Backpacking Oregon's stunning Wallowa Mountains
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Glacier Lake at dusk. AI could never. Photo: Kale Williams/Axios
I finally checked off one of my bucket list trips last weekend: backpacking in the Wallowas, one of the most pristine landscapes I've seen in Oregon.
The big picture: The loop had a little bit of everything — lush forests, high alpine meadows, windswept granite peaks and what felt like a jaw-dropping lake around every corner.
By the numbers: My buddy and I did the roughly 34-mile hike over three nights and four days and gained a little over 7,200 feet of elevation. Here's how we did it.
- The trip was fueled by a mix of dehydrated backpacking meals, instant oatmeal, protein bars, electrolytes, salami, tortillas and — the newest and best addition to my backcountry menu — Trader Joe's fried shallots.
🥾 Day 1
We got an early start at the Wallowa Lake trailhead after a night at a nearby hotel and hiked just under 6 miles to camp at Aneroid Lake — a nice warmup for the big mileage to come.
- There were a few other groups around the lake, but it was surprisingly uncrowded for a Friday night.
🥵 Day 2
This was our biggest day — close to 13 grueling miles — as we trekked over Tenderfoot and Polaris passes, both over 8,500 feet.
- The backside of Polaris features a dramatic elevation loss — 53 downhill switchbacks over the course of 4 miles — as you drop into the Lakes Basin.
- After a quick stop at Frazier Lake for lunch, we trudged on to Glacier Lake, a place so beautiful it almost looked like it was rendered on a computer.
- There aren't a ton of campsites, and it's a popular spot, so if you plan to spend the night you'll want to get there early.
🏕️ Day 3
The hike out of Glacier Lake takes you over Glacier Pass and through the heart of the Lakes Basin, passing Moccasin, Douglas, Lee and Horseshoe lakes. We made camp at Horseshoe after about 8 mostly flat or downhill miles.
- Each lake has campsites, so you can choose your own adventure. The farther you go, the shorter your hike out will be on the final day.
🍔 Day 4
We flew through the last 8 miles back to the trailhead powered by the promise of cheeseburgers at The Range Rider in nearby Enterprise.
Yes, but: The Wallowas are a ways from Portland — the trailhead is closer to Boise than the Rose City — and this trip probably isn't great for beginners.
The bottom line: We ended the trip tired, dirty, bruised, blistered and sore — but grateful for the chance to see some of the most beautiful scenery Oregon has to offer.