The river cuts its tumultuous course through a winding canyon eastward to the Snake. The region is wild and beautiful with its rugged mountains and rocky draws, its broad peaceful valleys and forests abounding in elk and deer, and its sparkling streams filled with salmon and trout. This was the home of the Nez Perce Indians, whose last great chief, Hallshallakeen (Eagle Wing), or Chief Joseph as he was called by white settlers, was born at the mouth of Joseph Creek, a tributary of the Grande Ronde.

It was named for the Grande Ronde Valley of Oregon, which was named by  French-Canadian employees of fur-trading companies because of the valley’s elliptical contour. An Native American name was Way-lu-wa, meaning ice river, which corresponds with another French name, Fourche de Glace. It is possible that this French term was actually Fourche de Glaise, meaning clay fork or clay branch (American miners called the stream Clay Creek for its yellow color). This explains the name Glaise River used on some old records and maps.