Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway
Gold is Not All That Glitters in These Parts. This jaunt into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest may be rather short, but it's packed with history, scenery, recreation and geology (i.e. gold). Examine ghost towns, historic gold mines and miner cabins. Photograph dramatic vistas. Fish, boat and camp on pristine lakes. You may not find a fortune here. But you'll leave a lot richer for the experience.
1.
Baker City
While thousands came to Oregon in search of greener pastures, many settled here and found gold -- if not in the nearby Elkhorn Range, then in the cattle business. Thanks to agriculture and the arrival of the railroad, Baker City outlived dozens of boom towns. Remnants of history include a walking tour of turn-of-the-century homes and buildings, and a five-pound gold nugget on display at the U.S. Bank on Main Street. To begin your tour on the Byway, exit Baker City to the south via Oregon Route 7.
2.
Taking the Powder
The Byway turns west, following the Powder River into the forest. The river pauses at Phillips Lake, a reservoir that’s big with anglers, boaters and campers. Nearby, Mowich Loop Wildlife Viewing Area attracts osprey, bald eagles, deer and elk.
3.
Sumpter
Beyond Phillips Lake, a side road leads to the Sumpter Valley Railroad Park, where the restored "Stump Dodger" takes passengers to the town of Sumpter on summer weekends. The Elkhorn Drive continues west, past fields of dredge tailings, to Sumpter. With a population of 130, Sumpter is merely a shadow of its glory days when miners produced over $10 million in gold ore. The business district was destroyed by a fire in 1917. Yet a 2.4-million-pound dredge was built in 1935 and extracted $4.5 million in gold up until 1954. The old dredge still stands in a state park at the edge of town.
4.
More Gold in Granite
Leaving Sumpter, the Byway takes in dramatic views of the Elkhorn Mountains while climbing to Blue Springs Summit (5,864 ft.), a popular snowmobiling area in winter. Ten miles down Bull Run Creek, gold was discovered in 1862 and the town of Granite sprang up. For 80 years, Granite produced gold and legendary characters. Their stories are found in the many abandoned buildings and homes. But don’t abandon this town until you have enough gas and supplies to last the next 57 miles.
5.
North by North Fork
From Granite, the Byway turns north onto Forest Road 73. Along Granite Creek, look for rock walls made by early Chinese gold miners. Also watch for wildlife in the Crane Flats meadows. The Elkhorn Drive meets up with the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway at the North Fork John Day Campground, then turns east and climbs to its highest point, 7,392-foot Elkhorn Mountain Summit.
6.
Anthony Lakes
Within a few miles of each other, Grande Ronde Lake and Anthony Lakes offer picturesque settings for camping and fishing, plus cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter. Anthony Lakes also has a beautiful downhill ski resort that’s served great powder since 1933.
7.
Haines
From Anthony Lakes, the drive steeply descends, capturing superb views of the Baker Valley and distant Wallowa Mountains. When Forest Road 73 ends in the valley, head south to Haines, a quaint country town of 370 people. Visit the Eastern Oregon Museum for a look at the region’s rowdy past. Then continue south on U.S. Route 30 back to Baker City.
For more information, contact the Baker County Visitors and Convention Bureau at 800-523-1235.