Getting Oriented
The road starts at the bridge in Imnaha (about 1,500 ft) and follows the Imnaha River downstream to the Snake. The first 13 miles run along the river through ranchland and BLM open range. The lower 8 miles are the Forest Service segment and the technical part of the drive, climbing up and over a benchland before dropping to Dug Bar at the river (1,030 ft).
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest's Hells Canyon NRA office in Enterprise (541-426-5546) holds current status. The road is one of the more demanding designated forest roads in northeast Oregon and gets driven mostly by jet-boat operators staging at Dug Bar and by overlanders looking for a hard route into Hells Canyon.
Trail Overview
Twenty-one miles, out-and-back. The upper 13 miles along the Imnaha are passable to most high-clearance 2WD vehicles in dry conditions. The lower 8 miles to Dug Bar are the demanding segment: single-lane, tight switchbacks, washouts where the road has slid, and grades that approach 18 percent in places. The road has been intermittently closed for emergency repairs in recent years.
Dug Bar itself is a small Forest Service boat-launch site on the Snake with a primitive campground and a vault toilet. Jet boats use the launch as the upper-river takeout and dropoff point.
Points of Interest
- Dug Bar. Historic Nez Perce river crossing on the Snake, now a Forest Service boat launch and primitive camping area.
- Cow Creek Bridge. The lower-canyon bridge at the bottom of the road's switchback descent.
- Imnaha River canyon. The drive's first 13 miles run beside the river through one of Oregon's deepest dry-country canyons.
- Snake River Wild and Scenic boundary. The lower mile drops into the National Wild and Scenic River corridor.
- Nez Perce trail markers. A few interpretive signs note the 1877 flight route along the road.
Where to Camp
Dug Bar has a small primitive Forest Service campground (no fee, vault toilet, no water). Dispersed camping is allowed along the upper Imnaha River segment on BLM and Wallowa-Whitman land. The river itself is the only water source and requires treatment. Imnaha (the village) has no developed campground; Wallowa Lake State Park, 30 miles back west, is the closest developed option.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Confirm the road is open before driving. The Wallowa-Whitman Hells Canyon NRA office (541-426-5546) holds current status. The road has had multiple emergency closures.
- Run with another vehicle if you can. Recovery on the lower 8 miles is hard.
- Carry recovery gear, full fuel, and at least a gallon of water per person per day. There is no fuel or potable water on the route.
- Air down for the lower switchbacks. Stock pressure on rock and loose gravel doesn't help.
- Don't take a trailer. The switchbacks are too tight and the surface is too loose.
- Cell coverage is gone for the entire route. Bring an offline map and tell someone where you're going.
- The Nez Perce historical context is part of the route's weight. Read the Wallowa-Whitman interpretive material before driving.
