Valley Sights
About this trip...
Enjoy this peaceful pedal through a wide open valley at the base of the towering Wallowa Mountains.
With lots of fresh air, and a good possibility of wildlife sightings this trip is an amazing scenic adventure.
Your trip begins with an awesome Wallowa River crossing and then you'll stop for your professional souvenir photo
with an amazing mountain backdrop. Next you'll venture into an area flanked by dense pine forest.
Beyond the forest the rails lead you into wide open pasture land with farm animals and vast open views.Your return trip provides some of the most breathtaking unobstructed views of the majestic Wallowa Mountains around.
Finally, pickup your included souvenir photo print and check out our other goodies in our depot.
💡 Important Tips
• Every Railrider in Joseph features a pedal electric assist system for use on the uphill return leg of the trip. It is used for everyone and is a standard and part of the ride.
You'll cruise back at a gentle 7 mph. Our electric assist system allows guests of varying fitness levels to enjoy this trip and requires minimal physical exertion.*Please Note:To help condense our trips as well as to ensure the most comfortable and enjoyable experienceas possible all of our departure times may not be available every day.
with an amazing mountain backdrop. Next you'll venture into an area flanked by dense pine forest. Beyond the forest the rails lead you into wide open pasture land with farm animals and vast open views.Your return trip provides some of the most breathtaking unobstructed views of the majestic Wallowa Mountains around.
Finally, pickup your included souvenir photo print and check out our other goodies in our depot.
💡 Important Tips
• Every Railrider in Joseph features a pedal electric assist system for use on the uphill return leg of the trip. It is used for everyone and is a standard and part of the ride.You'll cruise back at a gentle 7 mph. Our electric assist system allows guests of varying fitness levels to enjoy this trip and requires minimal physical exertion.*Please Note:To help condense our trips as well as to ensure the most comfortable and enjoyable experienceas possible all of our departure times may not be available every day.
Review the following prior to booking
Pairs will sit on Tandem Cars together
Families or groups of 3 or 4 adults may select a Quad Car if available. Groups with children ages 1-7 should also explore our Jump Seat options
No Animals Permitted
There is no safe way to transport an animal onboard a Railrider.It is also strictly prohibited in our use contract with the Railroad, so ultimately it's out of our handsLocal Pet Boarding
Groups larger than two will need to book multiple Railriders or a Quad Car
We do not hold seats for onsite booking or overflow. If your group has not reserved the proper configuration we may not have space available to accommodate everyone
Children ages 16 and up may ride on their own Railrider
A responsible adult must be present on the trip
Safety Reminder: There is a 300lb / 136kg weight limit per each seat.
This is a limitation of our equipment and to ensure your safety it is a rule we cannot bend
Review car / seating options
Choose the car(s) and/or seats (if needed)
to accommodate your whole party
Choose date, time, & book trip below
Follow these steps to book your trip
1. Review car / seating options
2. Choose the car(s) and/or seats (if needed)
to accommodate your whole party
3. Choose date, time, & book trip below
No discount for empty seats. Lap riding is not permitted unless it's an infant secured in a chest carrier.
2-Seat Tandem Car - $80
(8 available per trip)
The sports coupe of our fleet is great for pairs of any combo, they may be pedaled by a single rider too
At least 1 guest age 16+ must be able to pedal to operate the assist
Each seat has 2 cup holders and a lap seat belt, there is room for a backpack or soft cooler
Most Children 8+ can reach, age 3 - 7 ride without pedaling
Your infant car seat may be belted onto these seats, infants up to 1 year may also ride in a chest carrier for free
Jump Seats can turn a Tandem Car into a 3 or 4 seat car for guests with children, see Jump Seat for more details
4-Seat Quad Car - $140
(2 available per trip)
With 4 seats and 4 sets of pedals this is ideal for families with children, groups of friends, or odd numbered parties
Most children 8+ can reach, age 3 - 7 ride without pedaling
Your infant car seat may be belted onto these seats, infants up to 1 year may also ride in a chest carrier for free
Each seat has 2 cup holders and a lap seat belt
Luggage space is limited, e.g. we can fit four backpacks on board and that's about it. (bags with straps work well)
1 guest 16+ must be able to pedal to operate the assist
Very important:
Quad Cars have a max weight limit of 1000 lbs / 453 kg,
Jump Seats cannot be put onto Quad Cars
Jump Seat - $20
(6 available per trip)
Non-Pedaling add on seat for use on Tandem Cars only,
for Children ages 1 - 7Add up to 2 Jump Seats per Tandem Car
5-point or lap style seat belt depending on child size
Very Important:
Jump Seats can only be put onto Tandem Cars, not Quads
VIP Seat - $40
(1 available per trip)
It's great for single riders or odd numbered groups if our Quad Cars aren't available.
