Journey to Joseph, Oregon -- spirit of the Wallowa Mountains

A nostalgic red barn painted with bright white trim stands before the towering snow-capped Wallowa Mountains while lush green rolling hills lead to the barn. This is just outside Joseph, Oregon.

Lucious braised mushrooms served in an oval shaped bowl with ranch sauce and two bamboo skewers. The food at Terminal Gravity brewing is yummy.

Painted red wood Oregon History placard alongside the highway tells the story of the Nez Perce people who lived in the Joseph, Oregon area, under the Wallowa Mountains.

A selfie of Matthew Kessi looking into and camera and smiling. He's wearing a magenta t-shirt and a black backpack. His black cap is shielding from the sun because it's a blue sky day and the snow-capped Wallowa Mountains are shining behind him.

Matthew Kessi stands atop the Harsin Butte Trail looking out at Hells Canyon and the Payutte National Forest. The Zumwalt Prairie Preserve is on the outskirts of Joseph, Oregon. Matthew is wearing a red t-shirt soaked in sweat and a black cap. The meadow he's standing in has yellow flowers and green grass amongst volcanic looking rock.

One lone stem of small camas wildflower prepares to open up on the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve near Joseph, Oregon. The green grass surrounds the flower and a fly is landed on one of the blue blooms. The sky is out of focus in the background with white puffy clouds.

Overlook viewpoint from the top of Mt. Howard in the Eagle Cap Wilderness area of the Wallowa Mountains, near Joseph, Oregon. The rocks in this shot are a reddish color with low tight mint green grasses spread amongst yellow alpine flowers.

A bright yellow sign posted on a wood pole warns visitors that a bear sighting was reported at this park. The sign provides instructions for what to do if seeing a bear in the park. The gravel road behind the post is framed in by green grass.

Two cars are parked next to each other at the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve near an old pioneer barn and livestock corral. The grass is a brilliant green color and the moody sky displays blue and gray clouds amongst a blue sky.

The multi-colored brick facade of the Joseph, Oregon Post Office, which also displays the zip code 97846. Covering up some of the silver letters are the bright green leaves of a maple tree.

Beautiful Lake Wallowa is wedged in between mountains and steep valleys as shown in this photo. There are grasses leading to shrubs that flow down to the calm blue lake under a blue sky.

A Volvo SUV rear hatch is covered in mud and the bright red brake lights are the only thing colorful in this photo, except the green shrubbery in the background.

Oregon is a beautiful state, making for excellent road trips and journeys of exploration. The state offers diversity in many different examples of life, from edgy Portland and the fabulous food scene to quiet Western towns in Central Oregon. And when I ponder my favorite destinations in the state, my heart immediately swells at the thought of visiting Joseph, Oregon, in the stunning Wallowa Mountains.

The town was named after the famous Chief Joseph as a nod to the ancestral Summers spent there by the Nez Perce people for millennia. The tribe was forced off their land in 1877 after the US government unilaterally reduced the reservation to 10% of guarantees promised in an 1855 treaty because gold was found in the region. It makes sense that the people loved this beautiful area and fought hard to keep their land. Stunning mountains rise from rolling prairies while canyons reach the earth to follow the Snake River. No matter which way you look, the ancient spirit is working to connect you with Mother Nature.

For more information on the Nez Perce people, consider exploring Who We Are, a cultural resource website.

This article (updated August 2022) highlights all the things to do in Joseph, Oregon, including the beautiful Wallowa Mountains.

I spent three nights in Joseph, Oregon, on part of a 10-day road trip through the state. My story provides examples of a great long weekend away or as part of an extended itinerary exploring the Pacific Northwest. Be sure to read to the bottom of this article, where my interactive map displays favorites in the region, including places to stay.

Table of Contents — Joseph, Oregon, and the Wallowa Mountains

The drive to Joseph
The Jennings Hotel
Zumwalt Prairie Preserve
Hiking options in the Wallowas
Wallowa Lake in the “Oregon Alps”
Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce
Downtown Joseph things to do
Planning information if you go
Interactive Map

The drive to Joseph is long but worth the effort

The road to Joseph, Oregon is long from no matter where you come. This shot shows the yellow line on a straight and flat road in Eastern Oregon. There is a slight outline of mountains in the background amongst the blue sky.

