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Hilgard Junction State Park is located on Interstate Highway 80N, at the Starkey Highway junction on the Grande Ronde River about eight miles west of La Grande in Union County.
The first land obtained for this small park was a lease on five acres in 1951 from the U. S. Forest Service. A year later an adjoining 1-acre tract was given to the state by Mt. Emily Lumber Company, making a total of six acres in the park at the close of 1963.
The park was named for the surrounding area and the Union Pacific Railroad siding nearby.
This restful, riverside area was obtained principally because it had been used for many years by the public for picnicking and overnight camping. The cool stream and surrounding countryside make this park an interesting, peaceful place for an outing.
The level, sparsely-timbered area now supports day use facilities and a small overnight camp. Other improvements are a good entrance road, car parking area, water and sanitary facilities.
Day visitors at this park in 1963 totaled 51,076.
Hilgard Junction State Park is next to Interstate 84 at its intersection with Highway 244 near the Grande Ronde River. The park offers camping and daytime activities among the cottonwood and ponderosa pine. The Grande Ronde River flows through the park, enticing anglers, rafters and swimmers. Beaver, mink, deer and a variety of birds inhabit the park area and can be viewed throughout the year.
Fall frosts give way to brightly colored foliage along the river corridor, and winter snows bring herds of elk and deer to the banks of the river. While camping at the park, you can see ruts of the historic Oregon Trail at the nearby Blue Mountain Crossing Interpretive Park, explore miles of open road in the national forest, or hop over to La Grande and stock up on groceries, have a meal or partake in community events.
The first land was leased from the U. S. Forest Service in 1951, with a later lease in 1969. Two tracts were given to the state; one acre was donated by the Mt. Emily Lumber Company in 1952 and 79 acres by its successor, the Valsetz Lumber Company, in 1966. Other tracts were purchased from private owners. The park takes its name from the nearby junction on the Union Pacific Railroad line. Hilgard Junction was named for E. W. Hilgard, former dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of California. The logging railroad of the Mt. Emily Lumber Company once passed through the park area enroute to La Grande via connection with the Union Pacific.