Featured Businesses
Heppner, OR
Heppner is a city in, and the county seat of, Morrow County, Oregon, United States. As of 2010, the population was 1,291. Native Americans lived and traveled along the land between the Columbia Gorge and the Blue Mountains for more than 10,000 years prior to European-American settlement. Ancient petroglyphs have been found approximately 45 miles (72 km.) north of Heppner in Irrigon and Boardman. The small, frontier town of Heppner, located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon, has a rich history of Native American culture, Oregon Trail settlements, agricultural land, and industry. It continues to be the generational home of many Swedish, German, and Irish immigrant families.
The city of Heppner lies about 50 miles south of the Columbia River snuggled against the foothills of the Blue Mountains in north eastern Oregon. Highway 74, also called the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, winds south from Interstate 84 through Ione, Lexington and Heppner. Rolling hills rising to meet the mountains on the east offer a beautiful view while canyons, rivers and scattered farms also contribute to the picturesque drive. Beyond Heppner, Highway 74 leads into the Blue Mountains and to the towns of Ukiah and La Grande, earning Heppner the name “Gateway to the Blues”. Heppner was incorporated in 1887 and is the largest of three communities in the Willow Creek Valley. Most of our residents are employed in agriculture, government, timber and manufacturing.
Recreation opportunities abound in Heppner and the surrounding area. With an elevation of 1800 and a location in the foothills, the weather and climate are milder and access to the forest and lakes are only a short distance away. Camping opportunities are plentiful. Elk, deer and bear make the Heppner area a popular destination for hunters. Pheasant, chukar, Hungarian partridge, dove, turkey and quail are the favorite game birds in the region. Fishermen will find a haven in the region surrounding Heppner. Willow Creek Reservoir is home to several fish species including trout, bass, crappie and catfish. Additionally, four streams meet at Heppner. Children love to fish in Willow Creek as it meanders through town. Penland Lake, Cutsforth Park and Ansom Wright Park also provide nearby fishing opportunities while the Columbia River, to the north, contains salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, walleye and other game fish.
The Willow Creek Water Park offers fun summertime activities to people of all ages without having to leave town.
Winter recreation lovers will find opportunity to enjoy the outdoors during colder months. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are favorite wintertime activities for locals. Numerous trails in the Umatilla National Forest provide plenty of opportunities for adventure and scenic vistas.
