The Wallowa Lake Trailhead at the south end of Wallowa Lake provides a gateway into Oregon's Largest Wilderness, The Eagle Cap, home to both Oregon's highest lake and its biggest wall, the 4,000' West face of the Matterhorn. If you thought this area was beautiful from the outside, entering the wilderness will simply blow you away!
Easily reached vistas, overlooks, and waterfalls, are readily available for the casual hiker, as well as challenging ascents to some of the area's most iconic peaks for those looking to test their mettle. The Trailhead begins at the end of the Wallowa Lake Highway #395 at an elevation 4630’ and provides ample parking without the forest pass parking fees.
The Eagle Cap is a real National Treasure yet still affords unparalleled peace and quiet, a rare quality in today's world.
These are just some of the trails available within a short walk or drive from Wallowa Lake, ordered from easiest to strenuous:
Iwetemlaykin
This Oregon State Heritage Park features an easy introduction into the beauty of the Wallowa’s. The 62 acre site has about a mile of smooth trail making it a great place for a casual nature hike or a run. Its located on the north terminal moraine just adjacent to the Old Chief Joseph Burial Monument. It’s a wonderful and safe place to bring the kids.
Tramway Trails
The Wallowa Lake Tramway offers a shortcut to the top of the wilderness where visitors are treated to unparalleled panoramas and gentle nature trails, although one can never underestimate the challenge of hiking in thin air!
The West Fork Wallowa River Trail
Trail # 1820 is the main gateway trail into the Eagle Cap Wilderness from Wallowa Lake. It follows the river and is pretty gradual, gaining just 870 feet to Six Mile Meadow (6 miles up). In-between, about 3 miles up, you could take the Ice Lake Trail #1808 (strenuous) or stay with the trail to ultimately lead into the popular Lakes Basin.
Chief Joseph Trail
Trail #1803 is a popular hike that features a bridge, a waterfall, lookouts, and some peculiar rocks that are fun to locate. The most used portion features the destination of BC Creek Falls. That hike is pretty easy, only about three miles round-trip, with a modest 400’ elevation gain making it a family favorite. An alternate route, while steep, shortcuts to the other side of BC Falls and further on, potentially to the top of Chief Joseph Mountain.
The East Moraine
If you like singing through mountain meadows, while being wowed by incredible vistas, then the Wallowa Lake East Moraine is sure to fit the bill. The original inhabitants, the Nez Perce, considered it sacred ground - It’s easy to see why. The Moraine is accessed from three points, each gaining up to 800 feet to reach the top making this a moderately strenuous hike, but so worth it!
The East Fork Aneroid Lake Trail
Trail #1804 gains almost 1,200 feet in elevation in the first 2 miles as it switchbacks up to a small pond that feeds the hydro station below. Most would consider this first section strenuous and the trail footing is rocky in most parts, After the first 3 miles it levels out somewhat into a series of meadows that lead on to the beautiful Aneroid Lake at 7500’. The Trail continues to the 8500’ Tenderfoot Pass which leads you further into the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
The Ice Lake Trail
The rocky Trail #1808 gains 2350’ in elevation in 5 miles making it the most strenuous of the trails featured on this page. But, OMG! If you're up for it, you will be richly rewarded. Up and back is a foot-crunching 16 miles that really begs an overnighter for true enjoyment.