The wood sign outside Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, Oregon is right under the Wallowa Mountains and beckons visitors to pull in for some good brews and grub. The sign has gray painted writing with yellow highlights and their insignia in yellow as well.

Large bales of high are piled in even columns in a fenced in area of a field with a old piece of farm machinery. There are trees in the distance underneath the Strawberry Mountains in Eastern Oregon.

A country road in Eastern Oregon leads up through a forest of green pine trees that are under a blue sky with white puffy clouds. The road has a yellow dotted line in the middle and a wood barn with a sheet metal roof above.

A mercantile along the side of the road on a trip through Oregon has a pink sign that says M Crow and the side of the building is painted brown wood.

Joseph is tucked into the Northeastern corner of Oregon, bound by Hells Canyon to the East and the towering Wallowa Mountains to the South. No matter where you venture here, it is a long journey — 6.5 hours from Seattle or Bend, 6 hours from Portland, and 4 hours from Boise, Idaho. But the road trip challenge is rewarded by the inspiring scenery that appears from every direction and the plethora of ways to enjoy nature.

My 400-mile drive from Bend to Joseph takes place on a beautifully clear June day. For more information and photos of this journey portion, check out another article, Oregon road trip. Although the trip on Highway 26 through the Painted Hills shows to be a little faster, I opt for Highway 20 to Burns and up through the Blue Mountains.

The route continues through more mountain passes, and I reach the historic gold rush boom town of Baker City, Oregon. I gas up and keep-on trucking, this time on expedient Interstate 84 to La Grande (travelers coming from Portland would also take the La Grande freeway exit.) The winding country road meanders through several small farming towns that follow various rivers and streams along the canyon floor. Eventually, I get the awareness that the Wallowa Mountains are building up to make their grand appearance. The evening is approaching, and I’m hungry, so I stop in Enterprise, Oregon (just a few miles down the road from Joseph) and head for Terminal Gravity Brewing, which is situated a few blocks from the main downtown area along a babbling brook. The ranch house-turned-brewery serves up tasty food that is high quality and not the typical pub fare. I devour a delicious Reuben sandwich made from beets (the meat version uses Snake River Farm American Waygu) and yummy sauteed mushroom caps.

Stomach full and ready to stop driving, I make the final push five miles to downtown Joseph, which has already started turning in for the evening. The sun is struggling to stay in the sky as I walk up the broad wooden stairs to the second floor of the 1910 vintage hotel. The Jennings Hotel is equipped with a pleasing aesthetic with fresh white paint and original artwork on the walls that seems to be from local artists.

The Jennings Hotel — in the heart of Joseph, Oregon

The view from the veranda of the Jennings Hotel, in Downtown Joseph, Oregon offers guests a commanding view of the Wallowa Mountains. This deck has a rood railing up against the red brick outer wall of the hotel. There is primitive looking picnic table on the deck and the trees on Main Street below are a bright green while the snow-capped mountains rise above the town.

A room at the Jennings Hotel features original art by local artists as well as antique furniture and cloth towels with white fringe on them. The floors are reclaimed barn wood.

The Jennings Hotel has a guide to how to take a sauna written in blue and gold paint on a white sliding barn door. The handle to the door is a piece of driftwood.

The wood stairs leading up to the second floor of a historic building are framed in dark rich stained wood and the ceiling is a bit crumbly with the old-style lathe and plastic clinging to the ceiling. At the landing is a cloth banner that reads Jennings Hotel.

Bookshelves in the great room area of the Jennings Hotel in Joseph, Oregon highlight a large variety of books and even vinyl records and a record. All are on shelves above an eight person dining table with fruit in a bowl. There is a guitar hangin up on the wall.

There is no hotel front desk, only a great room with a well-equipped modern kitchen and large table surrounded by a wall-length bookcase that houses all kinds of information from guidebooks to photo essays amongst a record player and vinyl volumes. The high ceilings invite a feeling of space, and I start a conversation with Dan, a man cooking vegetables on the stove in the common-use kitchen. He’s very friendly, from White Salmon, Washington (near Hood River), just here for a quick getaway like me. We chat a bit, and he gives me the rundown on the quirky hotel.

I find my room, 3B, right off the kitchen and settle. When I pull up the blinds, I notice a striking view of the snow-covered Wallowa Mountains, veiled with rose and orange-colored sunset tinting.