↓ click question to expand answer ↓
The best time of day to ride all depends on you and your group and the temperatures and amounts of sun you enjoy.
8 am
Typically one of the cooler rides of the day, it will offer some shaded areas to take brief breaks if needed. This time may have some more wildlife than others due to cooler temperatures. During the rainy season this time may be more wet than others.
11 am
This ride will typically be warm with nearly full sun most parts of the season. It’s a great time to go and most guests find it enjoyable but you’ll need to come prepared for sun exposure with both proper hydration and sun protection.
2 pm
On paper the weather station might say it’ll be a few degrees warmer than our 11 am trip and that may be true but it typically doesn’t feel like it. Actually this trip tends to offer up some shaded areas for brief breaks and our summer breeze usually kicks up during this trip making for an enjoyable time to ride.
5 pm
This time can be very special. You’ll experience cooler temperatures as the sun makes its way toward the horizon. It’s a great time for photography as the lighting changes can create dramatic shadows and shoots of sunlight. It can be a good time to spot wildlife as things cool down. During the rainy season this time may be more wet than others.
Rescheduling
Booking changes must be made at least 48 hours prior to your trip or your booking will remain as is.
Cancellations
For Small Groups (less than 8 guests)
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours (48 hours for Minam Trips) prior to your trip to receive a refund.
For Large Groups (8 or more)
Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours (72 hours for Minam Trips) prior to your trip to receive a refund.
Cancellations made inside of these windows will be treated as a same day cancellation and may (upon approval) receive a credit in the form of a gift card minus (-) previously paid booking fees and a 15% cancellation fee. See below for additional same day cancellation rescheduling options.
Late Arrivals – Same Day Cancellations – Same Day Changes (Joseph)
We operate on a set schedule and setup our trips for our bookings on hand. Your instructed arrival time allows for check-in, safety orientation, and seat adjustments. We cannot wait, we will leave at our scheduled time. We hate to have be blunt but tardiness has caused us a lot of issues. Same day cancellations / Same Day Trip changes are very costly for our company and will be subject to the same terms as late arrivals.
Communication is Key
If you will not make it on time but have contacted us prior to your scheduled arrival time: We will do our best to fit your party onto another departure time during your visit. This rescheduling will result in a 15% surcharge. If we cannot find another time that works, you will receive a gift card in the amount of your booking less previously paid booking fess as well as the addition of a 15% rescheduling fee.
Late Arrivals – Same Day Cancellations – Same Day Trip Changes (Minam Trips)
We operate on a set schedule and setup our trips for our bookings on hand. Your instructed arrival time allows for check-in, safety orientation, and seat adjustments. We cannot wait, we will leave at our scheduled time. We hate to have be blunt but tardiness has caused us a lot of issues. Same day cancellations / Same Day Trip changes are very costly for our company and will be subject to the same terms as late arrivals.
