Baker City, Oregon is an underrated travel destination. To be fair, Baker City may not be on many tourist radars or even rated at all. There’s something unique about this place, though, and it is well worth a stop for roadtrippers, American culture enthusiasts and anyone who wants to see a different side – the real side – of Oregon.
Baker City, Oregon may not be a sought-after, world-famous or major travel destination. The small city of less than 10,000 people may not even be the most popular place to travel in Northeast Oregon. (I would look to the little town of Joseph and the Wallowa Mountains for that distinction.)
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Why Travel to Baker City, Oregon
In Northeast Oregon, on the 45th parallel of the Northern Hemisphere – for all intents and purposes, essentially a different country, a different world, and a long way from the Willamette Valley and Interstate- 5 population centers – Baker City quietly sits about 3500 feet above sea-level. This is not a luxurious tourist town, and the only kind of backpacking is the outdoorsy, backcountry variety.
So why travel to Oregon and take a detour to Baker City? Why would I – the Hangry Backpacker – a food-minded, backpacking-focused travel enthusiast (bordering on obsessive and annoying, I freely admit) want to go to way out to rural Oregon?
For one, Oregon is far more than Portland. As fun as the weirdness of Portland can be, there is more to Oregon than eccentric counter-culture, vegan everything, coffeeshop madness and dispensaries galore. After living in Portland for years now, it becomes more apparent by the day how much the rest of the state has to offer.
Eastern Oregon is full of natural beauty, history, culture, cool towns and nice people. And small towns and cities are really where our true cultures remain intact, unaffected by the changes in faraway big cities. Oh, and these places are usually pretty cheap.
Tourists typically travel to Baker City and Northeast Oregon for the wondrous natural scenery, but that’s only part of the allure. Though often overlooked, this is the quintessential town for a taste of the American West.
Baker City is more than a pit stop, and it’s more than a base for exploring areas outside of town. From nature to history and even food, there is a lot more to Baker City than one witnesses speeding by on Interstate-84.
Attractions & What To Do in Baker City
Baker City, Oregon is more than a rest stop on the Great American Road Trip. There is a lot to do in the area. The small city is historic, pretty and interesting, and the surrounding area is an oasis of natural beauty in the largely uneventful terrain of Eastern Oregon.
Historic Downtown
Downtown Baker City is nationally recognized as a historic district and has plenty to interest visitors for a day or two. Personally, the most interesting parts of the downtown area are the various delicious restaurants, but there is more to do than stuff your face.
Baker City’s historic downtown is full of beautiful buildings, many of which are surprisingly old for this part of the country. There are stately hotels, classic movie theaters, historic churches and plenty of charming early-19th-century homes.
Downtown is complete with antique shops, boutique coffee/vintage stores and plenty of local places selling random trinkets and junk. If you enjoy sifting through thoughtfully-arranged oddities and wares found in an old town of the American West, there is an abundance of that.
Aside from shopping for secondhand junk or eating your way through town, the historic nature of Downtown Baker City is a travel allure in itself. The city is one of the oldest in Eastern Oregon, and it’s history is aligned with that of the American West – ranching, railroads, gold and, of course, the Oregon Trail.
The history of Baker City is largely overlooked, but it is visible downtown and beyond. This small city in Northeast Oregon is an excellent place to visit to sort of step back in time and imagine what it was like back in the wilder, boomtown days of the West. (To be clear, it’s not some run-down, forgotten hellhole. There are simply elements, reminders and feelings of those eras.)
Anthony Lakes
Though not in Baker City – travel time to these lakes in the Blue Mountains of Oregon takes about an hour – Anthony Lakes is worth the drive to visit for a day trip. The Blue Mountains are a natural spectacle of Oregon, and this is one the best spots (that is easily accessible) to experience the scenery.
Anthony Lakes are a series of mountain lakes and marsh about 7000 feet above sea level. The area is popular for camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoorsy/water activities. Winter sees Anthony Lakes turn into a destination for snow sports, with the Anthony Lakes Ski Resort receiving quite a bit of snow to enjoy the 20+ ski runs.
There is a really easy hiking loop around the lake, about a mile in length, with several offshoot paths into the woods if you want to explore further or find different views of the mountains. There is a longer, 8-mile loop that goes all the way around Gunsight Mountain, the peak that looms above the lake. This longer hike is more difficult but offers a fun, scenic challenge.
Anthony Lakes isn’t exactly in Baker City, but it is a popular area for outdoor recreation for locals in the area. For tourists in Baker City who want to spend some time with Mother Nature, this is an ideal place. It’s fairly easy to reach, the air is crisp and the landscapes are truly stunning.
Geiser Grand Hotel
The famous and historic Geiser Grand Hotel is an oddity. It’s a beautiful, old hotel that seems peculiarly set in, of all places, Baker City, Oregon. The reasons behind that alludes to the history and importance of Baker City in the late-1800s.
Today, this unique hotel actually attracts tourists to travel to Baker City just to stay here. It was famous in centuries-past as the “finest hotel between Salt Lake City and Portland,” and today, restored to its former glory, the fancy Geiser Grand Hotel attracts travelers from afar.
This is another landmark in Downtown Baker City, but the Geiser Grand Hotel is an attraction in itself and worth mentioning.
Northeast Oregon Heritage & Culture
Eastern Oregon is probably one of the most overlooked parts of the United States, especially for travel and tourism and especially Baker City. It’s not exactly the place many people think of when it comes to culture and history.
As mentioned above, there is a lot of history in Baker City, and it’s just sitting there along the streets. There are some notable museums that provide more insight and depth into what life was like way-back-when in this region of forgotten America.
