5 Peaks RV Park, Joseph Oregon, near Hells Canyon

[John E Davies]

Joseph is a very cool little town way back in the boonies of NE Oregon. Getting around takes lots time since there is the Eagle Cap Wilderness to the south and Hells Canyon to the east. The roads can be lumpy and tight and always have ferocious elevation changes.

 

 

https://josephoregon.com/

 

Joseph is affluent, and nearby Wallowa Lake and the state park at the south end draw lots of visitors in summer. The lake area  is highly developed with beaches, boats, aerial tramway to the top, and even a back country outfitter where you can ride a horse far away and far up..... the main street is very attractive, with bronze statuary everywhere because there is an art foundry in town (tours daily). You can buy your own statues, I saw one that was going for $147,950..... LOL. I did say “affluent”. It closely resembles the best Colorado ski resorts without the altitude or skiing... elevation is 4200 ft, the mountains go to around 10,0000 ft.

 

 

The 5 Peaks RV park is privately owned and on a quiet dead end street two blocks from the downtown stores and a quarter mile from the foundry. Six blocks away you can board a free shuttle bus that goes to nearby attractions. Full hookups, high speed wifi, cable tv, no restroom or showers. $40 per night. There are five older heavily shaded sites like this (ours is number 4) and five brand new ones in full sun. This is what greets you as you drive up. ....

 

 

Two days ago we drove up into the Blue Mts near Walla Walla to a spectacular fire lookout on Table Rock ....

 

 

 

....  tomorrow we are driving to Inmaha Oregon and Hat Point Lookout on the west edge of Hells Canyon, 6500 ft above the Snake River.

 

 

“Mouse” stays at home base for these side trips, they are far too rough, rutted, and brushy, and passing another vehicle while towing could be impossible. The days are long, the speeds low, and services are nonexistent. What fun....!

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[Jitters]

Nice Area.  This is very close to the ORV / Northwood facility in LeGrande.  They do their annual Rallies there...I think.

 

Tick Tock....

 

 

[bathwalter]

How wonderful! Thanks for the story and the photos!

It seems that I already know where we will go on our next trip!

But as we go from Salt Lake City, we probably start our journey with the Baker City

[Rleog]

I just left Joseph yesterday after spending a couple of nights at the Walawa Lake State Park campground. The weather didn’t exactly cooperate but I drove up to Hell’s Canyon Overlook. Beautiful spot and there were a few breaks in the clouds but no panorama views suitable for framing.

 

 

 

On the way there, at Pendleton Mills, Pendleton, Oregon, I saw this in the parking lot. Florida plates. Didn’t see the owners.

 

 

 

[Overland]

I think Bright Star belongs to @doug14

[John E Davies]

How wonderful! Thanks for the story and the photos!

It seems that I already know where we will go on our next trip!

But as we go from Salt Lake City, we probably start our journey with the Baker City

 

FYI the area around Joseph is very pretty, but it can't begin to compare to your scenery in Utah. I would not recommend making the trip solely base on this report, because by comparison you may be disappointed. Views are sometimes hard to find due to dense tree cover along the forest roads. Fire lookouts solve that problem, if you have a vehicle that is happy on the loooong jarring dirt roads.

 

As far as stuff to do near Baker City, the town itself is very neat with many historic buildings, and the nearby Sumpter Gold Dredge and adjacent ghost towns are very cool.

 

John Davies

Spokane WA