Communication is key
If you are running late or need to cancel / make a change day of and you contact us prior to your scheduled arrival time: There is no signal in Minam so we cannot notify your guide that you are running behind or won’t be attending. If you don’t make it in time or won’t be attending your options are limited. There is generally only one trip per day. If you miss your trip we can try to reschedule you for another day during your visit if space is available, rescheduling would result in a 15% fee added to your booking. We can also attempt to possibly fit you in on a Valley Sites trip out of Joseph that same day of your trip, there will be no refunds for ticket price differences if you choose to switch to our Valley Sites option. If we cannot find another time that works, you will receive a gift card in the amount of your booking, less previously paid booking fess, as well as the addition of a 15% rescheduling / cancellation fee.
No-Call No-Show
If you simply do not show up by the time your trip departs or at all you are
NOT ELIGIBLE for a refund.
Booking Errors
If you make a booking error and overbook your trip you will not receive a refund for unused cars/seats. These errors cost our company potential guests who may have wanted to go and couldn’t. Underbooking We do not hold cars aside for walkups. If you underbook for what your party needs there is a likely possibility that we won’t have enough space for everyone to ride. We will not refund the items already booked if this happens.
Extenuating Circumstances
We are a family run human company, extenuating circumstances will be addressed on a case by case basis.
We understand there is sometimes a need to cancel or adjust bookings, that’s life, but things like same day cancellations, late arrivals, and no shows often prevent others who may want to go from having an opportunity to do so, or makes others wait when they shouldn’t have to. We try to keep our policies fair but we also strive to limit these occurrences as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
We reserve the right to cancel outings for any reason we feel necessary. If this happens we will make every effort to work with you to find an alternative time or date for you to enjoy Railriding. If we cannot make that happen we will issue a full refund.
We will operate in light rain. We have had many fun trips on days with predicted rains. The weather changes rapidly and much of the predicted precipitation tends to stick to the mountains.
Inclement Weather Procedures
In the event of poor weather that is expected to change rapidly we will start with a 15 minute delay and continue with delays in 15 minute intervals up to one hour until it clears. If it does’t improve we will be forced to cancel and attempt to reschedule the trip.
Weather Refunds
We reserve the right to cancel outings for any reason we deem necessary. If this happens we will make every effort to work with you to find an alternative time or date for you to enjoy Railriding. If we cannot make that happen we will issue a full refund.
We are very cautious when it comes to our guest and guide safety. However, if we deicide that we will operate a trip in weather conditions that you don’t want to ride in and you choose to cancel due to these weather conditions you will receive a credit in the form of a gift card. This applies to an at the time of the trip decision. All other cancellations or changes will be subject to our standard terms.
We generally are able to operate in most conditions with the exception of the following:
- Temperatures above 103 degrees
- Thunderstorms, any sign of lighting
- Heavy rain (not very enjoyable and we loose traction)
- Wet conditions in weather colder that 45 degrees (not enjoyable)
- Heavy fog
- Smokey conditions where the air quality index is above 150: Unhealthy level or higher
- Extreme winds or dust storms
- A combination of these at varying degrees of intensity
Essentially it comes down to ensuring the safety of everyone and making sure your Railriding experience is memorable for all the right reasons.
Please refer to our Policies page for weather related cancellation details and more.
Prohibited Items
- Alcohol
- Hard sided / foam coolers
- Animals
- Sour attitudes
- Frowns
- Loud speakers (headphones are fine)
Prohibited Activities
The following activities are strictly prohibited on all Railriding grounds including our parking areas, restrooms, and anywhere along the trips.
- No Smoking / Vaping (we traverse high fire risk areas on all of our trips)
- No Alcohol or Drug Use
- No playing Loud Music
- Please try to keep profanity in check
Railriding is a family friendly activity and these restrictions are in place for guest safety, the safety of the environments we explore, and to ensure all guests enjoy themselves in a fun, safe, and welcoming environment.
In accordance with the Wallowa County Railroad Authority rules as well as those set forth by our insurance carrier, we do not allow animals of any kind on our trips.
Our pets are family too and we wish they could go but it’s just not a safe activity for animals.
Don't be late, Arrive 25 minutes prior to your departure time
Completing your waiver ahead of time expedites
check-in and reduces touch points in our depot.