The Adler House Museum is small in comparison to the next two museums mentioned here. However, this old home is an excellent example (and tour) of the glory days of Baker City’s history. Located on Main Street, the pretty house dates back to the late-1800s and was the home of a very important figure in local history.
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is one of the more unique and informative museums depicting and explaining the harrowing experience Americans encountered on their westward journeys in search of a better life. This large, state-of-the-art museum is a haven for Oregon Trail historical information and even has some easy hiking trails.
The Baker Heritage Museum is an excellent source for local history and information. The museum specializes in the local history of the Oregon Trail, as well as other local history, wildlife and culture.
Where to Eat in Baker City
Where to Eat in Baker City is probably the most common question travelers have as they’re passing through or resting in town for the night. Fortunately, there are some good answers.
The cuisine of Baker City is not the biggest tourist draw to this part of Oregon, but the dining options in the city are a pleasant surprise for many visitors. Baker City, especially the historic downtown, and the surrounding area are home to plenty of quality eating options.
As I often repeat, “food and drink is an open window into another culture.” This holds true in Eastern Oregon, too. Life is different in this part of the United States, especially compared to Portland and the Willamette Valley region, and that lifestyle is reflected in the great local food.
Whether it’s local restaurants highlighting local agriculture or one of Oregon’s best breweries – and that is really saying something, but Barley Brown’s is that good – Baker City has great eating and drinking options. For a more detailed and thorough breakdown, read the Hangry Backpacker’s Guide to Eating in Baker City.
Transportation
Baker City is not the easiest place to reach. It’s a small city, and there are no commercial flights and no passenger trains stopping in town. A car is pretty essential to visiting the area.
You can take a Greyhound bus from Portland ($40-50, 7+ hours) or Boise ($20-30, 2+ hours), and, technically, there is a tiny commercial airport in Pendleton about 90 minutes away.
Even if you decide to take a bus to Baker City, there’s not really any way to get around without a car. Downtown is easy enough to traverse on foot, but anything outside of those few blocks will require a set of wheels.
Baker City, Oregon is a small town in the rural American West. A large, sparsely-populated region. In fact, it is the seat of Baker County, which has less than 20,000 residents and is larger than Delaware. Public transportation is all but nonexistent, and, no matter which direction you come from, reaching the town requires a bit of windshield time.
It should also be noted that there is nowhere in Baker City, Oregon (at least nowhere that I have personally seen or been able to locate online) that has rental cars. Baker City is an excellent road trip stop, but make reservations for rental cars early and practically.
Hotels in Baker City
Hotels in Baker City are largely limited to typical interstate motels. American highway mainstays like Motel 6, Super 8, Rodeway Inn and Quality Inn are examples of the majority of accommodation options in the city. Most of these are located near Interstate-84.
Aside from these, one motel stands out a bit. The Oregon Trail Motel is one block from Main Street in Downtown Baker City. The exterior of the motel screams rural, small town USA (in a good way), but the rooms are simple, cheap and clean.
The Oregon Trail Motel is far from fancy, but it has the perfect location; and the price is the best when factoring in location and the free breakfast. It feels like Eastern Oregon, the staff is great and the on-site restaurant has good food in an awesome local atmosphere.
As far as hotels in Baker City, Oregon go, none is more notable or prestigious than the Geiser Grand Hotel. This hotel was once of the top hotels in the entire northwestern United States.
Today, the Geiser Grand Hotel is one of the major tourist draws in Baker City. The turn-of-the-century style and decor is an homage to luxury in centuries past – back in the times when getting to Baker City took days, not hours.
The Geiser Grand Hotel is the most iconic landmark on Main Street, even if it is dwarfed by the 150-foot Baker City Tower. In a simple, unpretentious town, the Geiser Grand emanates luxury accommodation and fine dining even today.
Of course, staying in this fancy relic of glory days past will cost. Rooms go for more than $200/night. The historical element and fancy nature of the Geiser Grand Hotel is an attractive reason for many people to spend a day or two in Baker City. If you’re not looking to spend that kind of money, the hotel’s restaurant and bar are open to the public and absolutely worth a visit.
The Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time of year to visit Baker City depends mostly on what you’ll be doing. If skiing is of interest, Winter is best. If camping is the goal, then a warmer time of year will be smart. It is important to note that snow sticks in higher elevations longer than in town.
Baker City is pretty dry and fairly sunny. There are ample opportunities throughout the year to enjoy the town and surrounding attractions, be that beneath a blanket of snow or baking under the dry, Eastern Oregon sun.
From a strict weather point of view, the late-Spring to mid-Summer seasons are ideal. This time has warm days and cool nights, without temperatures being too extreme on either end of the thermometer.
Baker City, Oregon isn’t a flashy travel destination. It’s not a backpacker town, a hub of some obscure microculture or a remote sanctuary of luxury.
Baker City, Oregon is the place to visit for beautiful scenes of the real American West. This is the place to visit for travelers and roadtrippers seeking somewhere pretty, real, unpretentious and unique.
Tourists are more likely to travel through Baker City than to Baker City. What the Interstate doesn’t reveal is a cool town in an interesting part of the United States. Baker City is the perfect visit for roadtrippers that want to see another side of Oregon complete with an historic old town, beautiful mountains and great food. As an added bonus, this part of America is pretty darn cheap.
Baker City is also unique for having public _grass_ tennis courts. For any tennis fan this makes BC a destination! 👍
I’ve heard that from a couple of people. What an interesting (seemingly random) distinction distinction for BC!