>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

ELGIN — With the excursion train season in full swing, there are two added opportunities for riding the Eagle Cap Excursion Train during the Fourth of July holiday week.

Train operators wanted to provide additional times when visitors and residents can enjoy the scenic trip into the roadless part of the Grande Ronde River canyon down stream from Elgin.

This Monday, the train departs Elgin at 10 a.m. for the 3.5 hour sightseeing trip down the Grande Ronde to Rondowa, then up the Wallowa River to the Kimmel siding. It reverses direction at Kimmel, which is along the Wallowa River between the bridge at Rondowa and Minam, returning to Elgin around 1:30 p.m. A lunch is served on the train, catered by Ten Depot Street Restaurant.

Friday, July 4, the train will take the same trip, known as The Two Rivers excursion, leaving Elgin at 10 a.m. and returning around 1:30.

Saturday, July 5, the trip will be repeated as part of the train's regularly scheduled Saturday excursions. Because of the wet winter and cool

spring, the canyon is exceptionally lush with grass, flowers and vegetation.

Wildlife is plentiful all along the route and the rivers are still high.

Tickets for The Two Rivers are $65 for adults, $55 for seniors, and $20 for youth and include lunch. Reservations are recommended for all trips and can be made by calling Alegre Travel, 963-9000 or 800-323-7330.

For a full season's schedule and trip descriptions, go to www.eaglecaptrain.com .

Excursions are available some Sundays at 1 p.m. from Minam to Rondowa, but reservations are required and must be made by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to the Sunday you want to ride.

The train will not be at Minam on Sundays unless reservations have been made in advance.

Tickets for these trips, known as Wallowa Wild & Scenic, are $45, $40 and $20.

Lunch is not included, but some refreshments are available for purchase on the train. Raft in — Ride out! Rafters can make reservations through Alegre Travel to catch this train at Rondowa and ride out to Minam.