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Wallowa Lake State Park

4.0 (22 reviews)

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Mountain peaks
Jenny M.

We stayed here for 5 days and the park was great. Clean bathrooms and hot showers. Beautiful lake and close to small tourist town Joseph. Must ride the tram to summit of Mt Howard, awesome experience with lots of trails to explore the snow capped mountains peaks.

Inside view
Kevin K.

first time camping here...well... stayed in a yurt. Not the first time at the park though. This place was awesome. Most people come during the warmer season and full on summertime. I avoid that scene and come later in the year. Always available sites, quiet, very quiet. Loved it. The lake is beautiful. Clear and cold. Easy to find your way around. Rangers were great. Let me check in early at 1pm when I arrived. Excellent. The yurt was clean, very quiet. Had amenities inside for the three of us, heater, air purifier. A pull out sofa to sleep on and a bunk bed big enough for three. See pics. only two showers and two toilets open so late in the year Early October but they were very clean and warm. The river was clear, cold, with spawning landlocked red Kokanee swimming About. the deer were incredible..my son was enthralled , they came up and sniffed him, and my wife. No feeding the deer. They waited and begged with puppy dog eyes but got nothing but grass. This is a slice of heaven when you come at the right time and avoid the hoi polloi. If you come during rush hour, you will be disappointed. I will be back fo sho. it was an opportunity for my disabled son to see and be in nature. That was a delight

Wallowa Lake
Stephanie D.

Wonderful! Marvelous! I cannot rave about Wallowa Lake State Park enough. Whether you want to hike numerous trails, fish, take a boat out on the lake and lounge on one of the floating picnic areas, shop or have coffee, take a tram to the top of a mountain and see the valley, or veg out and watch nature in action, this is the place to be. You can stay in cabins, tents, or out under the stars. Wherever you are, you will be surrounded by beauty. I stayed in the Wallowa Lake area for a week and loved every moment. There are great places to shop, you can visit the nearby town of Joseph, or just enjoy the many outdoor adventures available near the lake. I highly recommend taking the tram to Mt. Howard, walking around the lake, or checking out the many hiking trails up into the mountains. You'll get a great workout and perhaps come across the waterfalls while you're at it. Definitely a great destination!

Joseph, OR
Brittany H.

This place is stunning! Not only is the park beautiful but also, the surrounding areas. The Wallowa mountains are breath taking and Joseph is an adorable, quaint town. The camp sites had ample space, plus a fire pit with a grill attached. The bathrooms were clean and the showers were warm & spacious! Dogs are welcome and they even have a little off leash area for them to romp around in. The lake itself has little picnic table throughout it where boats can pull up to and folks can eat or lay out.....super convenient! The only drawback was the beach area near our campground. It was super rocky/muddy so somewhat difficult to get comfortable. Also, there was so much geese poop that the smell was terrible. It was covering the entire beach area so there was nowhere to really stash your gear. But I definitely recommend going for the views and to get away from it all!!

Tubing in June

Great lake for boating. Water is a bit cold though. Great marina for mooriage, renting kayaks. Stunning views. Camp hosts were very knowledgable. Plenty of campfire wood to buy there at the campsites. Its a busy park so always be prepared with a reservation. There is a park with toys and volleyball net to play on. Bathrooms are clean with free showers. After every camper leaves, the hosts come and clean up the site. Deer everywhere in the park so travel slowly and put away food. Josephs is nearby and a fun little town to dine in ans shop. Great park for camping. My family always loves this place!

Edge of Lake Wallowa and the Mountains behind.
Amy B.

We stayed at Lake Wallowa Campground recently and it was a really nice place to stay! It's really pretty but it's a busy campground, so keep that in mind. We stayed in our trailer in the C Loop with full hook-ups, it was quieter in that area. There are lots of things to do and many hiking trails in the hills. A waterfall is located behind the A and B Loop. You will be climbing up some hiking trails to reach that one. There are several deer that frequent the campsites and are pretty friendly. Still, I don't advise to approach them. There were not many people out in the water since it's June, but I can see where it would be really refreshing once the temperatures get hotter. The bathrooms were kept up by the parks department were pretty clean. Right outside the campgrounds you will find a country store if you need any campsite supplies or food. There are a couple of restaurants in the area too. Along with that, there are mini golf courses, bumper boats, go kart track, and a gondola. Each have different costs. Internet and cell phone service is non-existant at the campground. You will need to drive 4 miles back to the town of Joseph for any internet or cell service. The town of Joseph had 2 gas stations along with bars, restaurants, shopping and stores. It was quite nice! We will be going back again next year since we had a really good time!

