Ontario (pop. 11,000) is located on the Oregon side of the Snake River, which forms the border with Idaho. The largest city in the Western Treasure Valley, Ontario is popular with visitors from the Idaho side because there's no Oregon sales tax, but in addition to shopping perks, the town also sits at a crossroads for local attractions, both cultural and scenic. The prairie here yields russet potatoes, onions, sugar beets, and other agriculture, while nearby are striking geologic formations hidden away in this remote countryside.
Cattle once kicked up dust dragging weather-worn wagons behind as they rattled through Ontario, the first stop on the Oregon stretch of the Oregon trail, and though the pioneers are long gone and the days of arduous immigration overland replaced by easier transportation methods, this area retains a number of sights associated with their passing. Venture southwest of Vale to survey the route followed by old wagon ruts as it winds down from Keeney Pass (an Oregon Trail Historic Site), or take a moment to break your journey at the rest stop off I-84, Farewell Bend, where pioneers once paused in preparation for final push to the Willamette Valley. Try some adventuring of your own on a foray into the relatively rugged river-carved region to the south, enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest near Baker City (to the northwest) or the Blue Mountains.
Ontario is located just off I-84, about halfway between Portland and Salt Lake City. To learn more about Ontario, select an area of interest from the links on the left.
