Fields of fresh cut hay on Highway 203 outside of La Grande
2Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Fields of fresh cut hay on Highway 203 outside of La Grande
3Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Fragrant fields of mints flavor the air outside of Union
4Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Fragrant fields of mints flavor the air outside of Union
5Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Historic Hotel Union dates to 1921 and offers comfy room and excellent buffalo burgers for dinner.
6Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Historic Hotel Union dates to 1921 and offers comfy room and excellent buffalo burgers for dinner.
7Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Highway 203 leading up to Catherine Creek Pass
8Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Highway 203 leading up to Catherine Creek Pass
9Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Completing the 900-foot climb up Salt Creek Summit outside of Baker City
10Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Completing the 900-foot climb up Salt Creek Summit outside of Baker City
11Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Vintage mural in downtown Union
12Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Vintage mural in downtown Union
13Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Shadows are often you only company on the climb up Highway 203
14Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Shadows are often you only company on the climb up Highway 203
15Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Inside the Pondosa Store, where Bob and Jean Bennet welcome travelers into their home—which doubles as a convenience store
16Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Inside the Pondosa Store, where Bob and Jean Bennet welcome travelers into their home—which doubles as a convenience store
17Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Oregon Scenic Bikeway signs dot nearly the entire route. Maps and turn-by-turn directions are also available online at rideoregon.com/grandetour
18Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Oregon Scenic Bikeway signs dot nearly the entire route. Maps and turn-by-turn directions are also available online at rideoregon.com/grandetour
19Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Highway 203 near Salt Creek Summit
20Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Highway 203 near Salt Creek Summit
21Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Sunset at Salt Creek Summit
22Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Sunset at Salt Creek Summit
23Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Pocahontas Road, outskirts of Baker City
24Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Pocahontas Road, outskirts of Baker City
25Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Straightway on Anthony Lakes Highway
26Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Straightway on Anthony Lakes Highway
27Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Climbing Highway 237 outside of North Powder
28Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
Climbing Highway 237 outside of North Powder
29Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
This vintage Texaco Station in La Grande might wish you needed to stop for gas on a cycle-powered Eastern Oregon adventure
30Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
This vintage Texaco Station in La Grande might wish you needed to stop for gas on a cycle-powered Eastern Oregon adventure
31Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
The reward for completing the 134-mile route? A dip in the 86-degree natural mineral waters at the Cove Warm Spring Pool
32Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway
The reward for completing the 134-mile route? A dip in the 86-degree natural mineral waters at the Cove Warm Spring Pool
The open roads of Eastern Oregon are a siren’s song for cyclists. In fact, the region claims three of the state’s nine scenic bikeways—the Old West Scenic Bikeway outside of Heppner, the Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway near John Day, and the Grande Tour Scenic bikeway. Recently, I had the chance to explore the Grand Tour. The 134-mile route carves a figure eight loop through some of the most charismatic towns in the Old West, including La Grande, Baker City and Union, each rich with historical structures, Oregon Trail lore, colorful characters, and wide-open spaces in the shadow of the Wallowa and Elkhorn Mountains. Here are some highlights from the quad-crunching, sweat-dripping tour. Find more information on the state’s scenic bikeways at rideoregonride.com/bikeways.
