Valley Sights
Saturday: September 9th
Friday, September 15th
Saturday, September 16th
ATTENTION:
There is absolutely no smoking or use of anything that makes fire or sparks anywhere on our property. You are responsible if you start a fire.
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 electric assisted 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 Tip
Every Railrider in Joseph features pedal electric assist for use on the uphill return leg of the trip. It is a standard and part of the ride experience.
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 experience 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 electric assisted 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 Tip
Every Railrider in Joseph features pedal electric assist for use on the uphill return leg of the trip. It is a standard and part of the ride experience.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 experience 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 Child Seat options that can be added onto Tandem Cars
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
No Animals Permitted
On The Ride
There is no safe way to transport an animal onboard a Railrider.
We offer On-Site Dog Boarding so you can join us on our trips. If our On-Site Boarding is unavailable or your dog isn't a good fit here are someLocal Pet Boarding Options
On The Ride
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
Booking a trip in the next 7 days? Be sure to check the weather forecast.
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.
9 am
Typically one of the cooler rides of the day, it will offer some shaded areas along the way. 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.
12 pm
This can be a warmer time to ride but as long as you are prepared it can be very enjoyable. This trip tends to offer up some brief shaded areas and our summer breeze usually kicks up during this trip making for an enjoyable time to ride.
Use your umbrella for full time shade if needed.
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 you travel between towns and enjoy a peaceful brisk downhill cruise.
Don’t forget to make a complete stop and look at before crossing 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 stand clear of the Railriders so that your guide can safely rotate 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 make a complete stop and look at before crossing 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 off 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 strictly prohibited in our use contract with the Railroad to have an animal onboard in any capacity, this is out of our hands.
- Arrive in Joseph See Map 30 minutes early if you booked online and signed waivers
- Arrive 45 minutes early if you have not yet purchased tickets
- Visit restroom if needed
- Provide your name to crew member
- Sign paper 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.
No discount for empty seats. Lap riding is not permitted unless it's an infant secured in a chest carrier.
Railriding with Children? LEARN ABOUT SEATING OPTIONS
Car & Seating Options
2-Seat Tandem Car - $90
SOLD BY THE CAR
(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, ages 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
Add On Child Seats can turn a Tandem Car into a 3 or 4 seat car for guests with children, see Add On Child Seat for more details
2-Seat Tandem Car Add On Options:
Add On Child Seat - $40
FOR USE ON TANDEM CARS ONLY
(6 available per trip)
Non-Pedaling add on seat for use on Tandem Cars only,
for Children ages 1 - 7, REQUIRED for ages 1 & 2Add up to 2 Child Seats per Tandem Car Only
5-point or lap style seat belt depending on child size
Very Important:
Child Seats cannot be mounted on Quad Cars!
4-Seat Quad Car - $180
SOLD BY THE CAR
(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 cannot accept add on items. Quad Car total weight limit is 1000 lbs / 453 kg
Single Seat - $45
(1 available per trip)
It's great for single riders or odd numbered groups if our Quad Cars aren't available, the Single Seat guest may swap out at the midpoint so everyone in an odd numbered party gets a chance to ride with someone they know during half of the trip
Quad Car (Two Linked Tandems) $180
SOLD BY THE CAR
4 available per trip (depending on # of Tandems booked)
With 4 seats and 4 sets of pedals this is ideal for families with children, groups of friends, etc (not the greatest solution but still doable for odd numbered parties as there is more overall car weight)
At least 1 guest age 16+ must be on board the linked car set
Most children 8+ can reach, age 3 - 7 ride without pedaling or ages 1 - 7 may ride in an Add on Child Seat
Each seat has two cup holders and a lap seat belt
Luggage space is limited (backpacks or bags with straps work best)
How to Book:
Select the number of Quad Car (Two Linked Tandems) needed for your group, dates and times with availability will be presented on the calendar
Very important:
This version of a "Quad Car" can accept add on equipment.
On-Site Dog Boarding - $20
(4 available per trip, two large, two giant)
Giant Crate: Ideal for x-small to giant dogs, up to two dogs per crate, max total weight is 200 lbs / 91 kg
For extra comfort we recommend that you BYO dog bed and/or a favorite toy
Review expectations and policy before booking
Follow these steps to book your trip
Review car / seating options
Click "Book Now / Check Availability"
Pick your date & review available times
Choose the car(s) and/or seats (if needed)
to accommodate your entire party
click on "Continue Shopping" to add more items
Follow these steps to book your trip
1. Review car / seating options
2. Click "Book Now / Check Availability" Pick your date & review available times
3. Choose the car(s) and/or seats (if needed)
to accommodate your whole party
click "Continue Shopping" to book additional items
Please read about our Electric Assist prior to booking.
Arrive 30 minutes prior to your departure time, don't be late.
If you miss our safety briefing you will not be permitted to ride, this is a requirement of the railroad.
Review the Conditions & Risks of Railriding
Your party must agree to this during checkout
RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK
Policies in a nutshell
Short notice changes, last minute cancellations, late arrivals, & missed trips are costly to our small business, as a result we have simplified our polices.
*Important*
All changes, rescheduling, and cancellations made before departure are to be completed by the guest using your customer portal, the link is in your confirmation email, (look for the yellow ticket). This link is included in all other email correspondence as well.
Rescheduling
Date / time changes must be made at least 5 Days before departure. No schedule changes are permitted after that point in time.
Cancellations
Guest-initiated cancellations must be made at least 3 days (72 hours) before departure to receive a full refund to the original form of payment.
