• Spokane, Washington to Joseph, Oregon – The Bronze Foundry City

      by
      Carol White
      Published on 02-26-2010 01:03 AM
      3 Comments Comments

      204 miles, 5.5 hours

      This is a beautiful drive on U.S. Highway 195 through the plains of eastern Washington, changing to Wash. Highway 129/Ore. 3 at Clarkston, Wash., through the beautiful mountains of far northeastern Oregon. The road is slow but gorgeous as it winds down into a canyon and back up again, emerging in Enterprise, Ore. where it is short drive into Joseph and Wallowa Lake.




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      Here are a few highlights to look out for along the way:

      Scenic Snake River (mile 107)
      Stop in Clarkston for good views of the mighty Snake River as it heads for Hell’s Canyon on the Oregon Idaho border.

      Enterprise (mile 192)
      Continue to Enterprise. It is the Wallowa county seat and has a well preserved 1909 courthouse in the center of town.

      Joseph – foundries and sculpture (mile 199)
      A short drive takes you to several internationally known bronze foundries gracing Joseph Ore., with life-size bronzes dotted around town and the "Swiss Alps of the US" for a backdrop.

      Wallowa Lake and Lodge ... and tram ride (mile 206)
      Continue through Joseph on Oregon, Highway 82/351 to Wallowa Lake and the Wallowa Lake Lodge. A pristine view of the whole lake from the lodge or cabins. The tram ride to the top of Mt. Howard with its vistas of several states is not to be missed.

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      Monumental bronze cowboy in Joseph, Oregon
      Photo by Carol White


      1. Categories:
      2. Oregon,
      3. Washington,
      4. Routes,
      5. United States
      Comments 3 Comments
      1. Mark Sedenquist's Avatar
        Mark Sedenquist - 02-26-2010, 06:33 PM
        This is one of our favorite drives in Oregon. The statues are really impressive and so many of the foundries can be visited. There is a kind of deer that hangs out near Wallowa Lake that is extremely friendly as well.
      1. Megan Edwards's Avatar
        Megan Edwards - 02-26-2010, 07:23 PM
        Joseph is a fascinating town that reinvented itself (after losing its timber industry) into a fabulous art mecca. The Wallowa Mountains deserve their comparison to the Swiss Alps -- the tram ride is spectacular.
      1. Sam Kynman-Cole's Avatar
        Sam Kynman-Cole - 04-03-2011, 05:21 PM
        Joseph sounds nice, I'll have to check it out; can compare it to Banff where I'm currently living.
        My plan so far: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...422a5a26aaf2bc