Snake River-Mormon Basin Back Country Byway | Oregon

Explore eastern Oregon like never before with the Snake River-Mormon Basin Back Country Byway. This 150-mile route explores the abundant landscapes of Baker and Malheur counties, winding through steep canyons, prominent cliffs, and massive rock outcrops. With many amenities and features to discover, Snake River becomes not only a scenic vista, but a monumental experience. 

Byway Details

Explore the rangelands and immerse yourself in the pastoral settings of eastern Oregon’s Baker and Malheur counties along the 150-mile Snake River-Mormon Basin Back Country Byway. This byway offers a variety of bucolic rural and backcountry travelling options for your high-clearance two-wheel drive vehicle.

The area's high relief is on display in steep canyons, prominent cliffs and massive rock outcrops. The Snake River Canyon high above Brownlee Reservoir has striking color variations included in large basaltic rock outcrops above the Snake River Road, until this road reaches the reservoir, where metamorphic/sedimentary rock is dominant down to the historic hamlet of Huntington. One also sees high, velvety light green hills with many wildflowers in the spring. A wide variety of other natural scenery includes sagebrush plateaus, lush riparian vegetation along waterways. Historic wagon roads traverse the area; ranching, mining, logging, and homesteading occurred throughout the area in the late 1800's. 

Recreation opportunities along the byway include cite the play area at Virtue Flats OHV area, fishing, boating, swimming, and water-skiing in the Brownlee Reservoir, wildflowers photography in the Snake River Breaks, horseback riding in Rye Valley, and rafting on the Powder River.

On Bureau of Land Management and private lands near the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, the visible wagon ruts of the Oregon Trail are being protected and preserved for future generations. Please be respectful of private property as you venture along the byway.

Allow for at least five hours of driving time, not including any stops.

Attractions & Features

• Vistas of the Snake River Canyon
• Historic Oregon trail tracks in the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
• Access to the Virtue Flat OHV (off-highway vehicle) Area
• Various native wildflowers at Snake River Breaks