The recent heavy rains have turned the hillsides and valleys of northeast Oregon a dazzling array of greens and marshes and meadows into ponds. They have also made rivers swell beyond their banks and caused landslides that have damaged some of the roads in the area. Among those receiving the greatest amount of damage is the Forest Service 39 Road, also known as the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road, which connects Joseph, Enterprise and Oregon Highway 82 in the Wallowa Valley with Halfway, the Snake River and Oregon Highway 86, which leads to Baker City. The section of highway is part of the nationally known Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, designated an All-American Road (the highest designation available for scenic byways) in 2000 by the Federal Highways Administration.

High water, landslides and flooding took away parts of the road along North Pine Creek, just north of where the FS 39 intersects with the OR Hwy. 86 near Halfway. According to a press release from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest Monday, a Wallowa-Whitman engineer flew the route on Saturday and reported five places where at least half the road width is washed away.  In one 500 foot section, the entire width of the road is gone.

The press release further stated, "There is no by-pass. Forest Road 66 (Fish Lake Road), which at times has been used as a way around closures on Road 39, was also heavily damaged by high water and is impassible. Road 39 is closed to entry at the junction of Highway 86 near Halfway and north to the junction of Forest Road 66.  Once the water recedes, crews will be checking bridges, culverts and roads across the forest to access the damage.  The forest is seeking emergency funding for repair, but currently has no estimate on the cost or a repair timeframe." 

For updated news of road conditions, go to www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w, or call 1-800-848-9969

While the closure makes it impossible to complete the entire byway, please be assured that the vast majority of outstanding scenery and attractions along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway are still easily accessible for visitors to the area. Travelers can make a round trip to the Hells Canyon Overlook from the north and campgrounds along the Imnaha River are open. Wallowa Lake and the communities of Elgin, Wallowa, Lostine, Enterprise and Joseph can still be reached from La Grande on OR 82 or from Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington to the north on WA 129/OR 3. Jet boat rides, rafting and other Snake River recreation is still readily available to travelers by taking OR 86 from Baker City.