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Free Traveling Guides » States » Oregon » Greater Oregon
Hat Point Road
Hat Point, nearly 6,982 feet (2.13 km) in length, equally distributed on the western edge of Hells Canyon, ignores North America’s deepest river gorge. The Snake River underneath Hat Point, height 1,276 feet (388.9 m), and the Seven Devils Mountains, greater than 9,000 feet (2.74km) in height, are both noticeable from the Hat Point’s vantage.
The viewpoint can be accessed by a car on Gravel Road from the city of Imnaha. The trip may take about 1 hour from Imnaha. If you plan to take an RV, bear in mind that the road is extremely steep in the first 6 miles (9.6km), nearly 16% grade, and hard to turn around. Food and drink are accessible at Imnaha.
The name Hat Point is taken from a legend of a cowboy misplacing his hat in the brush while riding a rowdy horse. For some time, the hat hung in the brush and the neighboring waterway was named ‘Hat Creek’. This high spot near the Hat Creek’s headwaters also obtained the same name.
You can notice following spots when traveling on this road.
Five-Mile viewpoint gives an exceptional sight of the Wallowa Mountains and the Imnaha River Valley at the distance. The height is some 4,629 feet (1.4km), with an elevation of 2,655 feet (809.24 m). In the next 9.7 miles (15.6 km), you may notice the rock cairn on the right.
In the next 10.8 miles (17.3 km), you will encounter the Horse Creek Observation that offers a glimpse of the Imnaha Canyon on the right side while Horse Creek Canyon on the left. After reaching next 17.1 miles (27.5 km), Granny View point will captivate your heart. Finally, after covering 23.5 miles (37.8km), you can reach Hat Point where picnic and restroom facilities are easily available but drinkable water cannot be obtained.
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