The old Wallowa-Union Railroad tracks run along the scenic Wallowa River in northeast Oregon. The tracks are used by a small excursion train and rail riders, but hikers can also walk the route to get a slower look at the scenery.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
The Wallowa River Railroad Hike is not considered one of northeast Oregon’s finest. Guidebooks can’t recommend it. Locals will point you elsewhere. It’s not even on AllTrails. The Wallowa Mountains, home to truly world class hiking, are right there.
But when I found the excursion on the Oregon Hikers Field Guide, I was immediately struck by a picture of the perfectly parallel rails running through the rugged river canyon. It felt like something different, possibly something special.
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