If you're thinking about taking Highway 39, keep thinking. . .this road connects the Oxbow and Brownlee Dam in Hells Canyon to Enterprise and Joseph Oregon. Some people know it as the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road. Or Forest Road 39. Or the road from Joseph OR to Halfway OR. Or even the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway.
Anyway you look at it, this road is seasonal and typically doesn't open until sometime in May or even June. It all depends on the snow and how soon it melts.
Put this note on your to do list under Joseph Oregon Vacation or Eastern Oregon Vacation:
Call the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Service Visitor Center at 541-426-4978 (ext 0) Bookmark this page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/conditions/index.shtml These are the folks responsible for the road opening and closure and will have the most current official information.
In the meantime, we're happy to help you plan your Hells Canyon to Joseph Oregon trip. Just hang on a little longer before taking Highway 39 unless you've got your snowmobile!
Everyone deserves a new toy every now and than. Thursday, March 4, 2010, was an exciting day at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast. The bed and breakfast Executive Chef and co-owner (that's me) was the happy recipient of a new GE dual-fuel range.
See, Joseph Oregon is not anywhere close to natural gas lines. That's one of the reasons we decided to open our Hells Canyon Byway lodging way out here where we're somewhat remote from things like natural gas. I've been wanting a gas range ever since we opened the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast and it's only taken me 10 years to get it!
It might not excite you, but the beauty of this baby is that is has a gas top and two electric ovens--the best of both worlds. And it fit in the bed and breakfast kitchen without getting out my Sawzall!
Having the ability to quickly control the temperature on the range with the gas is awesome! I tried it out Thursday night with lamb chops. They were seasoned only with salt and pepper and seared in the skillet, then rested in the oven while I made a reduction sauce. I sweated some shallots and threw in some small crimini mushrooms with a little butter, and added a cup and a half of exquisite $3.95/bottle Merlot. Once the liquid reduced to about half, I added a couple of tablespoons of butter.
While the sauce was reducing, I boiled up a big pot of water and cooked rice noodles. I then pan-fried them with scallions and tamari.
Heather & I had a very delicious dinner. We were so excited with the new stove that we forgot to take photographs of the stove in action or of our dinner before we ate it.
Now we're ready for the Eastern Oregon vacation season. C'mon guests!
We've been steadily blogging about the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast since November 2008. I stopped to count the number of posts recently and we're now at 212 posts!
If you search this blog (see the Search This Blog field at the right?) ---> you'll find information about subjects like:
Joseph Oregon and what to do in Joseph Oregon
Wallowa Lake and what to do at Wallowa Lake
Joseph Oregon and Wallowa County events
Planning an Eastern Oregon Vacation
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, Highway 39 and Hells Canyon Lodging
Recipes from our Joseph Oregon bed and breakfast
Guest rooms at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast
Planning a romantic getaway Oregon style at our B&B
You can also click on the various "Categories" (again, to the right on the template) and move right into specific areas like Joseph Oregon Hotels (there aren't any, but we'll tell you about it).
Or you can just wander through the blog and learn probably more about us, our bed and breakfast, and Joseph Oregon than you thought you'd ever know!
Madigan, Bill, Joanna, Elizabeth, Tiffany and I hope you enjoy reading our blog. If you have some suggestions about what we can do to improve it, you know we're all ears!
Guests staying with us recently wanted to visit Hells Canyon and planned to drive to the Hells Canyon Overlook. I found a youTube video of the Overlook and blogged about it last August. It's a nice drive to get there and a well kept overlook, but the view isn't as spectacular as that from Hat Point.
Since our guests were driving an extended cab pickup truck, we recommended they visit the Hat Point Lookout instead. The two couples thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the views. They intend to return during the summer to see the abundance of wildflowers blooming at Hat Point Lookout and at the Granny Overlook (a scenic stop overlooking the Imnaha River Canyon on the way to Hat Point).
One guest left us with over 300 photos of their day trip to Hat Point Lookout. This blog post features one to give you an idea of the vastness of the space. Even in the late autumn, Hat Point Lookout in Hells Canyon is worth the trip!
Our Hells Canyon lodging is about a 2 hour drive from the Hat Point Lookout. It's a bit of a distance, but when you're talking Hells Canyon, most places aren't very close. Give us a call toll-free at 866-520-9769 and we'll be happy to talk with you about places to visit in Hells Canyon.
