In January of 2020, we booked a horseback ride to the Minam River Lodge for this past June. We…read morecommunicated with Eagle Cap before the scheduled trip and they informed us that the trail had some downed trees and snow and was impassable. No problem, we made other arrangements to fly to the River Lodge instead. Eagle Cap collected a $400 deposit in January for my family's trail rides to and from the lodge. They have not refunded me my deposit. I followed up many times, they said that they would provide me the refund when they had the money. They have stopped responding to my emails and I never received the refund. Eagle Cap is not trustworthy. Don't give them a deposit!

My buddy and I were fortunate enough to draw our spring bear tags for 2019. Having put a few years…read moreon ourselves since our last bear pursuit, we didn't wish to pack our own gear and camp into the Eagle Cap Wilderness on our backs again. I contacted Wes & Molly at Eagle Cap Wilderness Outfitters and they put a customized pack in/pack out package together for us. Due to the late winter and excessive snow amounts that accumulated in March, we were forced to deviate from our original plan and come up with other options to our preferred site. Molly didn't miss a beat and came up with a new plan to get us where we wanted to go. The riding stock were excellent and the pack mules did their job getting us in. We ended up filling our bear tags early, so I climbed a high ridge, got a hold of Molly and she was able to come get us two days early. Molly packed our gear, camp and bears out without a hitch. I also wish to say, Molly did a great job of packing up our gear and keeping our rifles safe and ready to go. I would also like to state that due to the late winter/excessive snow, our rides in and out were longer than expected, but Molly didn't miss a beat and got us in and out safely. Being a former outfitter myself, I know the small things that go into being a great outfitter. Eagle Cap Wilderness Outfitters does all those little necessary things and they run an excellent service. I have already told Molly that if we are fortunate enough to draw our spring bear tags for next year, we will want them to take us back in. It was a memorable experience in many ways. Beautiful country, visiting old stomping grounds (harvested my first bear in the area over 20 years ago), and enjoying time with my buddy. Thanks to Eagle Cap Wilderness Outfitters, our time going in and coming out added to those memories......Brett Jantze (May 2019)

The staff is beyond exceptional, the food was amazing. The views were so surreal. Highly recommend!…read moreWe were offered dietary choices for a gluten free member in our group and the breakfast and dinner was cooked to perfection. All the staff were so kind and accommodating A few things to note for future visits: It's deep in the woods so if you are not used to being surrounded by flies, critters and no cell services or WiFi in your cabin this won't be for you.. Call ahead so you know if all the amenities are available or still under construction, they are working to improve this location and it's a beautiful spot, clean and updated but currently under construction, call ahead they are honest It's not a resort and nothing like fishing and lakes are close you have to hike in and or drive out a ways to get to your location, so if hiking and adventuring isn't your thing this won't be for you Will come back to see all the new improvements and enjoy a pack ride and home style food ;)

I would give them more stars but for one really important thing that was missed in our cabin -…read morewindow screens. Being August and not having A/C in the cabin, we had to have the windows open all night. This meant all manner of moths/insects swarmed into the cabin when any lights were on. The hosts were gracious and friendly. The food basic but filling and good. I hope the owners will take my comment seriously and install screens on the windows (at least in the summertime)

Take in the valley and rest your head at this cozy spot. It's quite the storybook "farm" setting…read more Lyndall (and Ray) are the warmest of hosts. The conversation is delightful and breakfast was fantastic (eggs, sausage, cinnamon roll in toast form and fruit). You'll find the house clean and comfortable. Horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats only add to the charm. Find comic relief in the form of a fanciful feathered rooster! I would definitely like to stay here again the next time I'm in the area.

Lyndall, the owner of Willow Creek Horse Bed & Breakfast is simply wonderful. She cooks up a mean…read morebreakfast, she is positively charming. She knows a lot about the area and even called a nearby tourist attraction to make sure we could get in. She has horses, dogs, cats, chickens. When you stay at Willow Creek Horse Bed & Breakfast you feel like you've got away from the hustle and bustle of normal life. We stayed there while visiting our daughter who attends EOU in La Grande. It was only a 15 minute drive away from the campus. I intend to make Lyndall's place our home away from home while visiting our daughter each time we go to La Grande. My husband says, he wishes we had a horse to bring, so we could have enjoyed some trail riding. One side note, the stairs up to the bedrooms are steep, so if you have bad knees, this may be a challenge. Otherwise, check it out, you'll thoroughly enjoy your stay. www.willowcreekhorsebnb.com

