(Content submitted by Lisa Roberts.)
There are a lot of things that Eastern Oregon simply doesn’t have. We don’t have large cities like NYC where you go on endless parties and visit countless clubs. And, unlike Western Oregon, we don’t have sunny beaches where you can get a tan and enjoy a cocktail. But, what we do have, and plenty of it, are some of the most beautiful natural sights that you will ever have the pleasure of seeing. Therefore, if you plan to visit or move to Easter Oregon, and you want to see what this beautiful area has to offer, here are the natural wonders of Eastern Oregon that you should definitely check out.
Our pick of natural wonders of Eastern Oregon
The more we look into it, the more difficult it becomes to pick out specific natural wonders of Eastern Oregon. After all, once you know the history of some places and their natural importance, it becomes harder and harder to push some natural wonders out. But, with luck, we’ve managed to pick some of them that you should definitely experience. The important thing to keep in mind is that this is not all of them and that the most beautiful things you will find in Eastern Oregon are those that catch you by surprise.
Leslie Gulch
As one of the more standout natural wonders of Eastern Oregon, we are first going to mention the Leslie Gulch. This gorgeous canyon is located in Malheur County and it is on the east side of Owyhee Lake, which we will later mention. All of you plant enthusiasts out there will be able to enjoy Ertter’s ragwort and Packard’s blazingstar, along with smaller numbers of Owyhee clover, grimy ivesia, and sterile milkvetch.
Owyhee Lake
Are you looking for a gorgeous place where you can enjoy water, nature and overall beautiful sights? Then you need to head to Owyhee Lake. Located in the East of Easter Oregon, it is easily one of the most beautiful lakes in the whole of Oregon, if not the US. The people of Oregon finished making this wonderful lake in 1932 when they completed the Owyhee Damn. Here you’ll be able to swim, drive boats, get a bite to eat, hike, and all of the others open nature activities. Furthermore, the lake is near the Idaho border. So, even if you are not from Oregon, you can still come here and enjoy this piece of natural beauty.
Strawberry Lake
But, if Owyhee Lake seems too far for you to visit after relocating to Oregon from another state, we suggest that you head on to the Strawberry Lake. This wonderful gem of nature is located in Grant County and it is truly a sight to behold. Local forests completely surround the lake, making it ideal for various activities. You can go hiking, camping, and backpacking on numerous trails. Some of which connect to both Strawberry Mountain and Strawberry Falls. Therefore, if you are a fan of nature and you want to see what Easter Oregon has in store, be sure to visit Strawberry Lake.
Wallowa lake
The final lake that we are going to mention is the beautiful Wallowa lake located 1 mile (1.5km) south of Joseph. Wallowa lake has been one of the Easter Oregon’s favorite place for leisurely time since 1880. So, you can rest assured that they have developed some wonderful rest stops for you to recuperate and grab a bite to eat. After that, you’ll feel well and rested to explore one of the natural wonders of Eastern Oregon. The lake itself has an interesting history since it was formed by a Glacier that came into the valley about 17,000 years ago.
Alvord Desert
Now, let’s get a bit dryer. And by a bit, we mean a whole lot. Alvord Desert is located in Harney County, and it is one of the most interesting deserts in the US. Drivers attempt to break the speed record on this desert as it becomes sufficiently flat during the dry seasons. The current women’s record was set right here in 1972 by Kitty O’Neil who drove 512 miles (824 km) per hour. The one thing that we would advise you is to visit the Alvord Desert in various seasons, as its environment varies drastically.
Eagle Cap Wilderness area
One of the natural wonders of Eastern Oregon that you definitely need to see is the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. This area is situated in the Wallowa Mountains within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The total size of the area is 361,466 acres (565 sq mi). This makes it Oregon’s largest wilderness area by far. Just some of the many activities you can do in this area are:
- Fishing.
- Horseback riding.
- Hunting.
- Camping.
- Backpacking.
And, during winter, you can add skiing and snowshoe, as one of the more popular activities. There are, in total, 47 trails that go through Eagle Cap, some of which start in Union and Baker counties. Therefore, you can access Eagle Cap quite easily from many different Easter Oregon regions. Also, although we said that we weren’t going to mention lakes, we should note that there are 39 lakes in Eagle Cap.
The Snake River
You cannot talk about natural wonders of Eastern Oregon without mentioning the Snake River. After all, it is one of the most significant rivers in the greater Pacific Northwest. This beautiful river goes through six U.S states, one of which is Oregon. Even 11,000 years ago, Native Americans used to live off of it. So, you can be sure that the river has a tremendous historical significance as well. It was once an important spawning place for fishes like coho salmon and chinook salmon. So, if there is one sight of nature that you should see after moving to Oregon, it has to be the Snake River.
