Eastern Oregon accounts for more than half of the state, geographically speaking. But with a relatively small population, this remarkable region is truly one of the west's last great wide open spaces. Miles and miles of open road punctuated by small towns with big personalities are waiting to be discovered. Stand in the ruts left by thousands of wagons headed west along the Oregon Trail. Help modern day cowboys round up cattle. Look for fossils in John Day and be sure to stop in at the major interpretive centers throughout the region offering visitors a chance to gain a better understanding of Oregon's history through the eyes of its Native peoples. This is a region for exploration and adventure, where visitors can paint their own experience in a watercolor landscape of distant purple mountains and the muted tones of the desert.