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Hells Canyon Scenic Byway facts for kids

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Route information
Maintained by Oregon Department of Transportation,
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, etc.
Length 218.4 mi (351.5 km)
Existed April 19, 1992–present
Major junctions
West end I-84 / OR 82 near La Grande
East end I-84 / OR 86 near Baker City
Location
Counties: Union, Wallowa, Baker
Highway system
Oregon highways
Routes • Highways


The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a special road in Oregon, U.S.. It's called an All-American Road because it's super beautiful. This byway is in the northeast part of Oregon. It's made up of different roads, including Oregon Route 82 and parts of Oregon Route 86.

The byway starts near La Grande. This is where Oregon Route 82 meets Interstate 84. It then travels all the way to Baker City. There, it meets Interstate 84 and Oregon Route 86. The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is about 218.4 miles (351.5 km) long.

What You'll See Along the Byway

As you drive or ride along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, you'll see amazing sights. The road follows the Wallowa River for a while. It also goes through the huge Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. You'll get close to beautiful Wallowa Lake.

The byway also passes by Salt Creek Summit. You can even get a great view of Hells Canyon from the Hells Canyon Overlook. The road is also near the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. This is a large area of wild nature.

OR hells canyon
Hells Canyon is a very deep canyon.
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest map
A map showing the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and the Hells Canyon area.

How the Byway Was Created

The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway has received several special titles over the years.

Becoming a National Forest Scenic Byway

It was first named a National Forest Scenic Byway on April 19, 1992. This means it's a special road that goes through a national forest.

Becoming an Oregon State Scenic Byway

Later, on February 19, 1997, it became an Oregon State Scenic Byway. This title means it's recognized as a beautiful road within the state of Oregon.

Becoming an All-American Road

The most important title came on June 15, 2000. On this date, it was named an All-American Road. This is a very special honor for roads in the U.S. It means the byway has unique features and is a destination itself.

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