Joseph Branch Railriders - Minam, Oregon
Joseph Branch Railriders offers pedal-powered rail bike adventures, considered one of America's most unique and memorable must-do experiences, taking visitors through Oregon’s majestic Wallowa Mountains. Riders cycle the scenery along historic rail lines, enjoying scenic journeys and connecting with nature in a special way in Northeast Oregon. The railriders operate from two unforgettable Oregon locations: Minam, where the journey twists through a canyon alongside the scenic tumbling Wallowa River with towering rock cliffs above, and Joseph, where riders enjoy a peaceful pedal through the valley at the base of the majestic Wallowa Mountains, taking in the views and fresh mountain air. These journeys utilize the historic Joseph Branch Railroad, which is a 63-mile line linking Elgin to Joseph and tracing the picturesque Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers.
The Approach
For the Joseph rides:
From La Grande, Oregon, follow OR-82 E out of La Grande for 70 miles into Joseph, OR. Turn right onto W Alder St. and follow it a 1/4 mile to the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks to the parking area next to the red-roofed building.
For the Minam rides:
From La Grande, Oregon, follow OR-82 E out of La Grande for 33.5 miles. You’ll cross the bridge going over the convergence of the Minam and Wallowa Rivers. Turn left into the parking area before crossing the railroad tracks.
From Enterprise, Oregon, follow OR-82 W out of Enterprise for 37 miles. Immediately after crossing the railroad tracks, turn right into the parking area. If you cross over the bridge of the Minam and Wallowa Rivers’ convergence, you’ve gone too far.
Cost
Prices for Adults start at $30 and can reach $65 per person, depending on the location and duration of the ride.
Availability
Early May to Late September (sometimes it can go into October)
The dates for the next season are determined after the current season ends.
Reserve your ride at jbrailriders.com
Accessibility
No animals of any kind are allowed to protect the animals.
Some ADA accommodations can be made; these are peddled carts that require some exertion from the riders. The railriders from the Joseph location have pedal-assist options, but still require one person to pedal to power the assist. Contact them at 541.786.6149 to find out more and if they can accommodate your specific needs. They are great people and will do their best.
Challenges
The railriders in Minam do NOT have pedal assist, so every incline you have to pedal. Even though the inclines are only 1%, at the most, you will feel it a little by the end if you don’t ride bikes much. You will feel it more if you aren’t in average shape to begin with, but you can get through it.
History
Joseph Branch Railriders operates on a section of the Wallowa Union Railroad, also known as the Joseph Branch. This line is 63 miles long and connects Elgin in Union County with Joseph in Wallowa County. The line follows the pathways of the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers. The Joseph Branch enjoys a rich heritage as a descendant and extension of the original Oregon Railway & Navigation Company (OR & N). The OR & N's main trunk line through La Grande was completed in 1884. Joseph Branch Railriders operates on two sections of this historic Joseph Branch rail line, one in Joseph, OR, and the other in Minam, OR.
The construction of the Joseph Branch occurred in stages:
By 1890, the first 23 miles of the line were laid as an extension of the OR & N to Elgin.
Due to the rugged country north of Elgin, it wasn't until 15 years later (starting around 1905) that the line was extended further.
With financial power from consolidation into systems like Union Pacific, the line was extended between 1905 and 1908.
The completion of the line to Wallowa was celebrated in 1908 with an excursion train from La Grande, gathering between 1500 and 2,000 people. A centennial anniversary celebration was held in Wallowa in September 2008.
By November 1908, a similar celebration welcomed the first passenger train to Joseph.
Historically, the Joseph Branch was used for various purposes:
Between World War I and the Great Depression, it was used extensively for hauling logs to local sawmills.
During the 1920s, there was a dedicated daily passenger train service on the line with advertised connections to Portland, Oregon, at La Grande.
Freight business has consistently included lumber and grain, with sawmills and grain elevators located along the line.
Livestock was also once moved over the line.
World War II, the widespread use of automobiles, and the development of state and national road systems impacted the use of the branch line.
From 1948 through April 1960, a daily, except Sunday, mixed train served the line, making a full round trip each day.
The Joseph Branch Railriders began as a unique tourist attraction in 2014, created by Kim and Anita Metlen to offer a scenic cycling experience on the historic but underused Joseph Branch Line railway in Oregon. This stretch of track was originally built in 1884, fell out of service for freight in 1996, and was purchased by local interests in 2002 to prevent its removal. Joseph Branch Railriders shares the Joseph rail line with Eagle Cap Excursion, which offers catered train rides using historical diesel train engines and passenger cars.
