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Farewell Bend State Recreation Area, Ontario, OR

Photo: Staplegunther (David Jolley), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & Outdoors

Farewell Bend State Recreation Area

A desert riverside state park on Brownlee Reservoir with Oregon Trail history, boating, fishing, and campsites.

Ontario, OR

About Farewell Bend State Recreation Area

This Oregon state park sits on the shore of Brownlee Reservoir on the Snake River. Historic markers and displays explain its role on the Oregon Trail, where pioneers rested before leaving the river. Visitors can fish, boat, water ski, and use the day-use area, which includes a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, viewing deck, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball, basketball, and picnic spots. The park also has RV and tent campsites and two cabins, and it is a base for exploring the Snake River Water Trail. Wildlife such as deer, pronghorn, and eagles can be seen. Summer mosquitoes can be heavy, and drought has left some grass and trees dormant by late summer.

  • #snake-river
  • #oregon-trail
  • #brownlee-reservoir
  • #boating
  • #fishing

What's around here?

The closest stops to Farewell Bend State Recreation Area, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Four Rivers Cultural Center

    Under $25

    An 85,000 square foot cultural center in Ontario, Oregon with a museum, Japanese garden, art gallery and theater celebrating four cultures.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    23 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing

    Keeney Pass Interpretive Site

    Check prices

    A short hiking route on a preserved stretch of the Oregon Trail, with visible wagon ruts and interpretive exhibits.

    28 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums

    National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

    Under $25

    Bureau of Land Management interpretive center on hilltop Oregon Trail history near Baker City.

    43 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sports & Outdoors
    Outdoor Adventure

    AgVenture Trail

    No admission fee

    A self-guided, 40-mile farm-to-farm driving trail through Idaho's Snake River Valley starting in Caldwell.

    52 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors
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    Cascade Raft & Kayak

    $50+

    Whitewater rafting, kayaking, and zip line adventures on the Payette River near Boise.

    56 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Eagle Island State Park

    Check prices

    A 545-acre Idaho state park west of Boise with a man-made lake, a swimming beach, trails along the Boise River, and a disc golf course.

    60 mi awayMore like this

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