West Fork Wallowa River Trail #1820

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Near the trailhead is are multiple campgrounds, restaurants, and resorts that cater to Wallowa Lake State Park. Parking is free at the trailhead.

This popular trail is often crowded with a mix of day hikers, backpackers, and horse riders. As the main trail into the Eagle Cap Wilderness from Wallowa Lake State Park, the West Fork Wallowa River Trail is heavily trafficked with people heading both in and out of the mountains.

The first mile is in the forest where you'll be stepping over tree roots and leaving the sounds of civilization behind. A little farther in and you'll reach the West Fork of the Wallowa River, which will be your constant companion along the remainder of the trail.

The next five miles are a gradual uphill alongside the river where you'll hike in awe of the towering granite mountains on either side of you until you enter the lake basin, which opens into a lush field of green grass, clear streams, and distant mountain peaks. This is where many make the decision to jump onto the Lakes Basins Trail #1810 to start the popular lake loop.

Continuing along the West Fork Wallowa Trail will take you through the east side of the basin where you'll start a more vigorous climb up into the granite mountains south of the basin. Here, you'll see sparkling granite slabs, cliffside caves, and rushing waters as you climb up toward Fraizer Lake. This lake has excellent campgrounds and is where the West Fork Wallowa Lake Trail splits into the Glacier Lake Trail and South Fork Imnaha Trail.

Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Big Horn Sheep