What are the Blue Mountains like? (Pendleton, La Grande: how much, home, camping)

[MimzyMusic]

Are they like semi-arid in the low elevations and densely wooded and wetter higher up?

[malachai23]

Hi again - yah, this kind of ties in to your other question about how much of Oregon is desert. The Blues (and the Wallowas) are in a dry area of Oregon, but that's not to say they don't get a TON of snow in the winter (which they do). Heck, I was camping in the Wallowas once in August and it snowed a couple inches! These mountains are definitely wooded too - much of the area is National Forest. The trees are evergreens (with needles), of course. But no, it's not a lush and dense forest like you would find west of the Cascades. You won't find a bunch of ferns and moss and such in the Blues/Wallowas.

[Hawkbacker]

I have done a good amount of driving through the Blue Mountains in the past year so thought I'd provide my feedback. I find the Blue Mountains to be unusual in that the tree line is approximately 3500 feet, and then it is Pine forest. They are much drier than the Cascades. As you approach them heading east from Pendleton, which is at about 1,000 feet elevation, you do not see any trees on them, (the view is similar from Walla Walla). I-84 is the easiest route thru as the summit is only about 4200 feet. The terrain is rolling Pine forests for about twenty miles; the mountains aren't much more than 4,500 to 5,000 feet in that area. There is a pretty canyon view at Deadman's Pass, that is worth a stop. You follow the Grand Ronde River as it winds down into La Grande, which is at the eastern edge of the Blues.
From Elgin, which is north of LaGrande, you can also take Hwy. 204 west back to Pendleton, which is a pretty good highway, though not quite as fast. The terrain is different as the pass is over 5,000 feet and the trees are more firs that get pounded by snow in the winter. There is a small ski area at the top of the pass, near Tollgate, and you get a quick view of Langdon Lake on your left.
The Blues are more spectacular down by North Powder heading down to Baker City on I-84. They rise to over 9,000 feet by the Anthony Lakes Ski Area. I need to get back there in the summertime and explore that area more.

[skinem]

I may be able to provide more detail if I knew what you were looking for. Having lived there for a number of years rather than having driven through them, I may be able to answer your questions. DM me if you have a specific questions.

They aren't as dramatic looking as much of the Cascades, smoother, more worn tops, not so much the sharp peaks, but, very rough, up-and-down country...a lot of deep river and creek gorges and drainages. Trees mostly pine, larch and spruce, some doug. Good wildlife areas, a lot of deer, supposedly the most elk than any where else in the state. Healthy bear population, growing cougar population, and the occasional wolf sighting. Considerably drier than most of the Cascades. Hottest and coldest recorded temps in Oregon are in the area of the Blues, so you do have some temp extremes. I've gotten frostbite in the Blues, and I've seen 100+ in them as well.

Malachi is right, you can get snowed on any month of the year in the Blues (I've been snowed on in July in LaGrande, of course, it wasn't sticking, but it was till snow), and while the Wallowas aren't technically the Blues, (and are the wettest area of EO), the weather can be similar. However the Blues are drier and not as dramatic a mountain range.

Hawkeye gave a pretty accurate description of the 2 main routes through the northern Blues.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by Hawkbacker

The Blues are more spectacular down by North Powder heading down to Baker City on I-84. They rise to over 9,000 feet by the Anthony Lakes Ski Area. I need to get back there in the summertime and explore that area more.

The drive from North Powder to Sumpter is great. I took these pictures of Anthony Lake and Grande Ronde Lake in July. Both are 7100+ feet above sea level:

Anthony Lake:


Grande Ronde Lake:

[Hawk J]

Awhile back a 7lb Kokanee was caught in Wallowa Lake.

[hamellr]

Something no one mentioned, they're actually Blue in color!!

[Easteagle]

Well living in Baker City all my life I have almost never overheard anyone call the mountains around Baker City The Blue Mountains. We have the Elkhorn range to the south and the Eagle Cap Mountains (Wallowa’s) to the Northeast. Most people in Baker City call them The Eagles. After some research it appears that The Elkhorn Mountains are part of the Blue Mountains range. The Wallowa’s may or may not be part of the Blue Mountain range. Anyway the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountains are very rugged and are mostly forested. In fact Baker City is home to the largest nation forest in the Pacific Northwest. They also contain the largest wilderness in Oregon. They are rich in gold. To me the history and the secrets they contain are fascinating. Here is a very good site that describes the mountains around Baker City. http://www.oregongenealogy.com/baker/historybc/page1.htm

[skinem]

+1 to Easteagle.

Like I said, the Wallowas, Eagle Cap, Elkhorns aren't part of the Blues, nor are as rugged as the Cascades or Wallowas or Elkhorns. I think because of their proximity to each other a lot of folks from outside the area lump them all together.

But I like 'em all!

Thanks for the link, Easteagle.

[karlsch]

New snow (Oct. 5 morning) in the Elkhorns as viewed from Baker City: