We recently spent about a week in Joseph, Oregon and left the area only wanting to stay longer. There are so many incredible things to do in Joseph Oregon, from hiking to eating great food, and cozy stays, you truly should stay longer than you think!
After spending a week in Joseph, these are the things to do in Joseph that we recommend.
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Top 10 Things To Do In Joseph, Oregon
Each of these things to do I go into detail about below. But here’s how we recommend you spend your time in Joseph, Oregon.
- Swim in the crystal clear waters of Wallowa Lake
- Enjoy a cinnamon roll at Cheyanne Cafe
- Catch the mountain reflections at Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site
- Relax at the Kokanee Inn
- Hike to Slick Rock Falls
- Walk around the Historic Downtown Joseph
- Enjoy a free tasting at Stein Distillery
- Catch sunset from Wallowa Lake viewpoint
- Take a drive to Hells Canyon Overlook
- Enjoy a night paddle in a glass boat
How To Use This Guide
In all of our travel guides on ArboursAbroad, we include coordinates of places to visit. This is so you can copy the coordinates and pin them on a map of your choice.
For years, we’ve used the offline map app, Maps.me. However, with the ease of eSIMs providing internet access in almost any country, we have found ourselves using Google Maps more and more.
We suggest pinning places you want to see, where to eat and park, and photos you want to take — creating a personalized pocket guide!
Things To Do In Joseph Oregon In Detail
1. Swim In The Crystal Clear Waters Of Wallowa Lake
- Coordinates | 45.334768, -117.218609
- Cost | parking is free
What sold us on visiting Joseph was an Instagram post I saw showing the crystal clear waters of Wallowa Lake. And when we arrived at the lake, I was so happy to see the colors were real!
Wallowa Lake is a glacier-fed lake with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and crystal clear water.
When we were swimming in July, the water temperature was in the 60’s, a pretty comfortable temperature to take a break from the heat!
Loads of people were paddling around on paddle boards, a handful of boaters were out tubing and wakeboarding, and everyone we met was just so happy to be at the lake.
2. Enjoy A Cinnamon Roll At Cheyenne Cafe
- Coordinates | 43.354144, -117.230201
- Cost | $7.00
Our first two nights staying in Joseph, we didn’t go out for breakfast because an amazing breakfast was included in our stay.
However, after checking out of the Kokanee Inn, we were walking around downtown and saw the Cheyenne Cafe. After seeing the breakfast menu, we made plans to return for brunch the following day.
And holy smokes, breakfast was great.. but we got side tracked by the cinnamon rolls too. When we walked in, someone had a cinnamon roll, and we knew we had to get it for a starter!
It was hands down one of the best cinnamon rolls we’ve had.. and that says a lot! Definitely get one to share!
3. Catch The Mountain Reflections At Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site
- Coordinates for Parking | 45.342981, -117.223894
- Coordinates for Reflection | 45.338688, -117.227699
- Cost | free
- Trail Guide | Hiking Guide to Knight’s Pond
When I was looking up hikes to do in the area, I was hoping to find a hike that was rated easy.. as we wanted to experience all sorts of hikes in Joseph. And when I found the hike leading to Knight’s Pond, I knew we had to do it!
Located right in between the town of Joseph and Wallowa Lake, you’ll find Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site with some great views.
The pond can be accessed by a walk from the main parking area up hill and down around the creek, or by walking straight down Main Street, keeping to the right at the Kokanee Inn, and then walking all the way down the road through the gate.
The second way doesn’t have any big hill to climb, and is the easiest way to access this pond if walking from downtown Joseph.
4. Relax At The Kokanee Inn
- Coordinates | 45.345600, -117.229285
- Cost | rooms starting at $168 per night with breakfast
- Our Full Review | Where To Stay In Joseph Oregon
BOOK NOW | Check for availability and book before it’s sold out!
When we read the amazing reviews of the Kokanee Inn, we knew we wanted to stay there. And holy smokes, the stay did not disappoint!
