Malheur City

Malheur City is a ghost town in Malheur County, Oregon, tucked along Willow Creek. Its roots go back to 1863, when a gold strike at the nearby El Dorado mine drew settlers and sparked the town's founding. It originally fell within Baker County before Malheur County was carved out in 1887 and absorbed the community.

Mining activity gradually wound down, and by around 1911 the town had been abandoned entirely. A brushfire on August 16, 1957 destroyed the last of the wooden structures, leaving stone foundations as the only physical remnants visitors will find today.

Coming here means exploring a quiet, spare landscape alongside Willow Creek, where those stone foundations tell the story more than any standing building can. It is a destination for curious history-minded travelers and photographers rather than those seeking developed amenities. No facilities exist on site, so visit prepared for a self-guided experience in a remote Oregon setting.