Wallowa Barn Tour
Highlights & Remarkable Spots
Triple Creek Ranch Octagon Barn / ~ Mile 13.6
Built in 1906. Napoleon Beaudoin used this barn as part of a large sheep raising operation. Crossed Sabers Ranch is inscribed over the barn doors to commemorate owner Allan Carpenter’s stint in the cavalry. One of Wallowa County’s most photographed barns.
Stricker Barns / ~ Mile 15.2
Built circa 1900-1920. Both barns were built by the well known early settlers, the Down family. The Strickler family bought the property in 1940 and operated a hay and cattle ranch. The ranch is now part of Triple Creek Ranch.
McClain Barn / ~ Mile 18.9
The McClains were raising hogs and dairy cows when the barn was built in 1920. Margaret McClain recalled that the cream was what put groceries on the table. The old farmhouse has been replaced, and a riding arena added. Al Adelsberger is the current owner of the ranch.
Lone Star Barn / ~ Mile 19.1
Built in 1935 by the Varney family, this barn was primarily used for sheep and livestock. The top half stores hay. Beautiful barn and backdrop.
Joseph Cemetery / ~ Mile 20.8
We found little historical information on the cemetery itself; however, we took some time to wander and look: old headstones and grand views of the Wallowa mountains.
Brennan Barn / ~ Mile 22
Built in 1933 by the Daggett family, the original owner was Ben Marks. After a few owners, the property was purchased by Mike Brennan and his family in 1961. The OK Quarter Circle brand on the barn is best known for Walter Brennan, a western movie star who made Wallowa County his home. Mike Brennan still owns this ranch.
Knapper Barn / ~ Mile 22.5
The Knapper family built this barn in 1903 and used it for a small dairy. The milking parlor is on one side, with horse stalls on the other side. Hay was stored in the center of the barn. It is now known as the Smith barn.
Alford Barn / ~ Mile 23.3
Built in 1915 by H.D. Davidheiser for horses and a small dairy. The Alford family has owned this property since 1936. Beside this barn is the beautiful, historic farm home.
Rudger Barn / ~ Mile 23.7
Built in 1905. Historically, this was the Rudger farm for years, and it was a dairy operation. The current owners are Rob & Ary Lamb.
IRA Race Barn / ~ Mile 25
This barn was built in 1913 by a crew of traveling builders that went from town to town building barns for a living. The barn was used to store hay, and horse stalls were later added. Now two owls reside here, along with many stored items.
Credits & Acknowledgements
A really big shout out to the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce for development of the Wallowa Barn Tour guide and for allowing us to use a significant amount content from that guide in this route description.
This route is a gravel variation of the Crow Creek road ride published by Mountain Works Bicycles in La Grande, Oregon. A big thank you to them!
When We Like to Ride This
… in the spring when the fields are green and the mountain peaks are snow-capped. If Joseph is clear of snow, the route is rideable.
Terrain & Riding
You will pass by 9 of the 31 barns highlighted in the Wallowa Barn Tour guide on this ride. We recommend printing out the guide, snapping a picture of it, or picking up a copy at the Visitor Center in Joseph and taking it along on the ride.
Please keep in mind that these barns are private property, many of them working ranches, so this is a “ride by” scenic experience only.
Also, do not let elevation profile intimidate you; it is very deceiving. It looks like one big climb and descent when in fact, the first 16 miles gain ~ 1100 feet with an average gradient of 1%. The steepest climbing occurs just before mile 16, where it pitches up to 5% for a short distance; however, the climbing is on pavement.
The Start
Park along the side of Crow Creek road at the intersection triangle of Crow Creek Road, Eggleson Lane, and Highway 82.
Lat / Long: 45.396038, -117.230237
Food & Water
- None
Route Notes
Please ride with respect! Portions of this ride are through rural working ranch and farming country. Please give way to trucks, tractors, and combines. That may mean stopping as a group and letting a large combine pass, or it may be as simple as riding in a tight single-file line when an oncoming truck with trailing is approaching. To help alert you to traffic from behind, we recommend a rear-looking radar detector like a Garmin Varia. Also, give a listen to our podcast with a local rancher who talks about the challenges cyclists create for them and how we can be better visitors.
Route Options
Shorter
There are several options to make the route shorter by using some east/west connectors:
- At mile 1.1 go right on Crow Creek Road (paved).
- At mile 9 go right on Bicentennial Road (paved).
- At mile 14.7 go right on Kinney Lake Lane to Front Road.
Longer
An optional start is from the City Park in Joseph. This option adds 13 miles total (7 miles of gravel) and 450 feet of additional gain, and one additional barn at mile 6.3. Route: Wallowa Barn Tour (Joseph Start) GPX File: Download Start Lat/Long: 45.348299, -117.232005
Love Where You Ride! Learn More
The area in and around Joseph is some of the most beautiful in all of Oregon. Rugged mountains, lush valleys. One of the organizations involved in protecting and preserving these lands is the Wallowa Land Trust. We would encourage you to take a look at their work and consider a give back after enjoying some of these special lands.
Videos
The Beauty & Heritage of Wallowa County
Wallowa County is my Paradise
Podcasts
Big, Old Barns! The Wallowa Barn Tour
Learn all about the Wallowa Barn Tour. In this episode, we talk with Jennifer Piper of the Wallowa Chamber of Commerce and Alana Carollo of the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association. Learn how the Barn Tour got started, what you will see. We also talk about two other ways to experience the [...]
Rural Riding Etiquette (The Wallowas Region)
Gravel rides near the Wallowa Mountains often traverse remote and rural areas. While you may be out for a Sunday morning gravel ride, there are many ranchers actively working. Eric Makela, Vice President of the Wallowa Mountains Bicycling Club, shares insights on enjoying and staying safe [...]
Keep it Local! Learn More
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Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!