Ghost town of Eureka, Oregon (Eureka Bar)(Wallowa County)
Name: Eureka (Eureka Bar)(in Wallowa County)
Class: B1
GPS: 45.7679335, -116.8204253
Directions: Unknown!!! Located at the conjunction of the Snake River and Imnaha River.
Based on Google Maps the route looks to be; From Enterprise Oregon take OR-82 South East to Crow Creek Road. Turn left and stay on OK Gulch/Zumwalt-Imnaha Road. Follow this for about 25 miles, then stay on National Forest Road-46. Follow for 8.9 miles then turn right on National Forest Road 780. Follow this for 7.1 miles. The road takes a sharp left and starts climbing the hill. If you go off road to the right, along the range of hills you will come to the Snake River. Ruins of the town should be visible here. I can not tell if this last part is 4×4 accessible, or needs to be walked.
Description:
Town was founded in 1889 as Eureka Bar at the confluence of the Snake and Imnaha Rivers. The town was built because of a copper boom (not sure if there was a strike here, or if the town was founded because of the copper here.) The mill was never built because the equipment to do so was lost in the river during unloading. At it’s peak it had a population of 2000 people.
A stern wheeler named Eureka Bar served the town, but I can not find it’s fate.
A post office was established on August 25th, 1903 but was closed just three years later on August 15th, 1906. Thomas E. Alyea was the Post Master.
Ruins of the town are visible in Google Maps. Looks like it’s little more then foundations though.
More Information:
Rick, for what it is worth…the last time I went the way you described, the road was closed to all vehicle traffic at the Buckhorn overlook. It was just turned into a roadless area. But this country is definitely worth the trip. May I suggest an alternate route… From Enterprise follow the road to Joseph then NE to the town of Imnaha. Then down the Imnaha river road to the Cow creek trailhead. From there it is a 3 to 4 mile hike to the Snake river. The views from the trail are spectacular. From the Snake river, you can see what is left of the site on the hill sides.
Note: this trail is no longer maintained. Before taking this trail, contact the Wallowa-Whitman National forest office in Enterprise, Oregon. Also, 5 miles below Imnaha, the road turns to dirt and becomes a mess when wet.
Steve
Thank you for the update Steve! I’m planning on visiting again real soon so I’ll definitely check out your route.