Waterfall camping near Unity

Fewer than 50 people live in miniscule Unity, and while this 0.64-square-mile "city" is probably not somewhere you'll be headed for your final destination, it does provide an oasis of amenities in the otherwise barren Baker County. Here you'll find a post office, a small market for picking up supplies, and even a country tavern—The Water Hole—where you can get your fix of greasy bar food and cold beer. Next to the bar, the now-defunct Unity Ranger Station is worth checking out, even just to look at its 1930s-era fire lookout tower.

Malheur National Forest

Spread out over 1.7 million acres in Oregon's Blue Mountains, this remote forest offers ample opportunities for hiking, fishing, and camping. Popular attractions include the Cedar Grove Botanical Area, which features an isolated stand of Alaska yellow cedar trees.

Wallowa Whitman National Forest

Stretching out over a 2.4 million-acre expanse, this gargantuan national forest encompasses much of northeastern Oregon's wilderness. Landscapes here range from alpine forests to high deserts, and the remote Eagle Cap Wilderness is within the forest's borders.

Along the Snake River

Unity offers easy access to the Snake River on the Oregon-Idaho border, and the Hells Canyon stretch of the river is particularly worth visiting if you're a fan of epic views. At 7,993 feet deep at its lowest point, it's actually deeper than the Grand Canyon.

The best time to visit this part of Oregon is between late spring and early autumn, when temperatures are warm and dry, though do be aware that it can get pretty hot in the summers and 100-degree days aren't uncommon. Winters, conversely, can be cold and snowy, so make sure you have four-wheel-drive, snowshoes, and cold weather-rated camping gear if you plan to head out to this area in the colder months.