The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

Located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86, Exit 302 from Interstate 84, 125 miles northwest of Boise, 95 miles southeast of Pendlelton, is The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Outside the building there are wagons that you can walk right up to and explore.

The inside gets even better because it's AIR CONDITIONED! haha It's a nice relief from the desert sun to be able to relax, explore, and sorta go back in time! The exhibits are very life like and informative. There are TONS of interactive exhibits as well.

One room was completely set up like a old wagon camp, complete with cricket sound effects!

There is a gift shop full of great finds (including my personal favorite: buffalo jerky and sticks). There is a fee to get into the interpretive center but it is good for 2 days and for all the trails surrounding the center. Our visit to The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was a wonderful addition to our Baker City vacation and a recommended stop for anyone in the area!

Brownlee Reservoir

Just off the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, the Brownlee Reservoir is a 57 mile reservoir that runs between Idaho and Oregon. It's a popular fishing spot and the following fish species have been reported to inhabit Brownlee: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegills, several species of bull heads, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, sturgeon, red eared sunfish, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, and more recently brown trout and walleye. There is camping there as well, although, when I was there it was incredibly full and there were people everywhere! We pulled in by the boat ramp and there seemed to be some places to fish from the bank but not many.

It seemed more like this was a place for people with boats. The day use sites seemed to fill up quickly. I was there on a Thursday and there was barely a place to park.

Brownlee Reservoir is located off of hwy 86/Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, just past the town of Richland.