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Ask the Community - Wallowa Lake State Park

Review Highlights - Wallowa Lake State Park

I stayed in the Wallowa Lake area for a week and loved every moment.

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Park At the River - Waterfall at Wallowa

Park At the River

4.1(16 reviews)
0.6 mi

The staff are friendly, the park is tidy, and it's located in a beautiful and very convenient to…read moreeverything the Wallowa mountains offer. While it's right in the center of town, there are a number of sites that offer great mountain views, along with the relaxing sounds of the Wallowa River rushing along the edge of the park can make you feel as if you are there all alone. We've stayed there 3 years in a row, and couldn't be happier. However, do note that they do not allow dogs. You might see a couple during your stay, but they are "grandfathered" in because the policy went into effect last year. Longtime guests with pets that have proven to be well behaved do have doggie rights. Personally, we love the policy. While we like dogs, too many un-trained pets and clueless dog owners have led to troubling incidents forcing the owners to exclude them. If you have a dog, skip this park. We've not stayed in the cabins on site, but they look to be very comfortable as well.

Well located, by River, near food and activities including miniature golf, tram, and go karts, and…read morevery shaded and well maintained. We caught a last minute opening to stay in the Cabin by the River. To be honest it's cabin-like but it's set up to be a meeting, maybe wedding, like venue, so I would clarify it's missing that charm. Nonetheless, it's hard to fault it for being too roomy. The setting is great, particularly the deck. It's a studio, but big enough my wife could sleep while I hung out and not wake her. I might lean 4 stars, but am going 5 because other complaints about this place do not justify the 1 Star rating, as few places here allow dogs, are no cheaper, and don't have grounds as nice or as well maintained, so my fifth Star helps balance.

Photos
Park At the River - Moon over the Wallowas

Moon over the Wallowas

Park At the River - View as I write this review.  If you could hear the river like I can....

View as I write this review. If you could hear the river like I can....

Park At the River - Wallowa lake

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Wallowa lake

Hells Canyon Overlook - Apple Maps screen shot. Blue dot is where the overlook actually is. Roughly 30 more minutes.

Hells Canyon Overlook

4.0(3 reviews)
21.4 mi

Let me just start by saying it's a drive, but it's worth it. Just stunning views. It was about an…read morehour and a half from Joseph. Apple Maps* doesn't actually take you to the right spot (see my maps screen shot). I think Google maps is more accurate. Just keep following the road signs and you'll find it though! Amazing views and definitely worth the drive. There's public bathrooms (don't expect too much) and plenty of parking. There's only two, but we found an open picnic table and hung around with some wine for about an hour. No garbage cans so be prepared to take back what you bring with you. I would recommend taking snacks to picnic and make the most of it since the drive is long and windy.

Hells Canyon is a dramatic feature housing the Snake River along the Oregon/Idaho border. It's very…read morewell known for fishing and whitewater recreation. There are a couple of ways to experience Hells Canyon - you can drive down the canyon itself, take a boat tour past the dam (where the road ends), or you can head up into the Wallowas and score some spectacular views from up top. This is that up-top spot. To get to the overlook be ready to go deep up the National Forest Service roads. Mostly gravel. Take NF 39 off of State Route 86, and then turn up NF 490. This will take you close to the wilderness area and into gorgeous mountains studded with stands of evergreens, alpine meadows, and, at the right time of year, tons of wildflowers. The Wallowas are considered one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon... but that's a story for another review. This overlook is fairly primitive but has everything you need to take in the 270-degree panoramas from this vantage. Picnic tables, toilets, a parking area, and a small trail out to where you get the best views out over Hells Canyon. While the views from up here are expansive, they don't really do the canyon justice. It's hard to see deep down into the canyon from here. But that said, the views are still great. We visited in late June on a hot, early-summer year, so the wildflowers were in full effect at this location. Tons of delicate alpine flowers. So pretty! The interpretive signs give you some good info on the geography of the area as well as info on the local wolf population. So cool to be in the area where these endangered animals still roam. Coming from Portland, I hear about the gray wolves from time to time on NPR. It's great to be out where they actually might pass by every once in a while. It's a strong punctuation on the remoteness of the location. After soaking in views and catching a picnic here, you can continue on NF 490 to complete a loop down the NW side of the Wallowas into Wallowa lake and Joseph, a path we followed, which offers a ton of great gravel-road driving. Insane alpine views, sweet untouched air, and deep green solitude. I highly recommend taking this byway. A much more interesting way to get from nowhere to nowhere. The road less traveled.

