Joseph Canyon (Nez Perce:an-an-a-soc-um, meaning "long, rough canyon"[1]) is a 2,000-foot (610 m)-deepbasaltcanyon in northernWallowa County,Oregon, and southernAsotin County,Washington, United States.
Joseph Canyon containsJoseph Creek, a tributary of theGrande Ronde River, which flows into theSnake River, a tributary of theColumbia. The geology is typical of theColumbia Plateau, formed by theColumbia River Basalt Group, and the exposed canyon walls provide a striking view offlood basalt flows anddikes. The canyon floor containssediments deposited by theMissoula Floods.[2]
The canyon was named afterChief Joseph of theNez Perce, who is traditionally thought to have been born in a cave on the east bank of Joseph Creek in Asotin County.[2][3] Prior to European settlement, the Nez Perce used the canyon bottomlands as a travel corridor from summer camp sites in theWallowa valley to winter camp sites along the Grande Ronde and Snake rivers.Elk,bighorn sheep, andmule deer were plentiful, as well as native plant foods associated withbunchgrass habitat.[4] In later centuries, the Nez Perce grazedhorses on the canyongrasslands. Beginning in the late 19th century, pioneer settlershomesteaded in the area, grazingsheep andcattle and planting fruitorchards. However, the rocky terrain prohibited extensive agricultural production.[4]
In the late 1990s, the Nez Perce tribe acquired 15,000 acres (61 km2) in the Joseph Creekwatershed forconservation. The lands currently provide wildlife habitat for two federally listedthreatened species, thebald eagle and theSnake River steelhead, and may provide habitat for the threatenedlynx,Townsend's big-eared bat, andmountain quail. Several threatened plant species are also known to exist in the area, including Macfarlane's four-o’clock and Spalding's catchfly. Non-threatened species include bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer,blue grouse,golden eagles, andred-tailed hawks.[4]
TheJoseph Canyon Viewpoint, at a highway pullout alongOregon Route 3, is one of 38 sites that form theNez Perce National Historical Park. The viewpoint is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north ofEnterprise, Oregon, and 11 miles (18 km) south of the Washington border, in theWallowa–Whitman National Forest.[5]
The canyon itself is private land of the Nez Perce Tribe, and is used forranching,hunting, and some grain crops.[2][4] Other viewpoints includeFields Spring State Park.
46°00′31″N117°02′39″W / 46.00861°N 117.04417°W /46.00861; -117.04417