The Hat Point Lookout is not very far from our Hells Canyon lodging. The problem with getting to Hat Point, just like most places in Hells Canyon, is not the distance (only 52 miles), but the driving time (about 2 hours).
But it's worth the effort to get there!
The Hat Point Road will close during the winter because of snow, but it often stays open well into November. It usually opens all the way to the lookout tower by mid or late June.
If you're thinking about an autumn romantic getaway Oregon style, then a trip including Hat Point Lookout could be a memorable event. You'll probably be the only ones there at the tower and can enjoy the scenery all to yourselves.
But then you'll need to plan another trip in the spring or summer to see the amazing wildflower display!
Give us a call at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast in Joseph Oregon and ask about the road to Hat Point. If we don't know for sure if it's open or closed, we'll be happy to "check our sources" and find out for you!
For the rest of this month we're offering our October lodging specials in Joseph Oregon. The popular Mirror Lake Suite is $50 off per night. All of our second floor rooms (Chief Joseph Mountain Room, Sawtooth Mountain Room and Ferguson Ridge Room) are 20% off per night.
No two-night minimum on the weekends, either. . .which makes this the perfect time to experience Wallowa Lake, Joseph Oregon, or just plan a quick romantic getaway Oregon style to our Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast.
There's some snow on the Wallowa Mountains but the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is still open and bursting with fall colors. Joseph Oregon shops & galleries are getting ready for the Christmas shopping crunch so many stores are offering clearances on their summer wares.
To take advantage of these October lodging specials, you can make your reservation request by clicking on the button at right or give us a call toll-free at 866-520-9769. Bill or I'll be happy to reserve a room for you at the Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast!
Here's something to do in Joseph Oregon: hike the Wallowa Lake moraines. This week was punctuated by an early, wet autumn snow. My friend Christine & I took a couple of hours and hiked up the east moraine of Wallowa Lake. It's a good walking road to get up there (took us only about 45 minutes). And what a view! The Seven Devil Mountains across Hells Canyon in Idaho are readily visible once you crest the east moraine. This is a photo of view once we reached the top.
The trip back down the east moraine was also beautiful--a reflection of the Wallowa Mountains in the still Wallowa Lake. This hike is less than a 10 minute drive from our Wallowa Lake lodging and very accessible for those who are not hard-core hikers!
In winter it's also a great place to get out for some snowshoeing in the Wallowas without being too far away from some hot chocolate and a steamy shower.
Although Wallowa County did have an early October snowfall, the town of Joseph Oregon is still bright and sunny and the snows are rapidly melting. We don't expect our real winter weather for at least another month or two!
Literary events in September in Wallowa County Oregon? Geez, an' I thought I had the corner on the literary end of Wallowa County with my Observing Literacy program here at the bed and breakfast.
But she was surfing on my couch today an' reading her email, and read this from Rick Bombaci, the director at Fishtrap:
"While I was 40 miles north of town, dancing under the moon, those storm clouds were pummeling Enterprise with hail. But locals shouldn’t complain. In 1903, a hailstorm led to a flood which devastated the town of Heppner, Oregon, killing one out of five residents. Join us as former journalist Joann Byrd reads from her book, Calamity. Friday, September 25th, 7 pm at Fishtrap. Admission is free.
"And on [Wednesday] September 30, R. Gregory Nokes will read from his book Massacred for Gold, The Chinese in Hells Canyon, the first authoritative account of the long-forgotten 1887 massacre of more than 30 Chinese gold miners in Hells Canyon. Admission is free."
So there's still room at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast if anyone wants to come out and attend these Fishtrap events. I might think 'bout goin' myself if they'd dare let a cat into a Fishtrap (whatever that is). An' the price is right--free!
The Hells Canyon Overlook along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a favorite stopover for our guests travelling from Idaho to Joseph Oregon, or for guests taking the scenic route to Baker City Oregon.
I recently came across this short video that give a quick overview. The Hells Canyon Overlook is on Forest Road 39 (Wallowa Mountain Loop Road) and will be accessible until probably November when the road closes for the winter. Worth the trip? Yes--especially in an RV or on a motorcycle. The other vantage point to see Hells Canyon is at the Hat Point Lookout. This lookout is especially spectacular, but you'll need to drive 26 miles of gravel road to get there!
