Snake River / Mormon Basin is in northeast Oregon. It forms a loop drive beginning and ending in Baker City. The 150-mile byway follows OR 7, OR 86, OR 245, and a series of county roads marked with byway signs. The roads are a combination of paved, gravel, and narrow dirt roads. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to travel the entire route. Large RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should not attempt to complete the byway. Portions of the byway may become impassable during winter or after periods of heavy rain.
Beginning in Baker City, the byway heads east across the rural countryside before descending into the walled canyon of Powder River. Passing through Richland, the byway heads south along the Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir, onto the dirt Snake River Road. From here the byway travels through the Snake River Breaks with Snake River flowing alongside. The byway comes across the BLM Spring Recreation Site where you can pitch a tent and take in the scenery or continue driving. This campground does not have any designated campsites, but picnic tables and drinking water are available.
Continue driving north on old Highway 30 and then I-84 for a few short miles. Take the Rye Valley exit and head west. Through this portion of the byway you’re kept company by the waters of Dixie Creek as you travel through rangeland into pinyon juniper country. In Rye Valley the byway narrows and begins climbing the heavily forested slopes of ponderosa pine, juniper, and Douglas fir to the crest of Mormon Basin.
At a four-way intersection, the byway heads northwest up Glengarry Gulch alongside Clarks Creek through aspen, pine, and juniper forests. Cottonwood Creek will join Clarks Creek as you continue. Shortly, you’ll begin heading west along the Burnt River through Bridgeport Valley until you link up with OR 245.
You’ll want to head north on OR 245 where you will enter the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, taking numerous hairpin turns until you come to the OR 7 junction. Continue north on OR 7 through pine, aspen, and fir until you return to Baker City.