Hilgard Junction State Recreation Area, State recreation area in La Grande, Oregon, United States
Hilgard Junction State Recreation Area is a day-use and camping destination near La Grande located where Interstate 84 and Highway 244 meet the Grande Ronde River. The 232-acre site sits among cottonwood groves and provides direct access to the river for visitors seeking outdoor activities.
The area was named after E. W. Hilgard, a former dean of Agriculture at the University of California who influenced Union Pacific Railroad development in the region. Its location at this rail junction made it a stopping point for travelers and settlers moving through eastern Oregon.
The nearby Blue Mountain Crossing Interpretive Park displays original wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail, connecting visitors to western migration history.
Camping is available from March through October with 18 primitive sites offering paved parking for RVs, restroom facilities, and potable water access. Visitors should check current conditions at the river and familiarize themselves with site rules before settling in for a stay.
A nearby interpretive park displays original wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail, showing the exact paths settlers carved through the landscape generations ago. These visible grooves offer visitors a tangible connection to the routes traveled by thousands of migrants heading west.
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