• Tamastslikt Cultural Institute (Mission, OR, pre/post route) – Curious about the landscape’s earlier inhabitants at the north end of this route? Folks traveling to the route via I-84 through Pendleton can pay a visit to this exemplary learning center built and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Details here.
• Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland (Wallowa, OR, pre/post route) – This Tribally led visitor center will be a bit out of the way for most riders headed to/from the BC350, but virtual tours are available on their website. Keep in mind that a visit to Wallowa County is generally well worth a one- or more-day detour before or after your ride. Details here.
• The Museum at Warm Springs (Warm Springs, OR, pre/post route) – The southern portion of this route goes into the ancestral lands of the Wasco, Warm Springs, and Paiute Tribes. Folks passing through Central Oregon on the way to/from Union should consider a stop here to learn more about their heritage. Details here.
• Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area (Sumpter, OR, on route) – This unique State Park is your chance to learn more about the Oregon Gold Rush that started in the second half of the 19th century and its influence on the surrounding area. Details here.
• The Blue Mountains are a low yet expansive range that sprawls from Lewiston, Idaho, at its northernmost extent, through the southeast corner of Washington, and on down past Oregon’s John Day River. The Wallowa, Elkhorn, Strawberry, and Greenhorn Mountains are their own unique subranges that sit within the Blues and the scope of the BC350, sporting rugged high peaks over 10,000 feet and a culture steeped in the Oregon Gold Rush.
• The BC350 explores the southeastern extent of what one may consider the Blues, characterized by more isolated mountain subranges interspersed with expansive shortgrass prairie, shrub-steppe, and desert ecosystems. The fertile valleys and relatively reliable mountain runoff support narrow but productive swaths of irrigated agriculture and charming rural communities, which grow crops such as hay and pasture, wheat, mint, sunflowers, sugar beets, and even some tree fruits and nuts. In many ways, the area starts to feel much less like the Pacific Northwest and more like the Rocky Mountains.
• Geologically, go back about 16 million years and envision the nearby Wallowa Mountains as home to the world’s largest known volcanic eruption. Most of the region’s widespread basalt formations came from this period in time. And in the time since, the Blues have seen both uplift and erosion, resulting in the very distinct “dissected plateau” pattern of rugged canyons and flat-top ridges. More recently, roughly 13,000 to 15,000 years ago, a series of massive floods from Montana inundated the Columbia River Basin and backed up water all the way through Hells Canyon. The silt deposited by these floods continues to be redistributed across the landscape by wind and water, contributing to the productivity of both farmland and wildland ecosystems.
• In terms of weather, the Blues are the next big mountains east of the Cascade Range, allowing them to catch quite a bit of residual moisture from westerly storms. The BC350 will take you through desert landscapes that receive less than 10 inches of precipitation per year, up to mountain forests that receive over 45 inches. June and October are the typical transition months where snow typically leaves and returns to the mountains, but there is quite a bit of variation from year to year. The lowland portions of the route are usually dry and turning brown by May.
• Geology and climate come together across the BC350, NBWGL, and SB600 routes to form an incredibly diverse assortment of ecosystems. One particularly fascinating phenomenon you’ll become accustomed to is the grass-tree mosaic, where adjacent and alternating slopes with relative north and south aspects harbor entirely different plant communities. A semi-arid shortgrass prairie can be 10 feet away from a stand of old-growth Douglas Fir, resembling a scene out of the Pacific coastal rainforest. It’s also worth noting that the Blue Mountains serve as the southernmost extent of certain ecosystems that are typically seen much further north in Canada, making for some surprising flora and fauna identification opportunities for those into that kind of thing.
• People are the other obvious highlight of this trip. You will be traveling through landscapes with a deep Tribal heritage and active farming, ranching, fishing, logging, and mining economies. You will have plenty of time where things start to feel lonely, but with an open mind and friendly demeanor, you will meet some of the most fascinating people you’ve crossed paths with.

When to go

• Snow: Season-wise, time this one for when the wildflowers are coming into full bloom in the springtime. The route ranges from 2,100 to 5,300 feet, spending most of its time in the 2,500 to 4,000-foot range. The sweet spot will be just after the snow melts off the roads at 5,000 feet and the vegetation is turning brown down at 2,000 feet. In an average snow year, plan in the May 15 to June 15 range. Keep an eye on the local NRCS Snotel sites and regional NOAA snow depth maps for real-time info.
• Heat: By July, the combination of less water on the landscape and the likelihood of temps over 100°F will make this route much less green and wildflower-rich, and generally less enjoyable.
• Wind & Rain: Two other things to keep an eye out for are heavy rains and wind. Springtime is notoriously windy out here, and there’s very little protection from it through much of the route. A lot of these roads can also get really slow and sticky if you’re trying to ride them after heavy rains, which can still be a thing in May.

