most convenient to Hells Canyon Dam (about 2:45 hours from the dam), but we're about 2 hours from scenic Hat Point in Hells Canyon and less than 2 hours from the Hells Canyon Overlook. Not much is convenient in the way of Hells Canyon lodging, but Joseph Oregon is a good jumping-off point!
You just never know who will walk through the door when you own a bed and breakfast. This week Joachim Becker, president of Zoho Music in New York, graced our little Hells Canyon lodging with his presence.
Joachim was on his way to Portland and decided to see a little of our fantastic Eastern Oregon countryside on his way. I wish we could've gotten him the spectacular view of Hells Canyon from Hat Point but the road is still snowed in. Just a good excuse for another visit to our Hells Canyon lodging in the summer or fall when the road is open.
Zoho Music is about to release a tribute compilation of music written by Oklahoma-born songwriter, singer and guitarist JJ Cale. Watch for "Tribute to JJ Cale, Volume 1: The Vocal Sessions" on June 10, 2010. Joachim was kind enough to leave an advance copy with us and with our other guests. The liner notes are clear, concise, and reveal a lot about JJ Cale as well as all the wonderful musicians appearing on this release.
We wished Joachim well on his drive to Portland, then loaded the CD for kitchen cleaning duty. With a variety of artists contributing to this CD from Swamp Cabbage to The Persuasions to Greg Skaff & Jimmy Hall among others, it's just the ticket for a voyage through classic American roots music! Thank you, Joachim!
What a night for a Pub Talk! Last night, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network hosted one of their trade-marked Pub Talk programs at Mutinty Brewing Company in Joseph, OR. The theme was "Marketing from the Ground Up" and three of us local businesses were invited to present about some aspects of our marketing.
Paul Arentsen of Winding Waters River Expeditions talked about how his company uses Picasa to post pictures from his river trips and to encourage clients to share pictures and experiences from their trips among themselves. Winding Waters also keeps two blogs: a very important Fishing Report and another "fun" one called The Gearboat Chronicles, written by one of the river guides, with a good dose of tongue-in-cheek humor.
Kari Gjerdingen, owner of Mutiny Brewing Company, talked about her use of Facebook and Twitter for her restaurant. She makes a point of posting the restaurant's specials on a regular basis--good for us when we want to send our guests there for a lunch or dinner. Of course, we all wanted to know when the beer will be available. The new forecast: about the middle of April 2010.
And of course I talked about blogging for our business here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast. I pulled a few statistics about our blog--it's amazing how many people want to know whether or not Highway 39 is open through Hells Canyon, or what's going on for Chief Joseph Days Rodeo!
One of the things I found so interesting too is how well the three businesses fit together. For example, if you're planning a visit to Joseph Oregon or an Eastern Oregon vacation, you're going to need a place to stay, somewhere to eat, and something to do. Between our three businesses, we've got you covered!
You'll find other posts on our Bronze Antler blog about things you can see along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway--just type "Hells Canyon" (without the quotes) in the blog's search box and a whole list of them will appear. This image is of Harle Butte, one of the historic staffed fire lookouts along the rim of Hells Canyon. It's at the end of a dirt road leading from the byway and a fabulous view (recommended for trucks and other higher clearance vehicles).
It always amazes me how much people rely on our little 
But he did leave us with another parting gift. Zoho Music's 100th CD release is Hendrik Meurkens and Gabriel Espinosa with Anat Cohen & Antonio Sanchez entitled 
News you can use from the Wallowa County Chieftain!
Okay, by now FR 39, aka the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, or the center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway--the connecting road between Joseph Oregon and the Hells Canyon area of Oxbow on the way to Halfway Oregon and Baker City--has been open about three weeks for the 2011 season. And it looks like it'll stick--the road hasn't washed out (yet).
Anyone from Eastern Oregon knows that an Eastern Oregon vacation isn't complete without a cattle drive. 
Seems like every spring people start searching, wanting to know if the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway road between Joseph and Halfway is open. Here we are after Easter 2011 and it's not yet open for the season--sometime in May is more like it. This road is not plowed so the opening date is (among other things) weather dependent.
A lot of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is not for mountain bikes because the Eagle Cap Wilderness lies within the forest boundary. But, there still is mountain biking near Joseph Oregon and inside the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
No guests on the afternoon of January 2, 2011, so Heather & I took off for a lower elevation hike along the Imnaha River. We hoped to get to the confluence of the Imnaha and the Snake River in Hells Canyon, but got too late of a start (we did serve breakfast this morning).
We love it here at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast when our guests take the opportunity to do what they'd really love to do. Recently, we hosted a couple who arrived with their road bicycles and her yoga mat. 
It's nice to find things to do near Wallowa Lake when you're on vacation in Eastern Oregon. With Highway 39 closed near the junction of Highways 39 and Oregon 86, you can still reach most of the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (Highway 39) from the Joseph Oregon side.
My contact at the Forest Service tells me that the road will be officially open once the snow is all melted and any rocks and debris are cleared from the road (which will be soon). So, if you've wanted to know about Highway 39, or the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, or the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (all the same places)--the answer is yes!
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