Trip Specific Questions
↓ click question / item to expand ↓
Pretty much everyone. We have had guests ranging in age from newborns to in their nineties.
We have a 300lb weight limit per seat.
The best time of day to ride all depends on you and your group and the temperatures and amounts of sun you enjoy.
8 am
Typically one of the cooler rides of the day, it will offer some shaded areas to take brief breaks if needed. This time may have some more wildlife than others due to cooler temperatures. During the rainy season this time could be more wet than others.
11 am
This ride will typically be warm with nearly full sun most parts of the season. It’s a great time to go but you’ll need to come prepared for sun exposure.
2 pm
On paper the weather station might say it’ll be a few degrees warmer than our 11 am trip. Actually this trip typically offers up some shaded areas for brief breaks and our summer breeze usually kicks up during this trip making for an enjoyable time to ride.
5 pm
In the past it was a rare event to ride this late in the day but there is good reason for why we added this option into our permanent 2020 schedule. This time can be very special. You’ll experience cooler temperatures as the sun makes its way toward the horizon. It’s a great time for photography as the lighting changes creating dramatic shadows and shoots of sunlight. It can be a good time to spot wildlife as things cool down. However during the rainy season this time may be more wet than others.
All times of the year are great. But if you have certain sensitivities to rainy weather, heat, cold, or crowds you may want heed this advice.
Weather
The beginning and end of season may be rainy. If you come in May, early June, Late September and October expect there to be a higher chance or rainy days. We do have some pretty fun trips in light rain but if potentially getting wet and sometimes cold and wet isn’t your thing then you might want to work with us to find a dry day to ride.
On the flip side, late June, July, and August is typically dry and warm/hot. We usually only get a stretch of days up to a week of temps north of 100 degrees.
Sensitivities to Heat / Sun
If traveling during our summer months we encourage you ride our morning or evening trips. Always remember to hydrate and use sun protection.
Sensitivities to Cold
We have scheduled our season with this in mind offering only our mid-day trips during the cooler parts of the season so the trips are more comfortable. However there are sometimes some cool / cold days that sneek in in May, early June, and again in September. We encourage you to book during the middle of the day if cold is uncomfortable during these times of year.
Crowds
The beginning and end months of our season typically have less people on our trips if crowds are a concern. However we never have more than 30 people on our attraction.
Bonus Tip
The early months of the season offer spring blooms, and the later months offer fall colors both of which are a little extra icing on an already awesome slice of cake.
Start
You will depart as a group at your selected departure time. You will generally get some space in between Railriders as youtravel between towns and enjoy a peaceful brisk downhill cruise.
Don’t forget to stop and look at the five road crossings.
Midpoint
At our midpoint you may carefully get off of your Railrider. This is a great time to stretch your legs and use the restroom if need be. Please stay near the Railriders so that you will be ready to board after your guide rotates them for your return trip. This is a great time let your guide know if you need a seat adjustment.
Return Leg
This is where the grand views are! This is the “uphill” portion. It is a gentle yet consistent uphill grade back to Joseph. You’ll have your assist to give you a hand.
Don’t forget to stop and look at the five road crossings.
Home Base
Congratulations you made it! Checkout our souvenir shop and museum area in our office.
Don’t forget to share pictures and stories of your adventure with friends and family.
Now it’s time to decide which trip to conquer next. They are all special in their own way.
Storage is limited but there is room for some essentials.
*remember the more you bring the more you pedal
Essentials you should bring
- Water / Sports Drink (every seat has at least one cup holder that will fit a standard 20 ounce water bottle)
- Appropriate Outerwear (sweater, jacket, enclosed shoes, etc.) Please research your riding conditions so you come prepared, Joseph nights can certainly get chilly.
- Picture Taking Apparatus (Camera, cellphone, goPro, whatever you have if it can take pictures in low light you might spot something worth capturing)
We offer drinks and snacks for sale at our Joseph departure site at reasonable rates.