Hells Canyon is what you make of it. If you imagine it to be a gateway to hell, then that is…read moreexactly what it will be: grueling trails through rugged country, hostile heat and cold, intrusive plants and animals (poison ivy, ticks, rattlesnakes), and endlessly long and steep days followed by eternally long nights. If you approach it differently, with an open mind and an expansive heart, then Hells Canyon will be like the Iceland of the American West: beauty instead of brutality; green fields, verdant wildflowers, snow-topped ridges, and cascading mountain streams. Birds will sing and winds will blow; stars will shine brightly at night and you will stare in perpetual awe at one of America's most pristine wilderness areas. But the greater truth is that BOTH of these places exist - the Hells Canyon of nightmares, and the Hells Canyon of dreams. You simply have to find a way during your visit here to reconcile these opposing visions into an integrated whole. If you can do that - the beauty and and the beast coexisting happily together - then you will emerge from Hells Canyon a transformed person with a deeper sense of self and an enhanced appreciation for the diversity of the wider world in an appropriately sized package (750,000 acres, for starters). And if you can survive the ordeal, you will exit the canyon happier, heartier, and healthier than when you left - like Orpheus in the Underworld, except that in this particular case, you won't feel the need to look back. That, in essence, is what Hells Canyon means to me. And to you, if you are ready for the experience. May is the best of all possible months for visiting the canyon by foot or mule: you'll likely enter using Freezeout Trailhead (30 miles on asphalt and gravel roads from Joseph, OR), or Dug Bar, a long high-clearance road to the North (downstream). Bear in mind that the Idaho side of the canyon - the Seven Devils Wilderness - is still deep in melting snow, and is not accessible until the summer, so you'll need to enter from the Oregon side if you want to see the wildflowers and the impossibly green meadows that carpet the canyon in springtime. Plan for 3-5 days, choose the High Trail (#1751) as your main route, and don't descend to the Snake River unless you are prepared for thorns, poison ivy, and brush. Sluice Creek and Saddle Creek make good access points if you choose this path (Temperance Creek does not). If you are a first-time visitor, I'd recommend staying on the High Trail the whole time. Head up, down, and then North until you are tired, find a campsite, then return back over Freezeout Saddle when you have had your fill of what the canyon has to offer. The climb over Freezeout Saddle is epic: steep, switchbacked, with expansive views of the Seven Devils and of the distant Eagle Cap wilderness to the West. On a clear day, with lupines, Indian paintbrush, and arrowleaf balsamroot blooming, this is the most beautiful place you ever will see - as untouched and unvarnished a natural landscape as you are likely to find in the continental U.S. This is hard country. You need to be prepared. That "hell" part isn't a joke. But it's also America's grandest and most incredible canyon, end of story. If you are able to come, and it takes time, effort, and luck, then just do it! You'll emerge a different person than when you started, and that's something to treasure for years and decades to come.

So glad to have found this place on a camping trip to Ponderosa Campground! A professional business…read morewith extremely knowledgeable and experienced staff. I had the pleasure of having Baileigh as my guide on a solo trek to the viewpoint. Was like taking a ride with a great friend, and was the most fun I had on my trip to McCall. With a passion for horses that can not be measured combined with many years of experience, I always felt that I was in capable hands on the trail. Some of the best things come in small packages! My horse, Timmy, had a gentle temperament, and was very well behaved. Taking a horseback ride like this takes you back to a much simpler time that is both relaxing and exhilarating; quite a rare combination! Sky was able to fit me in without a reservation, since I had not known about the place in advance, and was very accommodating on short notice. Be sure to reserve in summer though! After having such a great experience, I plan to return to take a ride into a simpler time on each visit to McCall for camping!

Ya-Hoo is such a fun place and so great for a family or friends or individual ride. The owner is a…read moretrue blue cowgirl and everyone that works there, too! The horses are sweethearts and good for any level of rider (we had all in our group). Def recommend and great addition to fun things to do in Long Valley.

My husband and I wanted a wedding where we could explore and adventure while giving our families…read moretime to connect away from the distraction of phones and email. My expectations for the weekend were blown out of the water (literally) in the first ten minutes on the jet boat ride. I don't think we stopped smiling for 3 days. I can't imagine a more beautiful setting for a wedding if rivers and mountains hold a piece of your heart. The staff was incredibly fun and accommodating. Dax is the cutest 6 year old host you'll ever meet and I felt almost no stress before the wedding because I knew Joni had everything under control. If you want a wild jet boat ride, jump on Bucks boat ;) Mackay Bar is truly a hidden gem in Idaho. All of my friends and family are texting me that we forever ruined their expectation of a wedding. Sunset horseback rides, fishing, hiking and phenomenal food. I am forever grateful for our wedding weekend and Mackay Bar and we are plotting to get back there as soon as possible.

When your looking for an outfitter/guide service the most important question is "do I want to spend…read morea week with these folks?" With Mackay Bar I can tell you that the answer is a definitive yes! I could write a memoire but I'll keep this short and sweet; amazing accommodations and even better people. Do yourself a favor and save yourself some time, book Mackay Bar now.

We have stayed here several times in the past several years. The owners are absolutely amazing…read morepeople. I recommend you check this BNB out..

We stayed here for a family reunion and loved it. The owners are very friendly and took great care…read moreof us. The rooms, bathrooms and living area were very clean. There are lots of animals. We did lots of horseback riding on the beautiful local trails. The owners helped us book white water rafting, fishing, and jet boat rides. The food was great. Our whole family had a great time.