I-84 cuts northeast across Emigrant Hill and turns south after Deadman Pass, traveling towards the Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area near Meacham, located in the Umatilla National Forest. Near Kamela, I-84 crosses the Blue Mountain summit, the second highest point of any freeway in the state at above sea level. I-84 descends from the central Blue Mountains along Railroad Canyon, named for the Union Pacific line that runs through it, and reaches a junction with OR 244 at Hilgard Junction. From Hilgard, the highway travels east along the meandering Grande Ronde River to La Grande, seat of Union County and home to Eastern Oregon University. US 30 splits from I-84 and runs through downtown, while I-84 bypasses the city on its northeast side, crossing over the Grande Ronde River and intersecting OR 82. I-84 and US 30 are reunited southeast of the city at an interchange with OR 203, just west of the La Grande/Union County Airport. The freeway continues south through the Grande Ronde Valley to Ladd Canyon, which it follows while gently ascending part of Craig Mountain at the edge of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. I-84 then descends into a wide valley and splits from US 30 at an interchange with OR 237 in North Powder. The two highways continue south into Baker County, but are separated by the Powder River and Coyote Point. I-84 intersects OR 86 and the south end of OR 203 near Baker City Municipal Airport, at the edge of Baker City. The freeway passes the east side of Baker City, intersecting OR 7, and continues south through a cut in the city's southeastern hill. I-84 and US 30 are rejoined and follow Sutton and Alder creeks southeast through Pleasant Valley, an area notorious for inclement weather due to its microclimate. The surrounding area is marked by gravel mines and dry shrubland that runs over the ridges formed by various streams. At Durkee, the freeway begins to follow the Burnt River, passing Rattlesnake Springs State Park, Weatherby, and Lime. I-84 leaves the Burnt River valley west of Huntington and continues southeast to the Farewell Bend State Recreation Area in northeastern Malheur County, where it briefly follows the Snake River. The freeway leaves the river at an interchange with OR 201 near Huffman Island and continues southeast across several cuts and embankments dug into an arm of the Blue Mountains. I-84 continues into the Payette