Eastern Oregon is a vast region of the state of Oregon, encompassing over half of its land area. It is known for its rugged landscapes, including the high desert, stunning mountain ranges, and winding rivers. The region is also known for its agriculture, particularly for the production of wheat, hay, and cattle. Eastern Oregon is home to several charming small towns, historic sites, and recreational areas, including the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, the Wallowa Mountains, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Eastern Oregon for its opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.
There are certain things you expect to see while driving through northeast Oregon. Rolling wheat fields, old barns, cattle grazing beneath enormous skies, and eventually the jagged peaks of the Wallowa Mountains rising ahead of you. Image Copyright The Author A herd...
There is something about fall in Northeast Oregon that feels a little different from autumn anywhere else in the state. The mornings arrive colder, the mountains seem sharper against the sky, and pockets of brilliant yellow begin appearing along rivers, old roads, and...
Some restaurants win you over with a view. Others have a famous pie, a century-old recipe, or a neon sign travelers have been stopping beneath for generations. In Baker City, one of Oregon's most memorable roadside restaurants has something considerably harder to...
There are road trips where the destination is the whole point, and then there are those wonderfully strange Oregon adventures where simply getting there feels like part of the story. Way out in the high desert of south central Oregon, beyond the forests, waterfalls...
There are a lot of great events in Oregon every year, but only a handful feel like they belong to the state’s identity. The Pendleton Round-Up is one of them. For more than a century, this iconic Eastern Oregon event has drawn crowds from across the Northwest and far...
Walk through the doors at Hamley Steakhouse & Saloon and it doesn't take long to realize this isn't just another place to grab a bite to eat. Rich woodwork, handcrafted details, glowing antique style lighting, historic artifacts, and the unmistakable spirit of...
There are certain seasonal openings in Oregon that feel bigger than a gate swinging out of the way. They feel like an invitation. High in the remote southeastern corner of the state, the Steens Mountain Loop Road has reopened for the 2026 summer season, once again...
There’s something deeply comforting about a basket of crispy tater tots next to a perfectly golden corn dog. It's giving county fairs, little league games, school cafeterias, and childhood lunches. But what if we told you Oregon may have gifted the world both? Most...
For years, the chairlifts at Spout Springs Ski Area have sat still in the mountains of northeastern Oregon, quietly weathering snowstorms, summers, and the passing of time. But now, after nearly a decade without lift operations, there’s renewed hope that this...
If you’ve ever pulled over on the side of an Oregon highway because a shiny rock caught your eye, there’s a good chance you already understand the magic of Central Oregon rockhounding. Out in the high desert around Prineville, the obsession runs deep. Every year,...
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew of recommendations from friends all over the state, we realized that wasn't going to work....
There’s something about a drive-in movie theater that feels like stepping into a different era. The glow of a giant outdoor screen. The hum of car radios. The smell of popcorn drifting through warm evening air. It’s the kind of experience that instantly slows you down...