The hotel is conveniently located on the Main Street of town — above a friendly wood-fired pizza place with great craft cocktails. This would be the perfect location to create a base for my time exploring the region.

If you’re more inclined to take it slowly from a historic lodge at the banks of pristine Wallowa Lake, read my article with all the details on Wallowa Lake Lodge. The Jennings Hotel and Wallowa Lake Lodge are “off the grid” and not displayed on the enormous hotel booking platforms. If you’re interested in more hidden gems like these, check out my 25 hidden Oregon and Washington Hotels article.

Zumwalt Prairie Preserve

Old man's whiskers, also known as prairie smoke, blooms delicate red petals with out of focus grasses in the background.

The Wallowa Mountains rise up over rolling green farmland of Joseph, Oregon.

A grassy trail is cut out of the Prairie leading up to the top of Harsin Butte Trail at the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve near Joseph, Oregon. A bunch of bright yellow flowers light the way of the trail and a grove of fir trees can be seen on the steep hill.

I dedicate most of my first full day to exploring a lesser-known area in the region that consists of part of North America’s largest intact bunchgrass prairie. After breakfast at Old Street Cafe (just a few doors down from the hotel), I hop in my vehicle and begin an adventure driving mostly gravel backroads that snake through rolling hills of rich green farmland, still fresh from the Winter snowmelt.

Eventually, Google Maps navigation instructs me to turn into a field, so I have to give up on technology in favor of wanderlust intuition. Just when I figure I can’t be on the right dusty road, a small brown sign with a Nature Conservancy logo appears — ushering me down a 1.5-mile stretch of dirt to a series of old ranch buildings and a simple information center with paper maps and a beneficial sheet titled, “What’s in bloom?” — helpful to identify the June wildflowers.

The Zumwalt Prairie Preserve is a partnership between private landowners, primarily ranchers, and the Nature Conservancy. There are four specific trails available for visitors while the rest of the land is off limits, and signage is very clear about this. The vast rolling prairie seems to swallow me and my car into the surrounding terrain. I only see four other souls throughout the day — the feeling of peace and tranquility is soul-nourishing. The quiet pondering resurrects a ranching memory I write about in a blog post, Ranching reflections — guarding the gate of discovery and connection.

I visit all four trails, hiking over eight miles in 90-degree heat that saps my energy. Still, wandering amongst wildflowers with nothing but the birds singing to me is worth the sun-kissed color developing on my arms and neck.

Canyon Vista Trail (1.8 miles in and out)

This trail reminds me of my life growing up on a farm and herding cattle on various ranches. The trail follows a gravel ranch road up a hill overlooking the Hells Canyon area and the Wallowa Mountains. The end is somewhat anticlimactic, and I make a mental note that if I were to return to the Hells Canyon lookout (near Imnaha), this trail wouldn’t be essential.

Harsin Butte Trail (.8 miles up 700 vertical feet)

No time is wasted here, and the quick climb directly up the hillside while cattle graze around me is intense. Flowers bloom in the meadow before reaching a section of pine trees offering soothing shade for a few minutes. The final push-up to the summit is grueling but worth the effort.

My perch at about 5,500 feet is spectacular — I can see past Hells Canyon toward mountains in the Payette National Forest (in Idaho), portions of Washington State, and course, my new best friends, the Wallowa Mountains to the South. It’s a 360-degree view of awesome — with very few signs of human life obstructing it. This is by far my favorite trail.

Patti’s Trail (2.3-mile loop)

This trail begins at the group of old ranch buildings and loops around a large expanse of prairie. The flowers and birds are magnificent. I especially appreciate that this trail is named after Patricia Wessinger, a key advocate of protecting this space, and many others in Oregon.

Horned Lark Trail (1.9-mile loop)

This trail is in a separate Preserve section, 3 miles further down the main gravel road. The trailhead is barely a pullout off the side of the road that opens with a cattle ladder leading the route through another prairie loop.

Joseph, Oregon, and the fantastic Wallowa Mountains offer abundant hiking

I return to the Jennings Hotel, dusty, illuminated by the beating sun, and very thirsty — I could’ve used another gallon by the end of the day. The views of the Wallowas in the afternoon glow are mesmerizing, and I stop several times to take snapshots on the side of the road.

