Minam river lodge

• For us, the point of getting to Minam River Lodge is to stay there  (we have backpacked in both times, with is 8.5 miles one-way.  With tired legs, we enjoy lounging there for a few nights before making the hike back out.)

• Eat (the highlight of the day is each meal)

• Morning Yoga

• Sauna

• Lounging at the River in the lounge chairs

• Nap in the hammocks

• "Cookie O'Clock" (Tyler has lovingly named the time of day the chefs put out fresh-baked cookies)

• Read

• Play games

• Day hikes

• Garden tour

• Photography

• Consider turning off technology all together :)

• The food IS incredible!  The chefs go into the garden each day and plan their menu around what is fresh.

• At dinner, the chef describes where everything was sourced.  There is a wide variety of culinary influence.  You can read about the chef on the website.​

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An example of few of our favorite meals:

• Lunch: Curried chicken quinoa salad with red bell pepper, parsley, chives, shallot, and golden raisons; roasted carrot dill hummus with pickled carrots, parsnips and sliced almonds; sourdough flatbread; lemon kombucha

• Dinner: Strawberry, blue cheese, almond salad with vinaigrette; whole wheat sourdough + salted butter; duck fat fingerling potatoes in a rosemary roulade; New York Strip Steak with fermented garlic/ black truffle sauce; broccolini; ricotta pound cake with lemoncella drizzle, mascarpone and raspberries with sable cookie.

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt, homemade granola and fresh blueberry, blackberry + strawberry; Pancakes with strawberry butter, sausage, eggs, pineapple + oranges

• Cookie: Chocolate Chip Sourdough

We have stayed in both the cabins and lodge

• The cabins and canvas tents are dog-friendly.  We stayed in the Treehouse Cabin, which was right next to the lodge.  It was quiet with Pendleton vibes and really nice pine scented bathroom products.  Next time we stay with the dogs, we'd like to try the Sabai Cabin, as it is the furthest away and is directly on the river.

• In the lodge, we stayed in the Eagle Cap Suite with panoramic windows overlooking the mountains and a nice copper soaking tub.  It is a beautiful suite.  The tricky part was privacy, as the window coverings don't close all the way easily. ​

• Our friends have stayed in the canvas tents and enjoy the clamping experience and noted the bath houses were very nice.

The Hike

• 8.5 miles one-way.   It is mostly shaded and is a pretty hike.  It is mostly downhill the way there and uphill the way back.  It helps to spend the night in La Grande to get an early start on the hike.  We left the trailhead at 8:15am and arrived just before lunch.

• We recommend bringing hiking poles!  Your knees will thank you.

• If you are hiking with dogs, be aware of mud and horse manure along the way.  There are multiple spots where the dogs can dunk in the river, which they loved.

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Food

• We typically got one of the regular fare and light fare for breakfast and shared so we could try everything!  

• The food price is in addition to the stay, but it is well worth it!

• We were able to request a granola bowl the morning we hiked out, as we were leaving earlier than the typical breakfast time.

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No Cell Service/ Internet

• Be prepared that you won't have service here.  This is truly the best part, as no one can bother you.  You can provide the phone number and/or email of the lodge for emergencies back home. 

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Be prepared with bug spray and sunscreen (although the lodge has some if you forget)