The Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, Designated in 1989 under the National Scenic Byway Program, allows east-west travelers an alternative route between the Columbia River near Arlington and Baker City, Oregon. This Scenic byway cover 130 miles of paved, two-lane road, crossing Morrow and Umatilla counties in northeast Oregon, with a long segment of the byway traversing the Umatilla National Forest. This scenic byway is not accessible year-round due to snowfall at the higher elevations. It will generally open in late May and close in mid-November.
The Blue Mountain Scenic Byway offers a variety of scenery along with historical sites and numerous recreational opportunities. Several sites are of national or state significance and include a National Historic District, a crossing of the Oregon Trail, the Wild and Scenic John Day River, and the North Fork John Day Wilderness. Also located along this route is a state-managed wildlife area and remnants of historic mining activities and settlements. The area surrounding this scenic route supports a portion of one of the largest Rocky Mountain elk herds in the nation.
Go to http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2149/ for more information.