Back at the hotel, I commune with a few fellow guests who opted to explore more mountainous daily hikes. Hurricane Creek Trailhead, six miles outside of the town, comes up a lot in discussion as a beautiful area to explore, as well as the hike up the East Fork of the Wallowa River to Aneroid Lake (6 miles and 2,800’ elevation gain). The West Fork of the Wallowa River is a more accessible version of a hike in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

I note these options and more teeming in the various wilderness areas (for more, see the interactive map below). By the time I’m cleaned up and ready for dinner, most of the stores are closed — things seem to wind down by 4-5 PM in the town. My dinner at the Gold Room Pizza, on the hotel’s first floor, is noteworthy — the wood-fired pizza is mouth-watering and sassy cocktails pack the perfect punch to end my evening.

I’ve been to this area before and enjoyed Wallowa Lake State Park and lake activities, so this time I’ll try the Wallowa Lake Tramway , which ascends 3,700 vertical feet to the top of Mount Howard. The summit is over 8,000 feet, and on this day, the blue sky adds a contrasting “POP” to the snow-covered peaks of the Wallowa Mountain range. I learned that of Oregon’s 31 highest peaks (over 8,000 feet), eighteen of them are located in the Wallowa Mountains. It makes complete sense from the view at the Summit Pub, where I enjoy a delicious alpine-like lunch. The tramway costs $40 for adults and takes about 15 minutes in each direction.

Wallowa Lake and the “Oregon Alps”

A small placard on a trail leading to an overlook viewpoint of the Wallowa Mountains talks about the way the Eagle Cap Wilderness area was created in 1930. The shadow of the sign covers brown dirt on the trail.

The Wallowa Lake Tramway ascends 3600 feet in about fifteen minutes, and this photo is taken from the green railing of the Summit Pub at the top of the mountain. Crescent shaped Wallowa Lake is in the background as well as the town of Joseph, Oregon. A gondola makes its way to the final summit.

The Wallowa Mountains rise up to the heavens, with snow covering part of the rocky peaks. In the foreground is a pine tree forest running diagonally down to the lake and Joseph, Oregon.

Matthew Kessi takes a selfie on the Wallowa Mountain Tramway heading to the top of Mount Howard near Joseph Oregon. Wallowa Lake, with its blue color can be seen in the background making a crescent shape and the cables holding the pod can be seen through the window of the gondola.

The snow-capped Wallowa Mountains rise proudly above Wallowa Lake and rolling green meadows filled in with sporadic fir trees. The sky is a bright blue above.

There are five main viewpoints (about three miles between them) that are easily explored from the tram exit of Mount Howard, but since there is still an extensive snow pack, only three of them are navigable. Still, the Royal Purple, Summit, and Highlands Overlooks are each spectacular in their way — reminding me of the Austrian Alps. The journey is well worth the cost and effort, and I’m glad I arrived right when they opened (10 AM in June/Sept and 9 AM in July/August) to beat the crowd that materialized by noon.

Back at the bottom of the mountain, I explore the Wallowa Lake Lodge, steeped in the old-world charm of a bygone era of Oregon recreation. I will make a mental note to stay here next time. The grounds are relaxed in a rustic Oregon version of lovely.

There is a campground in the adjacent Wallowa Lake State Park and abundant options for water activities surrounding the lake. The churning Wallowa River is overflowing with glacial runoff from the melting snow, pumping the lake full of alpine goodness.

Chief Joseph and the legacy of the Nez Perce people

A bronze statue of Chief Joseph, on the Main Street of Joseph, Oregon with the snow capped Wallowa Mountains rising up in the background. The old-time wooden store front has an American flag waving under the blue cloudy skies.

The sacred Nez Perce grounds of Iwetemlaykin, which is now an Oregon State Park. The park lies under the stunning snow-capped Wallowa Mountains outside of Joseph, Oregon. A dirt trail weaves the way through a bright green grassy meadow and a variety of leafy green trees in the park.

An artist's rendition of Chief Joseph before he surrender to the US army. The description of the event is typed on a piece of paper beneath the drawing, which is framed in green. This placard is one of many taking up an entire wall at Wallowa County Museum in Downtown Joseph, Oregon

This photo shows the final resting place of the Old Chief Joseph. The burial site is near Joseph, Oregon underneath the towering snow capped Wallowa Mountains. There are fir trees in the background and the sky is bright blue.

Iwetemlaykin State Park is located near Joseph Oregon right underneath the Wallowa Mountains and this road sign marks the place for cards to turn in off the road. The sign is covered by a pine tree and blue sky peeks through the photo.