Our Hells Canyon lodging is not far from either vantage point (relatively speaking in Eastern Oregon terms). About one hour from the Hells Canyon Overlook and about two hours from Hat Point. Keep us in mind for your Eastern Oregon vacation and we'll send you to some other scenic locations too!
Wondering about what things to do near Joseph Oregon? How about swim in the Blue Hole of the Upper Imnaha River? Bill & I took a midday off with visiting friends to drive out to the Indian Crossing trailhead on the Upper Imnaha River. It was a 90-degree day and a dip in the Blue Hole sounded like a good idea.
The Indian Crossing trailhead is about an hour's drive from Joseph Oregon on the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road portion of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. From the Indian Crossing trailhead it's about 2 miles along a very flat trail, winding through brush, forest and open areas. The Upper Imnaha River is visible for most of the hike and very beautiful.
As for the Blue Hole, it's a wider, deeper area in the river just perfect for swimming. That is, if water at 58 to 60 degrees doesn't bother you! After a minute or so of wading, the water's perfect for a quick swim. It's a great place to cool off at the beginning, middle or end of a hike along the Upper Imnaha River.
If you're looking for a romantic getaway Oregon style, then a hike in the Wallowas is a good opportunity for some "twosomeness" without much (if any) interruption. Not many hikers out here. And the Blue Hole is often deserted, especially midweek!
Well, here's another installment in my observing literacy program. It's been pretty busy this week at our Joseph bed and breakfast now that the rains are over. I'm thinkin' it's really summer for a change--nice and sunny, dry, and not too hot. The guests are liking it too. Plenty of hiking and some of them are riding the Wallowa Lake Tramway to take in the view from the top of Mount Howard.
So here's what they're reading:
The Google Way: How One Company is Revolutionizing Management As We Know It by Bernard Gerard (I actually saw this one before and forgot to comment on it. Oldie but goodie, I hear).
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Informant by Kurt Eichenwald
Oprah Magazine (and this one had a cover with a lot of dogs--shoulda been cats!)
Coastal Living Magazine
The weather's so nice that some guests are taking picnics to the Hat Point Lookout Tower. It's about two hours away from our Hells Canyon lodging but definitely worth the trip. Lotsa pretty wildflowers and a long-way-down view into Hells Canyon.
Iff'n you come stay with us at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast I'll betcha she'll loan you a picnic backpack you can fill up for a trip to Hat Point.
The Mutiny Brewing Company is finally open here in Joseph Oregon! We're excited--yesterday was their opening, so we wandered down for dinner and to congratulate Kari.
At this point, they're in a two-week holding period until they can serve beer. Looks like 4th of July Weekend will have more than fireworks--the beer should be available too!
There's outdoor seating that should be great once the weather warms up a little for summer. The pub will be open 7 days a week through summer--another great eating and drinking option for our bed and breakfast guests.
In the meantime, we contented ourselves with the fine pub menu. Bill & I both opted for the fish tacos, but the panini sandwich also looked yummy.
The Mutiny Brewing Company's website isn't launched yet, but you can content yourself by visiting the blog here.
The pub is located at the north end of Joseph Oregon--one of the first things you'll see as you drive into town on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway route.
We've got the menu in our reference book for our guests. Be sure to ask about Mutiny Brewing when you come to town!
If you're looking for some June or September quilting entertainment, you can start with the Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild Show in Joseph Oregon. Always held during the second weekend of June at the Joseph High School, the Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild Show complements the Oregon Mountain Cruise Classic Car Show taking place on the same weekend.
There's been more than one couple staying at our bed and breakfast where HE takes in the cars and SHE takes in the quilts!
Then in September, you'll find a second Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild Show taking place in Enterprise Oregon (only 6 miles away) on the weekend after Labor Day. This show is held in conjunction with the Hells Canyon Mule Days--a mule-centered rodeo on the Enterprise Oregon Fairgrounds.
There's always a raffle for a nice quilt. And there's a vendor show too. During this year's show, a "Tin Lizzie 18" quilting machine was on demonstration. I can't imagine paying upwards of $6,000 for a quilting machine, but everyone has their own passion. And, from the looks of the people in the photo, there were plenty interested in trying it out.
Bill and I took the afternoon off from the bed and breakfast to visit both the Oregon Mountain Cruise Classic Car Show and the Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild Quilt Show--easily done in one afternoon--and great things to see here in Joseph Oregon.