Our first time exploring this route was May 4th to 9th, 2025, with a ~25% above average snowpack across most of the landscape. We only had a few miles of walking bikes through snow in total. We also experienced only a few drops of rain and pretty stiff tailwinds for over 75 percent of the trip, which was really nice, and I hope you experience something similar. That said, try to give yourself a few days of buffer to adjust your departure based on rain and wind, and add a day or two as needed to account for a slower pace.

Logistics

• Union is a quaint little agricultural town outside of La Grande, with a population of 2,000 and several small but reliable amenities. Buffalo Peak Golf Course is owned and managed by Union County and has a generously sized free parking lot, so just give them a call to ask about parking during your trip.
• La Grande and Baker City (locals just say “Baker”) are the closest bigger cities (13,000 and 11,000, respectively), and have plenty of options for your last-minute shopping. La Grande has two bike shops called Eastern Wheelworks and The Mountain Works; Baker has one called The Trailhead.

Dangers and Annoyances

• GPS Tracker: You’ll be spending significant amounts of time out of cell service (including most of the nights) and will go hours on end without seeing other people, so please bring a GPS tracker and know how to use it.
• Lights: Hitting this one in the late spring means you’ll have plenty of daylight, but make sure to bring a headlight and taillight just in case.
• Wildlife: There are wolves, mountain lions, bears (not grizzlies), and a wide range of other wildlife that should not give you any trouble, as long as you leave them alone and aren’t careless with your food. The relatively few biting insects are a tremendous plus for this area, especially during the springtime.
• Poison Ivy: Be careful to avoid poison ivy in lower sections of this route along the Snake River, usually alongside little canyon creeks.

What bike?

• Bike: This is a rigid-friendly route and doable on a sturdy gravel bike. You would also be plenty happy on a hardtail.
• Tires: Try to keep them 50mm or bigger. You can make smaller tires work, especially if your setup is very light, but it will likely just be a liability that slows you down. Consider a tarmac-friendly 2.1 to 2.35 inches as the sweet spot for maintaining speed without beating yourself up too much in the rough sections. They do get rather rough. A fatter tire (2.25 inches or bigger) is also highly recommended if you expect to be pushing your bike through snow for any significant distance and want to avoid the pizza cutter effect.
• Gearing: Your low gear should be 1:1.4 at a minimum for an enjoyable journey, and you won’t regret sacrificing some high-end to get it there. No doubt, 28,000 feet is a lot of climbing to grind your way through with a loaded-down bike.

• Five out of five campsites are right next to a stream, river, or lake.
• You will have the option to camp at developed national forest campgrounds or nearby dispersed campsites (national forest & BLM) along the way, with the recommended camps all marked on the map. Don’t forget to bring some cash to pay for any of your campground stays.
• For the dispersed campsites, especially on BLM land, OnX or a similar app is very helpful to find the more popular/established options.
• It should be possible to set up a hammock at any of the camps.

• Expect daily resupply and dining options at charming small towns along the route, keeping in mind that some of these towns only have one business, so it helps to call ahead if you’re at all uncertain.
• All nights offer abundant water at or near camp, and you will find yourself crossing springs, creeks, and rivers periodically.
• You’ll find that a good filter and 3.5 liters of primary storage is sufficient, especially if you top it all off in towns.
• Particularly handy water sources are noted on the map. Keep in mind that a lot of this landscape has been heavily mined in the past, and your filter does not protect you from heavy metals, so just think about where the water’s coming from before you go to filter it.
• Foragers can keep an eye out for morel mushrooms, which tend to pop up in mass in recently burned forest areas where the snow has just receded.

The following itinerary is based on 6 days of riding and the goal of minimizing miles traveled above 5000 ft of elevation. You will find this route allows you to get out as early as May 1 in the average snow year. This also meant shaving off some amazing higher elevation gravel roads, so consider the following trip extension in below average snow years (See “LOW SNOWPACK EXTENSION” noted after Day 6).

location Union, OR to Eagle Creek

Day 1 (47.2 mi +4380 ft)

Ride: Start the route in Union, head up Catherine Creek, and meander along the south side of the Wallowa Mountains to the roaring Eagle Creek. This is a very nice first day to ease into 2 much bigger days to follow, leaving plenty of time to enjoy camp along one of the larger rivers flowing out of the Wallowa Mountains.

