Stanfield is located in northeast Oregon’s Umatilla County, where the Columbia River spills down from Washington state and turns west to begin its run for the Pacific Ocean. This has made the county a hub for transportation since early times. When Lewis and Clark passed through in 1805, Hat Rock, now a state park, was the first notation in Meriwether Lewis’ journal for the mighty Columbia.
Planning a visit? Stay at Pilot RV Park.
The Umatilla River relieves this arid land, flowing past Stanfield to its confluence with the Columbia. The stream supports salmon and trout for fishermen. Nearby is the Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge, which hides amid the region’s busy agricultural activities. Those who find their way to this oasis enjoy birdwatching, horseback riding and picnicking around a secluded lake.
The tiny hamlet of Stanfield lies between the county’s “big towns”—Hermiston, known for its watermelons, and the county seat of Pendleton. The Pendleton Round-Up, staged during the second week of September, reigns as one of America’s premier rodeos. Juicy melons procured from roadside stands around Stanfield have been a staple for generations, but America’s largest fruit is beginning to give ground to the wineries of Umatilla County.