I heard her talking to newly arriving guests from Boise Idaho today. Apparently they came to Joseph on the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (aka Forest Road 39 aka center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway).
So, the road is open for the season! Now the guests can drive the full length of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway from Baker City to LaGrande with our little Hells Canyon lodging about halfway through the trip.
I can hardly wait for the guests on motorcycles to start arriving. . .mebbe I can talk one of 'em into giving me a ride. . .I hear the twisty-turny parts of Forest Road 39 are lots of fun!
We've been receiving quite a few inquiries at our Joseph bed and breakfast from guests about Forest Road 39 and the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. Forest Road 39 is also known as the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road and is the central portion of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. It connects the eastern part of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway around Idaho and Halfway, Oregon, with the Wallowa Valley portion of the Byway.
The office with the most current information about this road is the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Visitor Center in Enterprise, OR. The phone number is (541) 426-4978 and the office is open only Monday through Friday.
At last check, Nancy at the Visitor Center said the road will probably not open until Memorial Day Weekend. It closes every year--usually in November--because of snow. It usually opens sometime in mid to late May, but every year is different, so it's worth the phone call. Also, it's possible there might be a slide in May or June that would close the road temporarily.
We want you to have a wonderful Hells Canyon lodging and vacation experience, so please do call the Forest Servce Visitor Center at (541) 426-4978, or call us and we'll do our best to find out for you!
You just never know what people will do when making an Eastern Oregon vacation. Our bed and breakfast sign and bronze deer out on Main Street are important ways for our guests to find us. And drop-in guests certainly wouldn't know we're here without our sign. The bronze deer encourages drivers to slow down since its so life-like.
We recently hosted a couple that dropped in on our bed and breakfast without making a reservation (a "friendly drive-by" is the term we've come to use). Unfortunately they were only able to be away from their business for one night in Joseph Oregon, and we're glad they saw our sign here on Main Street!
Here are their comments:
In celebrating our Anniversary, I've come to realize that it's always an "adventure" with my husband (usually involves hiking, fishing, boating and the always "scenic route")! This is one adventure that had a very welcome stay at your home! Thank you so very much, W&J.
They certainly had a wonderful time at the breakfast table the next morning swapping stories about raising children and tending to livestock. We enjoyed them so much and hope next time they can stay for a longer visit and explore more of Wallowa Lake, Hells Canyon and our little corner of Eastern Oregon.
We recently hosted a guest who was looking forward to driving along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway between Joseph and Halfway. Unfortunately, I was faced with the task of informing the guest as he made his reservation that this road typically doesn't completely open up until early to mid-May, weather depending.
But, he was bent on making this a Hells Canyon vacation and making us one of his Hells Canyon lodging destination. So here he came. . .
He did, however, drive out of Joseph Oregon along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and discovered, as I'd told him over the phone, that he wouldn't get past the Salt Creek Summit on Forest Road 39. This is the temporary end of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway until the Forest Service opens the road for the season (probably mid-May 2009).
While staying with us, we suggested he visit Lear's Main Street Pub in Enterprise. Steve Lear is known for his steaks and our guest wasn't disappointed. The menu offers Lear's "Big Ass Steak" (a 16-ounce steak prepared to perfection). Our guest was interested in a much smaller cut, which he and Steve decided to christen as the "Small Ass Steak."
The following morning we bid adieu to our guest. Since the central portion of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is closed, he retraced his steps to LaGrande, headed down I-84 to Baker City, then took off eastwards on OR-86 along the other end of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway towards Halfway. His next Hells Canyon lodging was scheduled for the Clear Creek Inn in Halfway.
It's been an interesting week at our Hells Canyon lodging. I'm saying Hells Canyon lodging because so many of the guests coming here have an interest in Hells Canyon. It's too bad that Forest Road 39 isn't open yet so they could get there from here easily!
And here are the books I observed this week:
Last Chld in the Woods by Richard Louv
Ecological Literacy (the she-guest said it was a compilation of articles)
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
I'm hoping that one of the innkeepers will pick up a copy of the Louv book. I'm all about nature and this book's about getting children to enjoy being outside in it. The book looked pretty interesting and I'd like for her to read it on my couch so I can get a better look at the inside. There's only so much a bed and breakfast cat can do by herself.
Maybe when Forest Road 39 opens for the season to Hells Canyon we'll see more guests coming through to enjoy the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and bring me more stories about it!
