Discover Umatilla through a range of stories: the routes of the Oregon Trail, Indigenous culture, and the importance of water and agriculture. Each place and activity has its own focus, from historic traces to seasonal experiences.
Trail History and Cultural Insights
The main route of the Oregon Trail passed through Echo Meadows from 1847 to 1860. People have long replenished their water supplies at Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, including travelers on the Oregon Trail. Together, the two places tell different sides of the journey: an important route and a place to replenish supplies.
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute dedicates its permanent exhibitions to the past, present and future of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people. A living cultural village adds to the experience during the summer months. Visitors can learn to set up a tipi or use an atlatl, a spear-throwing device. The exhibitions offer a broad perspective across time, while the seasonal village program adds hands-on cultural activities.
The Pendleton Round-Up also brings together an event and culture. Held annually during the second week of September, it maintains a strong Indigenous presence, including traditional dances, a tipi village and a tribal market. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the specific event dates.
Museums Spanning Everyday Life, Agriculture and Hydropower
The Umatilla Museum features numerous artifacts and displays on local history, including information about the construction of McNary Dam. The Heritage Station Museum focuses on other topics: its buildings include a one-room schoolhouse, the Fix family cabin and Pendleton’s historic 1909 train depot. The exhibition galleries also cover military history, music, the Oregon Trail and notable figures from the region.
The Frazier Farmstead Museum preserves an agricultural complex that illustrates rural life in Umatilla County around the turn of the 20th century. Near Milton-Freewater, the William S. Frazier Farmstead comprises seven functionally related buildings and approximately six acres of pastureland. Together, the themed exhibitions and the historic farm complex offer different ways to explore regional history.
Water Landscapes and Outdoor Trails
The McNary Wildlife Nature Area is on the south shore of Lake Umatilla, near Columbia River Mile 291. McNary Dam has three boat ramps with a total of four lanes. The Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center offers audiovisual programs and talks about salmon and hydropower—two topics that add to the perspectives on nature and energy production.
The Pendleton River Parkway runs along the dam, close to the south bank of the Umatilla River. The trail is non-motorized and has an accessible paved surface. Umatilla, Oregon, is also home to the Big River Golf Course, on the Columbia River. These activities have different focuses: a riverside trail, a golf course on the Columbia River, and information about salmon and hydropower.
Markets, Regional Products and Overnight Stays
The Umatilla Saturday Market & Concert Series brings together local vendors, fresh produce, handmade goods, food and live entertainment. Offerings may vary by date. A description published in 2021 presents the Whisky & Rocks Farm Loop as a self-guided tour through Umatilla County. It mentions tastings and homemade products from winemakers, distillers, brewers, farmers, cheesemakers and chocolatiers. Some stops may vary by season or operate by appointment, so check the conditions at your chosen stop before planning your visit.
For an overnight stay in a distinctive setting, Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area has a duplex cabin and six rustic log cabins. The campground there is also the starting point for a horseback riding trail that runs behind the park. Check cabin availability when making your plans. This lets you prioritize culture, history and outdoor activities according to your interests, without having to combine them into a fixed itinerary.
Explore more destinations: Pendleton, Hermiston, Umatilla, Milton-Freewater, Wasco, Yamhill County, Polk County, Clackamas.
Go to the main travel overview: Oregon.
