Wallowa Lake is held in place by a pile of glacier rubble, and a 3-mile hike climbs right onto it
Most lakes are held in place by rock or a dam. Wallowa Lake in northeast Oregon is held in place by a giant heap of gravel and boulders that ice age glaciers shoved down the valley and left behind.
Those ridges are called moraines, and you can hike right up onto one. It’s about 3 miles round trip, and the payoff is a view that makes the drive to Joseph feel like a bargain.
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What you’re actually walking on
Over several ice ages, glaciers pushed through the Wallowa Mountains and dumped gravel, rocks and boulders at their edges. The East Moraine is one of those ridges, and together with the West and Terminal moraines to the north, it forms the natural barrier that keeps Wallowa Lake in its basin.
This landscape was built up rather than carved down, which is why geography textbooks love it. Standing on top, with the lake spread out below and Chief Joseph Mountain rising behind it, the lesson tends to stick.
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The hike
Plan on roughly 3 miles round trip, out and back. Sources put the climbing at somewhere between 700 and 900 feet depending on the route you pick, so it’s a steady workout that stays friendly.
The main route is a mostly smooth, gradual dirt road wide enough to walk two abreast, and fit hikers usually reach the top in under an hour. A rockier, narrower trail on the north side climbs faster if you want a little more burn.
Here’s my plain opinion: this is the best short hike in the Wallowas for anyone who wants a big view without a big day. You get the whole lake, the peaks and a quiet ridgetop, all before lunch.
What you’ll see up top
The trail opens onto grassland where cows graze, so yes, you may share the summit with a few bovine locals. Keep your distance and enjoy the free-range ambiance.
Look for mule deer and elk, and keep an ear out for meadowlarks near the top. Wildlife is the bonus here, so give animals plenty of room, especially in fawning season.
A trail with a recent story
This is a newer public trail. In 2020, the Wallowa Land Trust, Wallowa County, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Nez Perce Tribe partnered to acquire the 1,791-acre property, and the land is managed collaboratively.
The trailhead sits off Highway 351 a few miles south of Joseph, and parking is along the shoulder, so pull well off the pavement. Eastern Oregon weather can turn quickly outside summer, so check the forecast before you go.
Want the full lake experience while you’re in the neighborhood? Our guide to visiting Wallowa Lake covers the best adventures around it.
Would you rather take the smooth road up and gawk at the view, or push the steeper north trail for the extra workout?
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
