The road from Imnaha, OR to Hat Point is an interesting one, botanically speaking, as it offers the naturalist a look at a wide variety of habitats, and hence, a wide variety of species. The road, which is very rough and steep for the first 7 miles, begins in a warm, dry climate at Imnaha. Many weedy species are noticeable here, as well as some hot, dry habitat species, such as Prickly Pear and several evening-primroses. The road climbs along a cottonwood riparian area (sometimes the riparian area is included on the road) and eventually opens out onto steep grassland slopes. The south and west facing slopes are dry and grassy, while the eastern and north facing slopes, due to the increased shade, tend to be more likely to be extensively covered with shrubs or trees. At 5 miles, one may utilize a pull out with nice views up and down the Imnaha River valley itself. At 7 miles, the road levels out somewhat, and proceeds mostly through coniferous forest, with occasional meadows. Another pullout allows one to look across Horse Creek, and gives a distant view of the final destination, the fire tower at Hat Point, seen to the far right on the horizon, above the burn area.

Granny View is another signed stop, with sweeping views of the head of the Imnaha basin. There are 2 restrooms as well as benches, and an interpretive trail with a few signs. Many wildflowers may be viewed along the trail.

Saddle Creek Campground is the only organized campground in the area. It sits on the rim of Hells Canyon and provides a great view of the canyon itself as well as the Seven Devils Mts just to the east. Picnic tables, fire pits, and 2 pit toilet buildings are available here. Because of its close proximity to a burn area, the campground is great for birding, with several species of woodpeckers or sapsuckers very likely to be seen.

Hat Point is the end of the road, and provides ample parking, pit toilet buildings, picnic facilities, benches, and interpretive trails and signs dealing with the 1988 summit fire and geology of the canyon. The fire lookout tower is also accessible for 360 degree viewing of northeastern oregon and west-central Idaho.

There are many pullouts along the 22 mile length of the road from Imnaha to Hat Point. One can get a good idea of the plants and animals that may be found in the region by making frequent stops as one ascends, or descends the road!

Prickly Pear Cactus: Opuntia polycantha

Hairy Goldaster: Chrysopsis villosa

Common Sunflower: Helianthus annuus

Blueweed: Echium vulgare (an extremely common roadside weed along the Imnaha River Road)

Common Mullein: Verbascum thapsus

Blue Elderberry: Sambucus cerulea

Common Monkeyflower: Mimulus guttatus

Mock Orange: Philadelphus lewisii

Poison Ivy: Rhus radicans

Western Sumac: Rhus glabra

Showy Milkweed: Asclepias speciosus

White Campion: Lychnis alba

Common St. John's-wort: Hypericum perforatum

Ocean Spray: Holodiscus discolor

Yarow: Achillea millefolium

Lovely (Blue Mountain) Penstemon: Penstemon venustus

Flytrap Dogbane: Apocynum androsaemifolium

Green-band Mariposa Lily: Calochortus macrocarpus

Roundleaf Alumroot: Heuchera cylindrica

Wormleaf Stonecrop: Sedum stenopetalum

Harsh Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida

Mallow Ninebark: Physocarpus malvaceus

Kellogg's Spurred Lupine: Lupinus caudatus

One-leaf Rein-orchid: Habenaria obtusata ?

Thread-leaf Phacelia: Phacelia linearis

Large-flowered Agoseris: Agoseris grandiflora

Giant Frasera: Frasera speciosa

Moth Mullein: Verbascum blatteria

Narriwleaf Skullcap: Scutellaria angustifolia

Small-flowered Tonella: Tonella tenella

Red Elderberry: Sambuccus racemosa

Common Hound's Tongue: Cynoglossum officinale

Bolander's Yampah: Perideridia bolanderi ?

Blue Mt. Penstemon: Penstemon pennellianus

Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata

Rocky Mt. Helianthella: Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

Narrow-leaf Collomia: Collomia linearis

Tapertip Onion: Allium accuminatum

Puccoon: Lithospermum ruderale

Wyeth Buckwheat: Eriogonum heracloides var. heracloides

Swamp Onion: Allium madidum

Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora

Hesperochiron: Hesperochiron pumilus

Woods Strawberry: Fragaria vesca

Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus

Small-flowered Prairie Star: Lithophragma parviflora

Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var.

Woolly-head clover: Trifolium eriocephalum var. piperi

Taper-leavedPenstemon: Penstemon attenuatus var. attenuatus

Nettle-leaf Horse-mint: Agastache urticifolia

Twin Arnica: Arnica sororia

Old Man's Whiskers: Geum triflorum

Field Chickweed: Cerastium arvense

Hairy Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza hirsuta

Columbia Lewisia: Lewisia columbiana var. wallowensis

Meadow Death-camas: Zigadenus venenosus

Vaseflower (Douglas' Clematis): Clematis hirsutissima

Brown's Peony: Paeonia brownii

Pussytoes: Antennaria species

Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule

Serviceberry: Amelanchier alnifolia

Goldenweed: Stenotus languinosus

Pale Wallowa Paintbrush: Castilleja oresbia ?

Animals Seen:

Clark's Nutcracker

Dandylion: Taraxacum officinalis

Shrubby Penstemon: Penstemon fruticosus var. serratus

Skunk Polemonium: Polemonium viscossissimum

Ball-head Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum

Broad-petal Strawberry: Fragaria virginiana var. platypetala

Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum

Heart-leaf Arnica: Arnica cordifolia

Sitka Valerian: Valeriana sitchensis

Sticky Currant: Ribes viscossissimum

Violet: Viola species- Very light blue flowers

Rock Penny Cress: Thlaspi fendleri var. glaucum

Cous: Lomatium cous

Hoelboel's Rock Cress: Arabis hoelbellii

Bedstraw: Galium aparine

Common Paintbrush: Castilleja miniata

Midget Phlox: Microsteris gracilis

Wilcox's Penstemon: Penstemon wilcoxii

Globe Penstemon: Penstemon globosus?

Broad-leaf Bluebells: Mertensia ciliata

Lance-leaf Spring Beauty: Claytonia lanceolata

Twin Clover: Trifolium latifolium ?

Fleabane: Erigeron species

American Bistort: Polygonum bistortoides

Naked Broomrape: Orobanche uniflora var. uniflora

False Danylion: Agoseris glauca

Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea (past bloom)

Skyrocket: Gilia aggregata var. aggregata- red

Animals Seen:

Deer

Chipmunk

Sierra Nevada Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Northern Flicker

Chipping Sparrow

Williamson's Sapsucker

Dark-eyed Juncos

Pine Siskins

Mountain Bluebirds

American Robins

Steller's Jay

Red-tailed Hawk

Macoun's Buttercup: Ranunculus macounii

Dwarf Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea

Few-flowered Shooting Star: Dodecatheon pulchellum ?

Bighead Clover: Trifolium macrocephalum

Viviparous Bistort: Polygonum viviparum ? - not fully open yet.

Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum

Wolf's Currant: Ribes wolfii

Cut-leaf Daisy: Erigeron compositus

Daggerpod: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides (pods only)