By Mariah Cannon
Disclosure: On occasion links in my blog posts are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I can earn commission on purchases made through my links.
Set in Northeast Oregon, just outside of Joseph, Oregon – lies the stunning Wallowa Lake State Park surrounded by the Wallowa Mountain range and is known as the gateway to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Eastern Oregon is full of incredible hiking, swimming, and outdoor activities.
If you’re a fisherman, you will absolutely love Wallowa Lake State Park – Kokanee (Sockeye Salmon), Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout, and Alex and I have even seen Brook Trout. Make sure to have your ODFW Fishing License if you plan on fishing at all here.
Exploring the Park
This Eastern Oregon Oasis offers so much in to explore in one area. Some of my favorite activties here include Hiking and Fishing!
Hiking
Fishing
As I mentioned above, the lake is stocked yearly with Rainbow Trout and there’s also Lake Trout, Bull Trout, and Kokanee (from the same family as Sockeye Salmon). We’ve also seen small Brook Trout, haven’t caught any, but they hang out in the small creeks and rivers by the lake.
You can rent boats and kayaks from the state park itself if you prefer to get out on the water rather than fish from the shore.
Activities Nearby
- One of my favorite things to do while in Wallowa Lake State Park is riding the Wallowa Lake Tramway. This 3,700 vertical climb takes you to the top of Mt. Howard where you can enjoy 360 views of the Wallowa Lake area and the Eagle Cap Wilderness. There are several shorter trails on top of the mountain as well as the Summit Grill where you can enjoy a drink or a yummy meal.
- Rent Glass Bottom Kayaks where you can explore the lake from above and below! This company also does a night time tour on Wallowa Lake with LED lights on the kayaks. A truly one of a kind experience and the guides are so great!
- Jump through time on The Joseph Branch Railriders pedal train carts on an old railway loaded with history of Oregon. This is such a unique experience and a great way to explore the area!
- If you’re around during the fall time, the Kokanee spawn around the beginning-mid September and you can see them at the river that flows into the lake.
Camping at The Park
Wallowa Lake State Park has a total of 216 camp sites and a good mix of RV sites, tent, group, and standard. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance, I highly recommend booking as early as you can as spots fill up quickly during the warm season!
The campsites are not actually on the water, but a short walking distance away.
You need to be bear aware here and keep food in your vehicle or in bear canisters. The rangers put up a sign on the welcome board to let visitors know when the last bear was seen. We have not had a bear encounter, but the deer just come right through camp throughout the day, which is a fun experience!
Food Near The Park
- Ember’s Brewhouse – Probably our favorite place, we always make it a point to stop in during our stay. They have a good mix of foods as well as drinks and a cozy outdoor seating area with firepits.
- Red Rooster Cafe – An American diner that is located in Enterprise, a few minutes away from the park.
- Cheyenne Cafe – A great breakfast option, that we’re hoping to try the next time we’re in town!
Enjoy this mini guide? Save for future reference!
Let’s Get Adventuring!
Mariah
Leave a Reply