Hardman

Hardman is a ghost town in southern Morrow County, Oregon, sitting at roughly 3,600 feet elevation in an agricultural area near the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. Oregon Route 207 runs through it, placing it about 20 miles southwest of Heppner and 32 miles north of Spray. Rock Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, passes northwest of town and to its south before eventually reaching Lake Umatilla.

Once a functioning social and commercial community, Hardman today is a quiet remnant of its former self. Visitors come for the atmosphere of a largely abandoned settlement set against open farmland and the backdrop of the Blue Mountains — a stark, photogenic scene that rewards those with an interest in Oregon's rural history.

Access via Route 207 is straightforward, though the elevation and inland location mean winters can be harsh and roads potentially difficult. Late spring through early fall offers the most reliable conditions for a visit.