Embark
Our adventure begins at the Minam Store. Inside the store, you can check in at the counter, then browse the merchandise they offer visitors. They will announce the departure when everything is ready. Be early to avoid causing any delays for others or worse, missing the departure. You will not be allowed to “catch up.” Our guide had the railraiders prepared on the tracks according to our reservation. They assisted us in getting onto the railrider, buckling in for safety, and showing us how the vehicle operates. Once everyone was securely in their railriders, the guide took his seat in the lead railrider, and off we went. The guide asked us to keep about 100 yards between each cart, but this distance varied widely throughout our trip.
The Ride
If you’re like us, you might jump out pedaling fast and furious. Remind yourself, it’s not a race. Enjoy the ride, and your legs will thank you on the return trip when there is more uphill than down. There are times during the ride when we have to bear down a little bit. Even though the steepest incline is a mere 1%, it is sufficient to command some focus at times.
The ride along the Wallowa River is beautiful. Though we started fast, we soon settled into a gentle pace that let us enjoy the views as we cruised along the tracks. It is a unique sightseeing experience to be on the railriders. We are completely exposed, unlike on a train ride. Being on the tracks means we didn’t have to focus on what we were doing because we stayed on the tracks at all times. This allowed us to look around at everything that caught our attention. You might see deer, elk, bald eagles, hawks, fly fishermen, and more. The views are incredible, and some sights made us wonder how things got the way they did. For example, how did one massive boulder, resting in the middle of the river, with no other large boulders around in the area, arrive at that precise location? Then, we admired the incredible resilience of nature, as we saw the 6-foot-tall tree growing out of the top of that boulder.
The turnaround point came a little more than an hour into the ride. While it was identified as a 3-hour ride, we had made pretty good time, even at our leisurely pace. Here we disembarked our riders, grabbed a snack we had brought along for the ride, and watched our guide turn our railriders around on the track. They had devised a lightweight rail attachment that rested on a pivot. It allowed the railrider to be pushed onto the attachment’s surface, then the guide simply spun the platform around 180 degrees and rolled the railrider off the other side, with it now facing the opposite direction. He repeated the process for each railrider, removed the platform from the tracks, and we were ready to head back to the Minam Store. It was simple, easy, and genius. After our snack, water, and entertainment, most of our group were ready to head back. I was a little disappointed that people were in such a hurry, especially when we had made such good time, but alas, we gathered our things and boarded our railrider once more.
The return trip did provide a new view, despite having traveled this very stretch a mere 15 minutes earlier. The railriders are not very high off the ground, and since we are sitting in hammock seats, we too are not very high off the ground. This position limits the views in many stretches of the river where dirt berms stand above eye level. Facing the opposite direction on the return trip allowed us to notice things we missed on the trip out. The boulder with the tree I mentioned above is a prime example. The trip back was a little more strenuous, since it was mostly uphill. It did make us appreciate the downhill stretches a lot more. The views and weather were perfect, and we couldn’t help but feel gratitude for this opportunity as we slowly rolled into Minam Store.
Disembark
As our railrider came to a stop, our guide was waiting to assist us as we disembarked. With our feet on solid ground, it took a moment to get our land legs back. We thanked our guide, gathered our things from the basket, and made our way to the car. It was a straightforward process. If you feel the need, you can return to the store or any souvenirs you might want. The whole process adventure was made so easy by the owners and the staff. It was a wonderful experience.
Summary
Joseph Branch Railriders is a wonderful experience. The whole adventure was made so easy by the owners and the staff. It was a wonderful experience. We highly recommend giving one of their trips a try. It is such a unique, fun, beautiful experience in some of the most wonderful landscapes in the region. It is a memory that will last a lifetime.
Places to Eat
Elgin, OR: Big Horns of Elgin has your typical saloon food. Burgers, steak, and fries adorn the menu with a few surprises making an appearance. The food was respectable, with good portion sizes.
Enterprise, OR: Sugar Time Bakery is a popular breakfast location. The breakfast burrito is the best one we have ever had. We talk about returning to Enterprise just to get another one.
La Grande, OR: Mam’ma Bear Burgers. If you are really hungry, this is the place for you. Huge delicious burgers, fries that are seriously oversized, and fry sauce. Seriously, I asked for a medium fry for us to share, and we were given what I can only describe as a platter of fries. Nothing medium about it. The burgers were amazing. Truly, bring your appetite.
Joseph, OR: Stubborn Mule Saloon & Steak has pretty good burgers, fries, and other pub food. It can get pretty busy at night, especially during the busy season.
