Oregon Trail celebrated at Center

You can really feel like you are stepping back in time at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City in northeast Oregon.

Wagons are circled on top of a lonesome hill surrounded by sage brush and wild flowers, and even the modern museum is full of lifelike scenes of being on the trail heading west in the 1800s.

A short distance away from it all across the desert you can see the actual ruts left over from the wagons, and you can step in display ruts inside the museum.

The 500 acre site also boasts remnants of the Flagstaff Gold Mine complete with a sluice box, plus a blacksmith shop, stamp mill, native plant garden, a picnic area and an outdoor amphitheater.

Four miles of trails loop around the site.  Plan on a two hour walk to the ruts and back from the Interpretive Center museum, but remember that the historic trail is fragile and take care not to damage it.

The trail was used from the 1840s to the 1880s and ran 2,170 miles starting in Independence, Missouri. 

The 23,000 square foot Center museum and restrooms are normally open year round but are temporarily closed for building renovations.  You can still plan your visit for this spring, summer or fall, or see the outside portions even this winter although the trails are not cleared of ice and snow.

It is well worth the side trip off Interstate 84 heading either southeast to Boise, Idaho or northeast to LaGrande, Pendleton, the Portland area or the state of Washington.

How to get there:

Take the Highway 86 exit (No. 302) off Interstate 84 just north of Baker City, Oregon and head east a few miles across the desert until you come to the signs for the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

When you are done you can either return to Interstate 84 and be on your way, or continue east on Highway 86 for the start of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and spend at least a day on that.

The Center's address is 22267 OR-86, Baker City, Ore. 97814.

Call (541) 523-1843 for more information or find oregontrail.blm.gov on the web.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.