On the return to town from Wallowa Lake, I stop to pay respects to the resting place of the older Chief Joseph. His remains are buried at the top of a hill overlooking the beautiful lake and stunning snow-capped mountains. The older Chief Joseph played a role in signing the famous 1855 treaty that allocated a vast amount of land, including the area around Joseph, to the several different bands of Nez Perce people. By 1863, the US government worked to retract the expanse of land because gold was found around the Wallowa Mountains.

By then, young Chief Joseph was a pivotal leader and refused to give into the demands of the US government. The tribe held on in the Joseph area until 1877, when increasing white settlement fostered more assertion by the US cavalry to move Chief Joseph and his band of the Nez Perce to the remaining part of the reservation in Idaho. They refused to relocate and started a long journey to seek asylum in Canada. After five months of fighting and slogging the trip, in October 1877, Chief Joseph famously and eloquently surrendered.

Chief Joseph was never allowed to return to the Wallowas or the Nez Perce reservation, despite promises by the US government. Even though the Nez Perce were sent all over, I still feel their spirit in this valley.

Up the road from the burial site, I stop to explore the trails at Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, which is sacred ground to the Nez Perce people. The easy trails cover beautiful meadows and a scenic lake beneath the towering mountain peaks.

I’m inspired to learn even more by visiting the Wallowa County Museum — on Main Street in Joseph. There are all kinds of interesting artifacts, but I’m particularly drawn to the entire room dedicated to the Nez Perce people — including a long wall with artist drawings and written accounts of the Nez Perce war of 1877 (mentioned above) from the Indian point of view.

The museum costs $5 (cash only) and is well worth several hours of my afternoon wandering through town.

Beeswax, bronze, and brews — downtown Joseph, Oregon, delivers

A bronze statue of a shirtless cowboy wearing a hat is across the street from the red-brick building of the Jennings Hotel in Downtown Joseph, Oregon.

Four varieties of whiskey are displayed on a counter at Stein Distillery in Joseph, Oregon. There are two remaining tasting cups filled with tiny sample of the golden colored liquid to be consumed.

Cowboy hats and other earthy products are tastefully on display inside a store. The interior is mostly made of pine wood and the products are many shapes and sizes.

A variety of soaps and candles that appear locally made sit on a display shelf under a mural that depicts a starry night under the moon with a few skinny fir trees on the horizon.

A bronze statue showing salmon fighting to get up the river with a beautiful marbled finish that shows off the colors in front of an orange wall.

The few remaining business hours are spent on the Main Street of Joseph, learning about the extensive bronze craft in the town, including the well-known Valley Bronze Foundry that offers tours every day at 11:00 AM. Several galleries in town feature local artists, and I notice the sculptures gracing every block of the quaint Main Street. From Chief Joseph to a bucking bronco horse, the intricate flows of bronze adorn the town.

There are tiny boutiques selling beeswax candles and other locally sourced goods, as well as the more typical joints serving up promotional materials that, overall, feel tasteful compared to other tourist traps. The shopkeepers are very friendly, and I explore the streets, even popping into Stein Distillery for a sample of the local whiskey. The owner of the distillery grows the grain on his ranch nearby.

I opt for a delicious dinner at The Dog Spot. The pet-inspired retail shop offers an eclectic menu of delicious food with brews of both the hop and coffee varieties. Since morel mushrooms are in season, I try the shrimp and morel tacos, which are delicately presented and delightful to eat. Returning to the hotel, I find a few guests playing guitar and hanging out on the wide veranda that overlooks Main Street and the towering Wallowa Mountains, now with the blueish tint of dusk draped over the rocky peaks.

The sunrise wakes me early the following day, shining on the mountains. I take in the inspiring view (without even getting out of bed) for about an hour before gathering my things and heading out of town for my next destination.

I stop at Hurricane Coffee in nearby Enterprise, Oregon, which is fantastic, and drop by M. Crow, a stylish general store, operated since 1906, in Lostine, Oregon, before my foot gets heavy on the pedal for the long journey ahead. To continue my road trip, check out the article about The Dalles, Oregon.

Joseph, Oregon, and the striking Wallowa Mountains will remain in my heart forever!

Joseph, Oregon and the Wallowa Mountains — planning information if you go

Up close photo of delicious shrimp tacos dressed with morel mushrooms with a wedge of lime on the side.