Cancellation requests made inside of this window up until 24 hours before departure must be requested via email to info@jbrailriders.com. These cancellations will be treated as a last-minute cancellation and you will receive a Railriding Credit in the form of a gift card minus (-) previously paid booking fees & an additional 15% cancellation fee. Refund gift cards will not expire and are fully transferable to another person. Guest initiated cancellations made within 24 hours of departure will NOT receive a refund.
If we decide it’s necessary to conduct a company-initiated trip cancellation for any reason at any time up to and at departure time guests will receive a full ticket value Railriding Credit less any booking fees. There will not be a cancellation fee for a company-initiated cancellation. Guests who have added Joseph Branch Trip Protection (JBTP) will receive a full ticket value refund back to their original form of payment, less the JBTP and booking fees.
Additional protection
Joseph Branch Trip Protection (JBTP)
During booking guests are offered the opportunity to add Joseph Branch Trip Protection (JBTP) to their booking for a small 10% fee. With JBTP, changes are permitted up until 12 hours before departure & cancellations made inside of the 72 hour window and at least 12 hours before departure will receive a full ticket value refund back to the original form of payment. Booking and JBTP fees will not be refunded.
Cancellation requests must be submitted via email to info@jbrailriders.com.
Cancellation requests within the 12 hour cutoff will not receive a refund regardless of the purchase of JBTP.
In the event of a company-initiated cancellation Guests with JBTP will receive a full ticket value refund back to their original form of payment, less the JBTP and booking fees.
Joseph Branch Trip Protection may be added to any purchase up to 30 days prior to departure. To add JBTP post purchase email info@jbrailriders.com. Include the name the booking was placed under, the booking id number if available, and an authorization to charge your card on file.
Emergency Changes / Cancellations
Communication is key, if you absolutely have to make a short notice change or cancellation, please contact us prior to your scheduled arrival time and we will discuss your options. We are a family run, human company, extenuating circumstances will be addressed on a case by case basis but we do encourage you to add trip protection to protect your investment.
Unforeseen Company Wide Closure
Rail bike companies rely on lots of moving parts and entities who must consistently shake hands for operations to run smoothly and for many aspects to run at all. Being such a rare entity makes this extra interesting and challenging.
In the event of a company wide closure we will make every effort to refund existing bookings and outstanding gift card balances. We will not be responsible or liable for any other costs, e.g. lodging, travel, loss of wages, etc.
If something like this would to happen we ask for your patience and understanding as this would mean the loss of our livelihood for our family.
Final Thoughts
We understand there is sometimes a need to adjust or cancel bookings, that’s life, but things such as last minute cancellations, late arrivals, and no shows often prevent others who may want to go from having an opportunity to do so. We try to keep our policies fair, but we also strive to limit these occurrences as much as possible. We are here if you need assistance rescheduling and may get you a gift card if you need to wait. We appreciate your understanding.
During booking guests are offered the opportunity to add Joseph Branch Trip Protection (JBTP) to their booking for a small 10% fee. With JBTP, changes are permitted up until 12 hours before departure & cancellations made inside of the 72 hour window and at least 12 hours before departure will receive a full ticket value refund back to the original form of payment. Booking and JBTP fees will not be refunded.
Cancellation requests must be submitted via email to info@jbrailriders.com.
Cancellation requests within the 12 hour cutoff will not receive a refund regardless of the purchase of JBTP.
In the event of a company-initiated cancellation Guests with JBTP will receive a full ticket value refund back to their original form of payment, less the JBTP and booking fees.
Joseph Branch Trip Protection may be added to any purchase up to 30 days prior to departure. To add JBTP post purchase email info@jbrailriders.com. Include the name the booking was placed under, the booking id number if available, and an authorization to charge your card on file.
Late Arrivals
Arrive at the time instructed. Late arrivals will be treated as a no show. If you are not present for our safety orientation you will not be permitted to ride. No exceptions. Your instructed arrival time is setup to allow time for check-in, safety orientation, and seat adjustments. There will be no refunds or rescheduling for late arrivals or missed trips.
No-Call No-Show
If you do not show up you are NOT ELIGIBLE for a refund or rescheduling.
Booking Errors
We make great efforts to make everything you need to know as clear as possible. Please take your time to read and book the correct equipment for your needs. If you need help reach out to us at info@jbrailriders.com
Over booking: If you overbook your trip you will not receive a refund for unused cars/seats. These errors cost us potential guests who may have wanted to go and couldn’t.
Under booking: We do not hold cars aside for walkups. If you under book for your seating needs, there is a likelihood that we won’t have enough space for everyone to ride. We will not refund the items already booked if this happens.
We reserve the right to maintain a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all our guests, and thus we reserve the right to refuse service to inattentive, disrespectful, or misbehaving guests without refund. Ignorance of and/or blatant disregard of our rules and expectations will not be tolerated.
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 conditions that are 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 doesn’t improve we will be forced to cancel and attempt to reschedule the trip.
Poor Condition Rain Check Gift Card Refund
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 ticket value refund via a Rain Check gift card*.
We are very cautious when it comes to our guest and guide safety. However, if we deicide that we will operate a trip in conditions that you don’t want to ride in and you choose to cancel due to those conditions you will receive a credit in the form of a Rain Check 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.
*You may receive a full ticket value refund back to the original form of payment if you elected to add Joseph Branch Trip Protection to your booking.
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 (any active precipitation) in weather colder that 45 degrees
- 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.
There is no safe way to transport an animal onboard a Railrider.
It is strictly prohibited in our use contract with the Railroad to have an animal onboard in any capacity, this is out of our hands.