Hermiston

Around Hermiston

Photo: MIM1765 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · Oregon · 92k people

Hermiston

Locals say Umatilla Basin · “The Round-Up City”, “Watermelon Capital of the World”

Hermiston · Pendleton

Big skies, warm hearts, and the spirit of the West.

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Welcome to the Umatilla Basin! Whether you're here for the rodeo, the river, or the fresh produce, you'll find a friendly community and wide-open spaces. Enjoy your stay!

Clubs for Hermiston

No clubs for Hermiston yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Hermiston. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Hermiston. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Pendleton Round-Up Grounds Home of the famous Pendleton Round-Up rodeo.
  • Pendleton Woolen Mills Historic woolen mill offering tours.
  • Hat Rock State Park Named for a distinctive basalt rock formation.
  • McNary Lock and Dam Hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River.
  • Pendleton Underground Guided tours of Prohibition-era tunnels.
  • Columbia River waterfront Recreation and fishing along the river.
  • Outdoors Fishing on the Columbia River
  • Outdoors Hiking in the Blue Mountains
  • With kids Attending the Pendleton Round-Up
  • With kids Visiting Hat Rock State Park
  • Evenings Wildhorse Resort & Casino
  • Evenings Local rodeo dances
  • Locals love Farm stands and produce markets
  • Locals love River access points

Through the year

  • Pendleton Round-Up September Iconic rodeo and western celebration.
  • Hermiston Watermelon Festival August Celebrates the local watermelon harvest.
  • Umatilla County Fair August County fair with livestock and exhibits.
  • Farm-City Pro Rodeo July Professional rodeo in Hermiston.
  • Pendleton Whisky Music Fest Summer Country music festival in Pendleton.

Semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Best: Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to be outside.

Talk like a local

“The Basin”
The Umatilla Basin region.
“Round-Up”
The Pendleton Round-Up.
“High desert”
The arid climate and landscape.
“Watermelon capital”
Hermiston's nickname.

Getaways

Local flavour

Rooting for Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Mariners (MLB), Portland Timbers (MLS)

Eat and drink

  • Hermiston Watermelon Sweet, locally famous melons celebrated at the annual Hermiston Watermelon Festival.
  • Umatilla Potatoes The region's fertile soil produces exceptional potatoes, often served as steak fries or baked.
  • High-Desert Beef Cattle ranching is a staple, and local steaks are a point of pride at community dinners and rodeo events.

Where people go

  • Rodeo grounds The Pendleton Round-Up grounds and similar arenas are central to the region's identity.
  • Woolen mills
  • High-desert farmland Vast wheat and potato fields stretch across the plateau, a defining landscape.
  • Columbia River waterfront Docks, parks, and fishing spots along the river offer recreation and a sense of place.
  • Historic underground tunnels Pendleton's underground passages, once used for commerce and more, are a unique local landmark.

Heritage and traditions

The Umatilla Basin is proud of its deep-rooted agricultural heritage, its iconic Pendleton Round-Up, and the rich cultural traditions of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Festivals

  • Milton-Freewater Basque Festival July Celebrates Basque music, dance, and food brought by immigrant sheepherders.
  • Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days August Annual gathering of the Confederated Tribes with drumming, dancing, and traditional foods.

Landmarks with a story

  • Tamástslikt Cultural Institute On the Umatilla Reservation, it tells the story of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes.
  • Fort Henrietta A 19th-century military post near the Umatilla River, now a park with interpretive signs.

Food traditions

  • Basque lamb stew Slow-cooked lamb with peppers and potatoes, a staple at the Basque Festival and local Basque restaurants.
  • Fry bread Fried dough served at powwows and tribal events, often with honey or powdered sugar.
  • Rodeo chili Hearty beef chili served at the Round-Up grounds during rodeo week.
  • Columbia River salmon Grilled or smoked salmon from the river, a traditional food for the tribes and locals.

Music and arts

  • Powwow drumming and singing Traditional Native American music performed at gatherings and powwows.
  • Basque folk music and dance Traditional songs and dances kept alive by the Basque community in Milton-Freewater.
  • Country and western music A staple at the Round-Up and local honky-tonks.
  • Pendleton Woolen Mills blanket weaving Handwoven wool blankets with intricate Native American-inspired designs.

A little history

  • 1840s Oregon Trail emigrants passed through the Umatilla Basin, crossing the river at what is now Pendleton.
  • 1855 Treaty of 1855 established the Umatilla Indian Reservation for the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes.
  • 1868 Pendleton was founded as a trading post and grew with the arrival of the railroad.
  • 1910 The first Pendleton Round-Up was held, starting a tradition of one of the largest rodeos in the world.
  • 1950s McNary Dam was completed, providing hydroelectric power and irrigation that boosted agriculture.

Rivalries

  • Hermiston vs Pendleton High school football rivalry.
  • Game day The Pendleton Round-Up rodeo events
  • Game day High school football games with Friday night lights
  • Outdoors Fishing for salmon and sturgeon on the Columbia
  • Outdoors Hiking in the Blue Mountains
  • With kids Attending the Pendleton Round-Up
  • With kids Visiting the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute

Locals speak with a Pacific Northwest accent, often with a rural drawl. Common phrases reflect cowboy and agricultural roots.

Only here

  • The Pendleton Round-Up is one of the oldest and largest rodeos, with a unique 'Happy Canyon' night show.
  • Hermiston is known as the 'Watermelon Capital' and hosts a festival celebrating the fruit.
  • The Umatilla Indian Reservation is home to the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, the only museum on the Oregon Trail dedicated to Native American history.
  • Milton-Freewater has one of the largest Basque communities in the Pacific Northwest, with a festival every July.
New here? A few tips
  • Expect hot, dry summers and cold, windy winters - dress in layers.
  • Learn about the Confederated Tribes and visit the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute to understand the region's heritage.
  • Try the local watermelon in Hermiston and the Basque food in Milton-Freewater.
  • If you're here in September, don't miss the Pendleton Round-Up - buy tickets early.
  • The speed limit on I-84 is 65 mph, but watch for wind gusts.

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Nearby

Every area
Tri-CitiesWashingtonWhere the desert blooms with wine and sunshine.Walla WallaWashingtonWhere sweet onions and fine wine meet the wide open sky.La GrandeOregonBig skies, wild rivers, and small-town heart.OthelloWashingtonWhere the desert meets the harvest.Dayton–PomeroyWashingtonRolling wheat hills and quiet main streets.GoldendaleWashingtonWhere the river meets the wide-open skyYakimaWashingtonWhere the valley grows its bestMoses LakeWashingtonSun, sagebrush, and a big blue lake.

Hermiston-Pendleton, OR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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