Nice things to have
- Smiles
- Fun stories
- A keen eye for wildlife
- Cash/card for souvenirs
- A treat for your guide (we can process credit card tips if needed)
💡 Tips for a fun trip
It can still be quite cool here in Wallowa County in May and June and once September comes around it starts again so a jacket or windbreaker may be helpful.
Your brief midpoint stop in Enterprise is a great place to stretch your legs and use the restroom if need be.
Your guide will turn around the Railriders and will stagger start everyone to start of your return journey.
During the day, Joseph has all sorts of services; adventure, shopping, food, drink, public restrooms, parks, motels, lodges, BnBs, RV parks, and more.
Need Help Finding Lodging? CLICK HERE
Things to see and do in Joseph.
There is a lot to do in Joseph, we’ll offer some of our favorites.
- Ride with Joseph Branch Railriders, of course.
- Take out a one-of-a-kind Glass Bottom Kayak with JO Paddle.
- Soak in the Joseph main street Artwalk. Larger than life bronze statues occupy nearly every corner throughout town.
- Explore the many wonderful shops and restaurants on Main Street offering everything from souvenirs to fine art and dining.
- Visit Wallowology a science and natural history funseum that will immerse you in the natural history of Wallowa county.
- Ready for more adventure? Seek out Winding Waters River Expeditions. There are thrills around every bend when you venture out on white water. They also offer fishing tours and rent recreational equipment.
- Joseph is surrounded by some of the most astounding nature one can dream of. Visit the Forest Services’ Wallowa Mountains Office for loads of info on great places to hike, camp, and explore.
- Wallowa Lake State Park is a great place to explore, you can also enjoy the lake on the North side at the county park / boat launch.
- History buff? Check out the Wallowa County Museum and the Maxville Heritage Center for a glimpse of Wallowa county past.
- Wallowa Lake, spend time there, don’t miss it if you can help it.
- Also don’t miss Joseph City Park. The brand new playground was hand built by the community of Joseph. We’re super proud of it and we welcome you to enjoy it with us. There is a splash pad too that operates in the summer which is a great way to cool down.
That’s a lot to soak in, but that’s just scratching the surface of what Joseph and Wallowa County has to offer. Visit the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce for more places of interest.
There is no safe way to transport an animal onboard a Railrider.
It is also strictly prohibited in our use contract with the Railroad, so ultimately it’s out of our hands.
We generally are able to operate in most conditions with the exception of the following:
- Temperatures above 103 degrees
- Thunderstorms, any sign of lighting
- Heavy rain (not very enjoyable and we loose traction)
- Wet conditions in weather colder that 45 degrees (not enjoyable)
- Heavy fog
- Smokey conditions where the air quality index is above 150: Unhealthy level or higher
- Extreme winds or dust storms
Essentially it comes down to ensuring the safety of everyone and making sure your Railriding experience is memorable for all the right reasons.
Please refer to our Policies page for weather related cancellation details and more.
- Arrive in Joseph See Map 25 minutes early if you booked online and signed waivers
- Arrive 30 minutes early if you have not purchased tickets or signed your waivers
- Visit restroom if needed
- Provide your name to crew member
- Sign digital waiver if you did not sign online
- Listen to safety briefing
- Get seat adjusted
- Load your gear
- Have fun!
Road Crossings
This trip requires you to cross five active road crossings.
You must come to a complete stop and look both ways before pedaling across.
We do not have the right-of-way so this needs to be taken seriously.
Hydration
Be sure to begin hydrating a couple hours prior to your trip.
Bring along some water or sports drinks.
Sun Protection
The sun can be very intense at times in Wallowa County.
We urge you for your comfort and safety to please use some form of sun protection.
We recommend sunscreen, large hats, & sunglasses, a sun umbrella.
Stings & Allergies
This is the outdoors and we have bees, wasps, hornets, as well as a variety of grasses & hay.
If you have a serious allergy please come prepared with your EpiPen or medication if needed and notify your guide of your allergy prior to riding.
Seat Belts
A lap seat belt must be worn whenever your Railrider is in motion.