Jay and I have a hard time booking accommodations when we’re in the van because, oftentimes, the accommodations don’t match up to their price point. But at the Kokanee Inn, you don’t have to worry about that!
The price to what you get comparison is right on par. The homemade breakfast every morning is delicious. The water and snacks available for guests is such a nice touch, and the rooms are beautiful.
With a great location, free bike rentals, and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, we can’t recommend this place enough!
5. Hike To Slick Rock Creek Falls
- Parking Coordinates | 45.311467, -117.307484
- Falls Coordinates | 45.273997, -117.31251
- Cost | $5 or free with NWF Pass or NP Pass
- Trail Guide | Hurricane Creek Trail (only doing 3 miles of this trail)
There is some incredible hiking opportunities from Joseph, Oregon, with the Eagle Cap Wilderness being right at it’s backdoor. However, most of the hikes are strenuous, over 15 miles long, and often are overnight treks.
We weren’t prepared to go backpacking, but we definitely wanted a way to get out into the wild here. So, when I found the Slick Rock Creek Falls hike, I knew it was the one!
This hike is 6 miles total, three miles to the falls and three miles back. There’s a good mix of shade, and when we hiked in July, there were loads of wildflowers popping off all along the trail.
We packed our swimsuits and got in the pools at the waterfalls before turning around and hiking back.
This trail is a moderate trail, and while there is a lot of shade and water access along the trail, I wouldn’t recommend hiking it midday in the heat.
6. Walk Around The Historic Downtown Joseph
- Coordinates | 45.352333, -117.23
- Cost | free
There is one main street running through Joseph, and with money from the state, art donated by local artists, and grants to make it look welcoming, it certainly is!
With sculptures on every corner, flowers all along the road, and cute storefronts, walking up and down Main Street is definitely a must.
There are so many cute shops to pop into, you can grab coffee or ice cream and stroll around window shopping and looking at the statues, and pop into any of the restaurants for a bite to eat.
There’s free parking all up and down Main Street and great views of the surrounding mountains too!
7. Enjoy A Free Tasting At Stein Distillery
- Coordinates | 45.35784, -117.229539
- Cost | free tasting, $7 cocktails
Free whiskey, rum, and vodka tastings?! Yes, please!
We popped into Stein Distillery to grab cocktails, but definitely took advantage of the free tastings as well.
After living in Scotland and falling in love with whisky, we’re always a bit hesitant about whiskey in the states. Much to our surprise, we actually enjoyed the Stein Distillery Whiskey samples.
And they even offer a unique rum that’s aged in whiskey barrels so you get a hint of whiskey with the rum too.
Aside from the four free samples you can get at Stein Distillery, they also offer $7 cocktails.
We tried the lemon drop and the sour, and while the lemon drop was good, the sour is 100% where it’s at!
They’re cute little drinks, but at only $7 each, and having them after four samples, the small drinks are welcome!
8. Catch Sunset From Wallowa Lake Viewpoint
- Coordinates | 45.334483, -117.214898
- Cost | free
I’m not totally sure the viewpoint actually has an official name, but it’s a great viewpoint nonetheless!
Drive right past the Wallowa Lake County Park, and then pull off at the pullout on the right. This offers a great view of sunset! We even continued driving and ended up pulling off at a few more pullouts further around the lake to catch different views.
They all were incredible! And it’s worth noting, we didn’t actually expect a sunset the night we got this one.. so be sure to head out even if the sky doesn’t look like it’s going to be painted bright!
9. Take A Drive To Hells Canyon Overlook
- Coordinates | 45.1239, -116.835246
- Cost | free (just gas)
When visiting Joseph, Oregon, most people come up through La Grande and into town. We were coming here from Utah, and ended up taking a back way up the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway from Oxbow, Oregon.
This offered us the chance to stop at the Hells Canyon Overlook, and we’re sure glad it did!