Food/Resupply: The Union Market is a good place to pick up some donuts and any other last minute foodstuffs. There will be another resupply in Richland around lunchtime the next day, so no need to load up too much.

Camp 1 (Eagle Creek): There are a number of options for National Forest dispersed camping on old mine claims along Eagle Creek, including the one marked on the route map. If you prefer a more proper campground, there’s Eagle Forks Campground slightly off route. Just continue on the route for another 6 miles and then head back down to Eagle Creek via Little Eagle Creek.

location Eagle Creek to Hells Canyon

Day 2 (62.6 mi +5,657 ft)

Ride: Finish traversing the south side of the Wallowas, then take a very rugged and stunningly beautiful descent down into Richland, OR for lunch and resupply. After lunch, climb a long dirt grade out of town and soak in the reward of Hells Canyon vistas from the top. The descent to the Snake River is long, consequential, and remote, so take your time. From there, make your way as far up the river as you can before finding camp, since tomorrow is going to be an even bigger day.

Food/Resupply: Richland, OR should have at least 1 option for a hot meal and cold beverage in the springtime months, between the Shorthorn Bar & Grill and the Sweet Pick. The Hitching Post is also a very nice mercantile. Keep in mind you will have another resupply in Huntington in less than 24 hours.

Camp 2 (Hells Canyon): The big body of water you’ll be camping on is Brownlee Reservoir, formed by Brownlee Dam and filled by the Snake River as it flows through the first part of Hells Canyon. Spring Recreation Site is a nice little campground with potable water and is the default Camp 2. If using OnX or a similar map app, you will also see a ton of dispersed BLM campsites marked along the river. Some have little creeks that you can filter (filtering from Brownlee is not recommended due to extensive agriculture upstream). Just find a camp with a porta potty nearby (BLM places them all along the Snake River Road) since there is very little soil for when nature calls.

Bonus: Brownlee Reservoir starts filling in the spring and typically reaches its capacity sometime in June. Hit it when it’s near full and the weather is heating up, and you’ll be rewarded with lots of swimming beaches right off the roadside. The “Brownlee Riviera” if you will.

location Hells Canyon to Burnt River Canyon

Day 3 (65.5 mi +6,895 ft)

Ride: Say goodbye to the Snake and ride a few easy miles up the Burnt River into Huntington. After breakfast, spend the day meandering out and up to the Mormon Basin mining district and a taste of the Malheur River Basin, before heading back to the interstate further north and west. After most of the day on gravel, you’ll enjoy covering some ground on sleepy tarmac roads before following the Burnt River into its canyon. Much of the landscape on today’s ride burned recently in the 2024 Durkee Fire. As of spring 2025, you will find that many areas are erupting in native wildflowers like arrowleaf balsamroot and lupine.

Food/Resupply: Huntington, OR will be your stop for a basic breakfast and resupply. There is no longer a restaurant in town, but the T & T Country Store puts some love into their hot foods selection. There’s also a liquor store and weed store, if you’re into those kinds of things. Enjoy some time in the shade in the cute little town park right across from the mercantile.

Camp 3 (Burnt River Canyon): Camping for the night will be at one of several dispersed campsites along the Burnt River. You will find 3 or 4 obvious spots within the first few miles after the road turns to dirt, some more private than others. About 10 miles after dirt, you will see a small bridge off to the left that goes to an old mining claim across the river, with a very pretty canyon backdrop. If you have the time and energy to make it this far, this is the recommended Camp 3.

Bonus: If you’re ever dreamed of being a gold miner, you can join the Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association and give it a go. LDMA is also an option for camping with some amenities in the Burnt River Canyon.

location Burnt River Canyon to Unity Lake

Day 4 (55.6 mi +3,650 ft)

Ride: Start off your day by finishing the gentle climb up the Burnt River Canyon and head out into much broader expanses of irrigated pasture and shortgrass prairie. A dirt pass between once-towns Bridgeport and Ironside puts you on one of the route’s longer stretches of pavement: Highway 26. Head over Eldorado Pass, make it over to Unity for a late lunch, and wrap up your day with a swim and hot shower at Unity Lake.

Food/Resupply: Burnt River Market is your one option for food and resupply in Unity, OR. It has a great little restaurant and a mercantile with beer and liquor.

