Classic Roads: Deadman Pass, OR

When regular people hear a name like Deadman Pass, they generally think it best to steer clear. Motorcyclists are built a little different, though, and a morbid moniker such as this is an invitation to hop in the saddle.

Deadman Pass is also known as Deadman’s Pass or Dead Man’s Pass, but the first name is what you’ll find on road signs. This mountain pass sits at a height of 3,622 feet above the Umatilla National Forest, along the 50-mile stretch of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Hwy/I-84 between Pendleton and La Grande.

Its name stems from an incident that occurred during the 1878 Bannock War between the U.S. Government and the Bannock, Paiute, and Shoshone tribes. Native American ambushes killed multiple wagon riders traversing the pass, resulting in its ominous name.