Eastern Oregon: Guide to Genuine Farm-to-Table Experiences

Discover the culinary scene behind the scenes in this outdoor enthusiast paradise.

Eastern Oregon is the perfect place for farming, ranching, and winemaking because of its rich soil and pioneer history. Visitors are welcome to hear the stories of the amiable residents and purchase artisanal things from them. Savor freshly harvested fruits, sample delicious hand-crafted cheeses, and sip award-winning wines from nearby wineries.

Overview of Farm Loops

It’s simple to visit nearby farms and ranches and experience the wealth of the area with a variety of self-guided farm loop routes available in Eastern Oregon. From the SAGE Center, embark on the River to Hills Farm Loop for an immersive and hands-on learning experience focused on sustainable agriculture. Then stop by two award-winning wineries in lovely Echo, the family-run Sno Road Winery and the award-winning Echo Ridge Cellars, to browse tasting rooms and purchase premium vintages. A visit to Bellinger Farms is highly recommended if you want to sample their renowned Hermiston watermelons, which are refined in the hot days and cool nights leading up to harvest.

Visit nearby farms in Northeast Oregon’s Grande Ronde Valley and enjoy luscious cherries from the Cove-Union Farm Loop. Visits to the Platz Family Farm, which sells seasonal fruit, and the Grande Ronde Goat Dairy in Union, where you can interact with the amiable goats, are memorable stops.

At the Grande Ronde Goat Dairy, a goat is grazing.

The Farm Loop at Whisky & Rocks

Take the Whisky & Rocks Farm Loop in Eastern Oregon for a loop that has it all. Start at Umapine Creamery in Milton-Freewater, where you may browse and taste more than 20 varieties of handcrafted Gouda and Havarti cheese. Take the family to Davis Orchards to harvest their own apples, or enjoy summery peaches from M&D Farms and delicious berries from Lampson Blueberries and Morningstar Berry Farm.

The remainder of the loop is for you, beverage enthusiasts. Visit Oregon Grain Growers Brand Distillery, Pendleton’s first distillery, to immerse yourself in cowboy culture, or Buckin’ Bean Coffee Roaster if you’re more of a caffeine addict. Visit Blue Mountain Cider Company in Milton-Freewater, which is close by, to sample handcrafted hard cider. Dragon’s Gate Brewery is a popular place to enjoy Belgian-style farmhouse beer. Next, visit the many wineries within the Rocks District American Viticultural Area (AVA) to sample the hallmark wine of the area, which is produced from grapes gathered from the unique environment dotted with basalt rocks.

A grapevine growing Syrah being overlooked by a winery worker.

Brewery Trail in Eastern Oregon

Sample your way along the Eastern Oregon Brews Byway if you enjoy artisan beer and breathtaking surroundings. Located in a former onion plant, Ordnance Brewing is a farmer-owned brewery with inventive taps that typically include a signature guest cider and specialty beers. Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub is located just up the road in the heart of Pendleton’s cowboy country, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

You’ll love kicking up your boots here whether you sip a Porter with a lot of malt or an India Pale Ale with a Western influence. The beers of Terminal Gravity Brewing, located in the breathtaking Wallowa Mountains, go best with the views from its patio outside. Award-winning Barley Brown’s Beer in Baker City is the ideal place to cap off your Eastern Oregon brewery tour. Here, small-batch, handcrafted beers blend flawlessly with traditional brewpub fare and live music.

Eastern Oregon craft breweries sell beer brewed with hops grown nearby.

Experience Ranch Life

Enjoy the rustic lifestyle to the fullest at Wilson Ranches Retreat in Fossil. Among the unique experiences that await you is horseback herding cattle through the picturesque Butte Creek Valley. Authentic ranch experiences and a window into real Western life are provided by this bed & breakfast in the form of a ranch. After a filling cowboy breakfast, take advantage of a variety of activities, including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing, or simply unwind in the peaceful surroundings. Enjoy a campfire beneath the sky to round off your days.

Wilson Ranches Retreat offers an authentic cattle drive in the high desert highlands.

Getting There