The old world charm of Wallowa Lake Lodge, near Joseph, Oregon. The lodge is brown painted wood with green trim around the paned windows that show three stories. The front door has an American flag hanging near the entrance.

A marbled pink and purple sign with gold letters that say Valley Bronze of Oregon appear high on a red brick building in Downtown Joseph, Oregon under blue sky.

Arrowhead chocolates in Joseph, Oregon is known for their confections, including this store display with four shelfs inside a glass case of various specialty chocolates. There is a giant chalk board on the wall with all the offerings.

The outside seating area of Gold Bar Pizza in Downtown Joseph, Oregon serves up great food and atmosphere. Here a man sits outside at a bistro table underneath a mural with a stage coach and horses on a brick wall. In the foreground is an orange umbrella with white lettering.

When to go

The scenery is stunning year-round, but getting to and from Joseph is more manageable without the inclement Winter weather. Also, many stores, services, and attractions close for the Winter (October through April.)

May through September is ideal — May and June are the greenest times of year (with the most wildflowers in bloom), while August and September are hot and dry.

Be sure to check the operating days and hours of any “must see” attractions — some operate only for weekend visitors, usually Thursday to Sunday. Luckily nature is open 24 hours a day, so hiking won’t be a problem.

Chief Joseph Days are the main festival in town that is always the last week in July.

Joseph, Oregon hotels — where to stay

I think the best experience is in the middle of town, so I booked the Jennings Hotel, which offers affordable prices with a historic hip vibe. This way, you can spend entire days with activities while absorbing the town vibe in the evenings and early mornings — when it doesn’t feel as touristy.

The super cozy Wallowa Lake Lodge would also be a soulful option — it’s located a few miles out of town by the lake.

The interactive map below offers a few other suggestions for hotels and lodges. Enterprise, Oregon is nearby and a scenic little town with some great choices.

There are a number of campgrounds in the area, such as Hurricane Creek, Wallowa Lake State Park, and RV parks. Hipcamp has some unique options in the area as well.

Where to eat

There isn’t a massive selection of great eateries in the area, but the following landed well in my belly. I brought a cooler with me to help facilitate tasty bites in beautiful natural locations — every small town has a mercantile that sells anything needed to create a fantastic spread.

The Blythe Cricket serves healthy breakfast and lunch cuisine from a quirky coffee shop that meets a country store vibe.
Gold Room Pizza is a place I’d frequent often if I lived here, with excellent food, drinks, and genuine service.
The Dog Spot, across the street and down, is eclectic but friendly and tasty too.
Arrowhead Chocolates provides extraordinary confections and tasty coffee.
Glacier Ridge Grill & General Store, near Wallowa Lake Lodge, has a full bar and great food.
Terminal Gravity Brewing in nearby Enterprise, Oregon, is top-notch and popular with visitors and locals alike.
Hurricane Coffee (it’s a drive-through kiosk) in Enterprise is excellent.

Other things to do in Joseph, Oregon

The Valley Bronze of Oregon offers tours ($15) of their foundry in Joseph.
Explore Wallowology! Natural History Discovery Center. Learn about local geology and how the Wallowa Mountains and the Wallowa Lake moraines developed. Located right in downtown Joseph. Open Thursday-Sunday, end of May through September.
Joseph Branch Railriders railroad adventures await — complete with unique four-wheeled rail bikes that ride along historic railroad tracks from the Joseph Depot. They’re electrically assisted so people of all fitness levels can enjoy the Valley Sights tour or one of two evening events gazing at the stars. Tours operate from Thursday to Monday at various times.
Wallowa Lake Marina is located on the South end of the lake in the State Park and handles the boat slip and just about any kind of rental for water activities, including popular paddle boards. There is plenty of parking, but a $ 5-day pass must be purchased from the Oregon State Parks. Open daily from mid-May to September 15th.
Imnaha, at the literal end-of-the-road, an hour away from Joseph on highway 350, makes for a great gateway to Hells Canyon (viewing from above.) It is a tiny town but a fascinating place to explore. The Imnaha Store & Tavern is quite a fun experience. There is also another Hells Canyon viewpoint area along a very windy road (seasonal.) Hells Canyon dives deeper than the Grand Canyon (in absolute vertical drop) and is very impressive to view.