33 – Keeney Pass Interpretive Site
From the National Park Service:
Keeney Pass was named for the early western pioneer, Jonathan Keeney. In 1831, at the age of 19, Keeney left Missouri to explore the Rocky Mountains. He joined Jim Bridger of the American Fur Company and spent his life trapping and trading throughout the west. Thousands of emigrants on the Oregon Trail used this pass to reach the fertile farmlands that laid further west. The countryside of Keeney Pass has largely been unchanged since this time.
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management as an interpretive site, it offers a 2/3-mile round-trip hike along a section of the original Oregon Trail and visible wagon ruts near an interpretive shelter. Wayside exhibits tell the stories of the overland experience and the native peoples of the area. Please stay on the path in order to protect the historic wagon ruts.
More Information
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/keeney-pass-interpretive-site.htm
Coordinates: 43.90933, -117.17625
Elevation: 2927 ft
Difficulty: 1
What to Expect: No info
[reblex id=’779′]
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30 Check-Ins
Nice ride. Pretty poor historical sign lol. It's almost completely weathered and sun-bleached so you can't read any history. I took a picture of the pavilion and road sign (in the distance) instead.
Enjoyable ride. Lots of farm trucks out this time of year transporting potatoes and onions!
All pavement all the way to the site. Was a pretty evening ride on a Wednesday after work.
Interesting historical tidbit hiding in plain sight. We took a myriad of nice little backroads to get there from Caldwell, including a few I had never been on before. It's amazing how slowing down and taking a few side roads can allow you to see a whole different view of the world around you. 🙂
We rode out to Keene Pass today from Caldwell taking mostly back or side roads. Being a Monday is was really quiet.
Cool little spot and great slab ride. If it weren't for the challenge I would never have known this existed. Farms for miles on the way out.
Perfect day for a ride. Not too windy just a smidge on the warm side. Agree on the 'interesting stories'.
First time to the Keeney Pass Interpretive site. Interesting stories from the pioneers traveling across this area.
Nice ride getting there. Met another motorcyclist here on a Gold Wing who drove all the way from North Carolina! He was retired and said that he has done cross country via bike 4-5 times now. Peaceful & quiet little stop along the Oregon Trail.
Easy ride out to Oregon 🙂 Met Bobby from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVWCaqVWwM8 who was doing a time-lapse. Cool guy from North Carolina doing an out and back Oregon trail over 23 days.
This is an easy site with great scenery all the way out. I rode through Nyssa and meandered over instead of sticking on 201.
There are all kinds of really cool trails in this area. I would like to return with my DRZ and check more of it out.
It's a 1 until the last 100 yards, where it's rough gravel. Since it is gravel I will label this a 2, but you can get most of the way there on pavement.
Stopped in Vale prior to hitting Keeney Pass. Vale has a bunch of murals on sides of buildings and one of them is devoted to Keeney himself.
I can say it was easy to get here. And I have never been, so that's a plus
Never would have went over here if not for the challenge point. It's got a little bit of information from back when the Oregon Trail was the happening thing. Imagine walking 15 miles in a day.
Found a short dirt road on the way over and hit a little rain. Normally when I am passing by this site it is super hot. Today was the opposite.
Out on a pre-season tarmac ride yesterday, decided to stop by here and practice this whole reporting thing. I don't have my bandana yet, so this won't count, right? Easy ride from Nyssa to the site. Fun cross winds on the plains.
https://motoidaho.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240331_2259131432-1711991602.8212-scaled.jpg
It is an interesting easy paved road ride out to Keeny Pass. Continue on south and have lunch at the Rock store and Grill in Owyhee.
Nice ride. Pretty poor historical sign lol. It’s almost completely weathered and sun-bleached so you can’t read any history. I took a picture of the pavilion and road sign (in the distance) instead.
Enjoyable ride. Lots of farm trucks out this time of year transporting potatoes and onions!
My first of 4 today, nice weather
All pavement all the way to the site. Was a pretty evening ride on a Wednesday after work.
Interesting historical tidbit hiding in plain sight. We took a myriad of nice little backroads to get there from Caldwell, including a few I had never been on before. It’s amazing how slowing down and taking a few side roads can allow you to see a whole different view of the world around you. 🙂
We rode out to Keene Pass today from Caldwell taking mostly back or side roads. Being a Monday is was really quiet.
Easy ride turn in just off the highway.
Lots of slab today
Cool little spot and great slab ride. If it weren’t for the challenge I would never have known this existed. Farms for miles on the way out.
Perfect day for a ride. Not too windy just a smidge on the warm side. Agree on the ‘interesting stories’.
First time to the Keeney Pass Interpretive site. Interesting stories from the pioneers traveling across this area.
Nice day to take the Triumph out
Rattlesnake Heaven
Stiff headwind getting here, but pushed me all the way home!
Nice ride getting there. Met another motorcyclist here on a Gold Wing who drove all the way from North Carolina! He was retired and said that he has done cross country via bike 4-5 times now. Peaceful & quiet little stop along the Oregon Trail.
Easy ride out to Oregon 🙂 Met Bobby from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVWCaqVWwM8 who was doing a time-lapse. Cool guy from North Carolina doing an out and back Oregon trail over 23 days.
Bobby hands these out to the people he talks to on his ride.
This is an easy site with great scenery all the way out. I rode through Nyssa and meandered over instead of sticking on 201.
There are all kinds of really cool trails in this area. I would like to return with my DRZ and check more of it out.
It’s a 1 until the last 100 yards, where it’s rough gravel. Since it is gravel I will label this a 2, but you can get most of the way there on pavement.
Stopped in Vale prior to hitting Keeney Pass. Vale has a bunch of murals on sides of buildings and one of them is devoted to Keeney himself.
Easy ride to vale Oregon. Visit Owyhee reservoir if you have time
Fun ride south from Vale. Interesting stories about the Oregon Trail.
Great sunny day
I never knew this was here!… glad you made it a challenge site!
First time on this route.
Good time
I can say it was easy to get here. And I have never been, so that’s a plus
Had never heard if this site for the Oregon trail.
Never would have went over here if not for the challenge point. It’s got a little bit of information from back when the Oregon Trail was the happening thing. Imagine walking 15 miles in a day.
Found a short dirt road on the way over and hit a little rain. Normally when I am passing by this site it is super hot. Today was the opposite.
Out on a pre-season tarmac ride yesterday, decided to stop by here and practice this whole reporting thing. I don’t have my bandana yet, so this won’t count, right? Easy ride from Nyssa to the site. Fun cross winds on the plains.
https://motoidaho.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240331_2259131432-1711991602.8212-scaled.jpg
Trying 2nd time to attach photo.
We’ll count it! It’s all about the spirit of the challenge, not the technicalities. I’m attaching your image which did seem to upload to the server. I will look further into this. Feel free to try to check in again.
It is an interesting easy paved road ride out to Keeny Pass. Continue on south and have lunch at the Rock store and Grill in Owyhee.
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