Surprise, surprise! A guest is only a phone call away. Heather & I had just said our good-byes to our departing guests on Sunday morning. We thought we'd settle into a Sunday afternoon routine with no guests at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast, when suddenly the phone rang.
And bingo, we have guests for tonight. They called from Halfway, Oregon. They'd spent the night at the Clear Creek Inn, a Hells Canyon lodging facility and Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild member. Vickie, the innkeeper at Clear Creek, had recommended the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast since the guests were going to Joseph Oregon.
Halfway is only 30 to 40 minutes as the crow flies, but it's 3 hours by road this time of year because Forest Road 39 is still snowed in (see another blog post about this here).
Our guests are from the Tri-Cities, Washington, and out on a weekend jaunt to explore Northeastern Oregon. It's only a 3-hour drive from the Tri-Cities to here, so it's easy access even in winter.
If I'd wanted predictability I would've taken a 9 to 5 job. But I really enjoy our drop in guests. They're often such serendipitous folks and spontaneous. Just the reason we opened our Joseph bed and breakfast.
Well, it's actually 107 blog posts as I'm writing this. . .over 100 individual blog posts since we started blogging in November 2008!
We're told that most people only read the first two or three most recent posts when they visit a blog. That's great for folks who read the same blog regularly (and much to our pleasant surprise, there are folks who regularly read our blog).
There's a search block on the right side of our blog template. Put a word or two in, like "Wallowa Lake" or "Artist" or Hells Canyon" and you'll pull up blog posts written about those topics.
Or, if you're interested in reading more about specific rooms at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast, try typing in "Mirror Lake" or "Chief Joseph Mountain" "Sawtooth Mountain" or "Ferguson Ridge".
We've posted a few recipes we use here too. Try "recipe" in the search block and see what you get.
Better yet, just wander through the 6 pages of blog posts and you can read about us, about Joseph Oregon, about Wallowa Lake, about our little Eastern Oregon lodging. And, of course, there's Madigan, our bed and breakfast cat, and her own blog posts. . .
Guests staying with us recently wanted to visit Hells Canyon and planned to drive to the Hells Canyon Overlook. I found a youTube video of the Overlook and 
The Hat Point Lookout is not very far from our Hells Canyon lodging. The problem with getting to Hat Point, just like most places in Hells Canyon, is not the distance (only 52 miles), but the driving time (about 2 hours).
Here's something to do in Joseph Oregon: hike the Wallowa Lake moraines. This week was punctuated by an early, wet autumn snow. My friend Christine & I took a couple of hours and hiked up the east moraine of Wallowa Lake. It's a good walking road to get up there (took us only about 45 minutes). And what a view! The Seven Devil Mountains across Hells Canyon in Idaho are readily visible once you crest the east moraine. This is a photo of view once we reached the top. 
minute drive from our Wallowa Lake lodging and very accessible for those who are not hard-core hikers! 
Wondering about what things to do near Joseph Oregon? How about swim in the Blue Hole of the Upper Imnaha River? Bill & I took a midday off with visiting friends to drive out to the Indian Crossing trailhead on the Upper Imnaha River. It was a 90-degree day and a dip in the Blue Hole sounded like a good idea.
The Mutiny Brewing Company is finally open here in Joseph Oregon! We're excited--yesterday was their opening, so we wandered down for dinner and to congratulate Kari. 
The Mutiny Brewing Company's website isn't launched yet, but you can content yourself by visiting the blog 
If you're looking for some June or September quilting entertainment, you can start with the Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild Show in Joseph Oregon. Always held during the second weekend of June at the Joseph High School, the Wallowa Mountain Quilters Guild Show complements the 
There's always a raffle for a nice quilt. And there's a vendor show too. During this year's show, a "Tin Lizzie 18" quilting machine was on demonstration. I can't imagine paying upwards of $6,000 for a quilting machine, but everyone has their own passion. And, from the looks of the people in the photo, there were plenty interested in trying it out.
I heard her talking to newly arriving guests from Boise Idaho today. Apparently they came to Joseph on the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (aka Forest Road 39 aka center section of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway).
While staying with us, we suggested he visit 
Surprise, surprise! A guest is only a phone call away. Heather & I had just said our good-byes to our departing guests on Sunday morning. We thought we'd settle into a Sunday afternoon routine with no guests at the Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast, when suddenly the phone rang.
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