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Painted Hills

Designed by Nature, Outdoor Adventures Await

Written by Oregon Media

Designed by Nature, Outdoor Adventures Await

Four seasons provide quadruple the opportunity for adventure

Vast national forests, rivers and mountains make up our backyard. In the warmer months, enjoy hiking, backpacking and mountain biking through the rolling hills of the Grande Tour Scenic Bikeway. Winter months bring backcountry skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding, or snowshoeing. All four seasons, enjoy all-terrain vehicle activities including snowmobiling, four-wheeling and dual sport biking. From the highest peaks for rock-climbing, to the clearest sparkling rivers and lakes for fishing, rafting, kayaking and paddle-boarding, Union County is the spirit of adventure.

Mt. Emily Rec Area

MERA is a nationally acclaimed motorized/non-motorized park with nearly 100 miles of trails, a world-class archery range and free camping, all only 10 minutes from downtown La Grande.

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort

Winter brings everything from alpine and Nordic skiing to cat skiing, snowshoeing, yurt camping and snowmobiling. During the summer and shoulder seasons, Anthony Lakes is a wonderland for mountain biking, hiking and backpacking. Enjoy mountain bike festivals to Snow Blast, one of the largest fireworks displays in Eastern Oregon. While it shines in winter, the resort offers adventure opportunities in all four seasons.

Ladd Marsh Viewing Area

Ladd Marsh boasts over 6,000 acres of wetlands and uplands for viewing and wildlife preservation as well as some areas for game hunting. The annual Bird Festival in March offers a week of activities aimed from the novice to the expert birders.

Buffalo Peak Golf Course

Nestled next to the hills of Union, Buffalo Peak is an 18-hole links-style municipal golf course where the untamed beauty mingles with a manicured splendor against the breathtaking Blue Mountains backdrop.

Eagle Cap Wilderness

Grande Ronde River

For water sports, the Grande Ronde River has more than 20 miles of meandering coursework from Anthony Lakes throughout the Grande Ronde Valley, perfect for rafting and fishing.

Morgan Lake

Just a short drive from downtown La Grande, Morgan Lake is located atop a mountain and perfect for rainbow trout fishing, camping, picnicking, paddle-boarding and gentle nature walks.

Eagle Cap Wilderness

High alpine lakes and meadows, exposed granite peaks and ridges all provide an endless opportunity for any type of outdoor recreation, whether it’s hunting, biking, water skiing, horse riding, camping, fishing, scenic drives and so much more.