Camp 4 (Unity Lake): The recommended Camp 4 is Unity Lake State Park. The facilities are nice and the setting is spectacular, perched out on a peninsula with lawn and shade trees and expansive views. The facilities include a dedicated camp area for bikes & motorcycles, potable water, and hot showers. Alternatively, the Burnt River Market offers the option to camp in town and get a hot shower, for if you fall in love with the small town charm and want to experience it through a sunset and sunrise.

location Unity Lake to Union Creek

Day 5 (48 mi +5,008 ft)

Ride: Today starts by heading up and out of the Burnt River Basin by way of the North Fork Burnt River. This sizable branch of the river puts you back in tall Ponderosa Pines for about 8 miles, and is lined with very scenic and private dispersed campsites. With that behind you, the route climbs up and over into the Powder River Basin, where you’ll be rewarded with your first up-close views of the Elkhorn Mountains. Drop down into the scrappy former mining town of Sumpter for lunch and resupply, then promptly get your butt kicked on back-to-back challenging climbs before Camp 5.

Food/Resupply: Sumpter, OR is a gem of a place to end up in for lunch. Its proximity to Baker City, location on the Elkhorn Scenic Byway, and rich mining history means there’s a remarkable amount going on, so plan to spend some time cruising around town.

Camp 5 (Union Creek): The campground option is Union Creek Campground on Phillips Lake. If that’s your destination, you can stay on route and drop down to the Lake once you reach Union Creek, or just ride down the Sumpter Highway if you want a much easier go. If you want the challenge but don’t want to drop back down to Phillips Lake, keep an eye out for a turnout on the left with a private dispersed camp along the creek. Note that Deer Creek Campground is a very handsome dispersed camp on route between Sumpter and Union Creek, but staying there means a much more challenging Day 6 back to Union.

Bonus: If you can swing it, the North Fork Burnt River is an ideal place to add another night to this route. Take your pick of dispersed campsites or book yourself a night at the super cute Antlers Guard Station.

location Union Creek to Union, OR

Day 6 (69.7 mi +2,228 ft)

Ride: The grand finale! :) You’ll make great time in the morning as you finish your way around the south end of the Elkhorns and head down into Baker City. Know that after enjoying some time in town, much of the rest of the day will be on pavement and that it’s possible to shave off mileage if helpful. Work your way north up the Baker (Powder River) Valley to the town of North Powder, stop for one last small town experience on route, and head up over a sagebrush pass back into Union.

Food/Resupply: Baker City, OR will feel like a legit little city by this point in the route. There’s much more going on than you will have time for, but some food & beverage highlights include Sweet Wife Baking, Barley Brown’s Brew Pub, and the Baker Food Co-op.

Camp 6 (somewhere else): Go take a shower and sleep in a real bed!

Bonus: Who needs a bonus when you get to experience Baker City, North Powder, and Union on a bike in a single day?? Okay, okay, go get yourself a celebratory milkshake and a pizza at the Union Stoplight.

LOW SNOWPACK EXTENSION

If the snowpack is below average and roads are looking clear up to 6000 ft, you could consider an earlier start or extending your trip by a day. Extending your trip by a day is the objectively better choice. Here’s what you’d do for that:

• Start in La Grande;
• Add the extra miles from La Grande to Union to Day 1;
• Complete Day 2-5 as scheduled above;
• On Day 6, camp at Pilcher Creek Reservoir outside of North Powder;
• On Day 7, take NF-4330 to NF-43 to Glass Hill Road, and descend straight into downtown La Grande to finish your route.

Additional Resources

• Blue Mountain Land Trust: Local conservation nonprofit focused on preserving wildlands and agricultural lands in the Blue Mountain Region. Consider making a donation as a token of appreciation for their significant contributions along this route.
• Union County Chamber of Commerce: Union County’s celebration of fun things to do and places to stay on either end of your BC350 trip.
• Local Bike shops: Eastern Wheelworks is one of La Grande’s bike shops, specializing in mountain bikes, wheels, and suspension service. The Mountain Works is another bike shop in La Grande with a more general focus. The Trailhead is Baker City’s full service bike shop.
• Grande Hot Springs: A very cool, recently remodeled hotel and home of our area’s biggest hot spring. Consider an extra day to enjoy this after completing the route.
• Mainstem Malt: Phil is the co-founder of a craft malt company called Mainstem Malt and is working on building a new facility in Dayton, WA. If you’re interested in craft beer, spirits, grain, and/or more localized forms of agriculture, check it out sometime!