Prairie City, OR

Prairie City is a small ranching town in eastern Oregon's high desert, home to about 615 people and serving as a gateway to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. The main route is US Highway 26, which connects to John Day 12 miles west and continues toward Idaho. From Portland, it's a 250-mile drive through Mount Hood National Forest, while Boise visitors travel about 180 miles via US-26 and I-84. The town's restored 1910 railroad depot now houses a museum showcasing local logging and ranching history.