If you’re on a road trip, the Hells Canyon Overlook is a great place to stay for a night! Alternatively, it’s about an hour drive along a beautiful road, offering an easy adventure for those looking for things to do in Joseph Oregon that aren’t a hike!
10. Enjoy A Night Paddle In A Glass Boat
- Coordinates | 45.334663, -117.219717
- Cost | $165 per two person kayak
- Current Reviews & Reservations | Jo Paddle Reviews
When we were in Joseph, every night we saw JO Paddles driving up the road with a trailer full of glass boats. Turns out, those glass boats have lights, and they were heading to the lake for night paddles!
When we looked into renting a boat with Jo Paddle, they were sold out, and we were told they often are sold out in advance! So if you want to do a light up paddle on Wallowa Lake, be sure to book the tour or boat in advance!
Enjoy Your Time In Joseph!
We really enjoyed our time in Joseph, Oregon. In fact, we enjoyed it so much we extended our stay. We think you’ll like it too. Whether you’re hitting the trails or just soaking in the views from the parks, this place is incredible!
Find more tips on where to stay and things to know in Joseph below, and scroll to the bottom to see what we recommend reading next!
Where To Stay In Joseph, Oregon
Bed and Breakfast Stay | The Kokanee Inn
We stayed at the Kokanee Inn for two nights and were completely blown away with this inn. It truly took us back in time to staying historic bed and breakfasts in Ireland.
When I say you need to stay here, I really mean it.
It’s a full experience from cozy rooms, to beautiful views in the outdoor seating areas and amazing homemade breakfast each morning.
Madeline, the owner of the inn, is so sweet and truly cares for each of her guests. There are two pet friendly rooms at the inn, and room for up to 30 guests fi you have a large party.
READ MORE | Our Full Review Of The Kokanee Inn
Camping | Free Dispersed Site
Remember how at the beginning of this post I said we stayed in the area for about a week? Well, part of that is because we found this epic dispersed campsite along Hurricane Creek.
When we went up to hike Slick Rock Creek Falls, we saw multiple people camping along the river, and knew we needed to go back and stay.
The views are incredible, the road in is great, and while there were people in every spot when we camped there, the spots are pretty spread out making them great!
There’s even a pit toilet at the trailhead within walking distance, and picnic tables at some of the sites!
Don’t have an RV? Don’t Worry! You can rent an RV for your trip to Joseph here.
RV Resort & Camping At Wallowa Lake
At the south end of Wallowa Lake is Wallowa Lake State Park. This area of the lake is a totally different environment! When we drove down to this part of the lake just to see what was there, we were shocked at what we found!
And entire little village nestled into the mountains. There are multiple mini golf spots, restaurants, cafes, and holy smokes, a lot of people!
It’s a totally different experience down there, and interestingly enough, there’s no real mountain views as you’re tucked into the mountains here.
While it’s not our cup of tea, it is the place to stay close by as an RV resort and seems like a fun area to be in if traveling with kids.
A Couple Of Notes About Joseph, Oregon
Cell Service | Cell service is limited. We continually had service, but it never actually worked. When we talked with some locals about it, we were told that’s the common thing with everyone, even them!
With only one tower in the area, the service is spotty at best! Be sure to download an offline map app before getting to Joseph so you can get around for sure!
Gas Stations | There is one gas station in town that’s been around for decades. While we actually didn’t need to fill up while in Joseph, we were pleasantly surprised ot find the prices to not be too bad!
Eating Out | If visiting Joseph on a Monday or Tuesday, know there are limited options for eating. We definitely recommend the fun Taco Tuesday menu at Slack if visiting Joseph on a Tuesday, though!
Outside of those days, be sure to keep an eye on time, as a lot of restaurants close by 8.
READ MORE | 5 Places To Eat & Drink in Joseph
What To Read Next
READ MORE | 3 Hikes In Joseph At All Different Levels
READ MORE | Our Full Review of Kokanee Inn
SEE MORE | Visiting Oregon? Check out our complete Oregon Travel Guide