Outdoor recreational
activities are limitless.
You can enjoy a gondola ride to the top of
8,256 foot Mt.
Howard for hiking,
viewing, picnicking and picture taking.
Enjoying Wallowa County
In the extreme northeast corner of
Oregon, bordering Washington and Idaho,
lies Wallowa County, occupying 3,153
square miles, with a population of 7,250.
The majestic, rugged mountains tower
nearly 10,000 feet above the gentle valleys
where ranchers and loggers work. Deep
canyons drop to the wild Imnaha and Snake
rivers. Hells Canyon - the nation's deepest
gorge - is here and
draws thousands of visitors annually.
Outdoor recreational
activities are limitless.
You can enjoy a gondola ride to the top of
8,256 foot Mt.
Howard for hiking,
viewing, picnicking and picture taking.
Many visitors hike or backpack with horses or llamas into the Eagle Cap Wilderness from various trailheads or they venture into Hells Canyon via jet boat, kayak or raft.
Minam Lodge is not accessible by road, but a fly-in provides a spectacular view of the mountains and rivers. Hiking, horseback riding, fishing or just relaxing await you there.
Hoping for trout or steelhead, young and
old cast their lines into rivers with such
exotic names as Wallowa, Minam, Imnaha,
Lostine, Grande Ronde and Snake or their
tributaries, Hurricane Creek and Bear
Creek. Wallowa Lake is a popular fishing
and camping spot and a vacation destination
in itself.Chief Joseph Days and the Great Joseph Bank Robbery in Joseph, Mule Days in Enterprise, the huge Lostine Flea Market, Wallowa's Nez Perce Pow Wow and Friendship Feast, an old-fashioned Fourth of July, the county fair, fireworks over Wallowa Lake, arts festivals for both adults and youth entrants, an old-time fiddlers' competition, small airplane fly-ins, and the Oregon Mountain Cruise classic car rally.
Several music festivals, concerts, theatrical productions, along
with two annual writers' conferences, draw
attendees from near
and far. Other folks
visit the numerous art
galleries and bronze
foundries.
Herds of deer and elk
bring hunters from a
wide range. A few are
lucky enough to get a
once-in-a-lifetime tag for
bighorn sheep and mountain goat. You may
choose a guide or outfitter for your wilderness or fishing trip.
Powder snow makes Ferguson Ridge, east
of Joseph, Wallowa County's main downhill
ski area. Cross-country skiing is excellent,
with Nordic shelters for those on long treks.
Another popular winter sport is snowmobiling, especially from Salt Creek Summit
over to the rim of Hells Canyon.
Wallowa County is reached by Oregon
Highway 82 from La Grande, Oregon,
Highway 3 and Washington Highway 129
from Clarkston, Washington and Lewiston,
Idaho. In summer, U.S. Forest Service Roads
provide access to many recreation areas,
including Hells Canyon, the Snake River and
many of the lower elevations.
Except for Sundays and holidays, Wallowa Valley Stage provides daily bus service for both passengers and freight between all major communities of the county and La Grande.
A bus service in Lostine offers charters and scenic tours. The county is served by UPS, Federal Express and a U.S. Post Office in each town.
Two airports serve the county. The Joseph State Airport lies at a 4,150 foot elevation, with a 60-foot wide and a 5,200-foot long runway; Enterprise Municipal Airport is at 3,940 feet and has a 2,800-foot runway, fuel service, maintenance, flying lessons, scenic flights and other charter service.
Distance to major airports
Lewiston -- 85 miles
Walla Walla -- 125 miles
Boise -- 224 miles
Spokane -- 195 miles
Portland -- 325 miles
|