Photos
Hells Canyon Overlook - Stunning views at the overlook!

Stunning views at the overlook!

Hells Canyon Overlook - Wildflowers at the parking area!

Wildflowers at the parking area!

Hells Canyon Overlook - Partial view

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Partial view

Eagle Cap Wilderness - Big Sheep Creek trail, first creek crossing

Eagle Cap Wilderness

4.2(5 reviews)
17.5 mi

This review is for one of the Big Sheep Creek trails accessed by the NF-100 road off Wallowa…read moreMountain Road (Loop). First off, Eagle Cap is a fabulous wilderness area. I love it and after this first time experience, we'll be back. That said, our hiking adventure was shorter than we'd planned because the creeks were still too high to allow all the several crossings necessary to do the several miles in that we wanted. We were too early in the season (late May). But we did get 2.6 miles of hiking in and enjoyed every bit of it. Fantastic scenery. The access road wasn't too bad even in a Toyota Corolla, although we were stopped by snow a few hundred yards short of the trailhead, Not that many critters, though. Highly recommended.

Nestled in the far northeast corner of Oregon lies a magical land of awe-inspiring mountain peaks,…read morealpine lakes filled with jumping trout, beautifully vibrant meadows, and miles upon miles of trails. This place doesn't get the love & press of it's northern neighbor, The Enchantments (Washington's Cascadian alpine wonderland), but I would argue this outdoor area is just as good....or dare I say: better? [[[[bracing myself for tomatoes and trash to be thrown at me]]]] OK, I'm only saying it's "better" because it's in more of a remote area (so less traffic), and you don't need to worry about measuring your luck with a permit lottery (it's probably not needed due to less traffic). So this place is definitely more approachable. The Eagle Cap Wilderness is a huge area (almost 600 square miles). It's still new to me, but in 2015, I had the pleasure of spending two trips up here, one in July & the other in Sept. It is an expansive area, but I would say, obviously enough, that Eagle Cap peak is the hub of the area. From Eagle Cap, you have spokes of mountain ranges and river valleys. There are several approaches to get you from lower elevations to the alpine region around Eagle Cap. For my first experience, we went for a less-traveled approach from the south: Eagle Creek Valley. The solitude here is surely something I daydream about, but I would have to say the 4th of July weekend has some brutally hot weather--especially when hiking uphill. We camped one night in this valley and made it over Horton Pass to a camp up in the alpine area for a couple of nights. While at Horton Pass, I took a side trip up to summit Eagle Cap. The views here were life-changing. MOSQUITO HEAVEN: July in Eagle Cap Wilderness was hot and there were mosquitoes up the ying yang! It as pretty unbearable. I slept in a bivy sack, and I cooked in it as the mosquitoes tried stealing my blood as they peered in at me through the face screen. Sleep was tough. But during the day, it was great to have day hikes around the area, jump in clear & cold lakes and to also wet a fly while pursuing trout. Fall is my preference though. In September we did an approach from the north and hiked up the East Lostine River Valley. Once you get above 5000, there is a long glacial valley which is just about the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Hiking this valley was surreal. The peaceful stream, the beautiful color of the vegetation, and Eagle Cap looking over us the whole time: perfect hiking! There's no mosquitoes at all, but the days are short. The weather is a little chilly, so no chance of taking a dip in the Lostine River. But it was pretty nice. The Lostine River approach is also an easier hike, too. You don't have to hike over a mountain pass. And you can pretty much get up to the alpine area after a few hours of hiking.

Photos
Eagle Cap Wilderness - Big Sheep Creek trail

Big Sheep Creek trail

Eagle Cap Wilderness - Big Sheep Creek trailhead parking area

Big Sheep Creek trailhead parking area

Eagle Cap Wilderness - Big Sheep Creek trail

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Big Sheep Creek trail

Lake Cascade State Park

Lake Cascade State Park

4.4(8 reviews)
77.6 mi

We reserved 2 nights at the Ridgeview campsite last minute. We are in no way camping experts much…read moreless own an RV (yet) but really wanted to check out the lake, campsites and the surrounding area. We read that this one had flush toilets and showers and we managed to reserve campsite #184 right near the facilities. We arrived a little after 1:00 and got set up right away. We went in the middle of the week right before Memorial Day so it wasn't full. Everyone had an RV and I only saw one other family tent camping. We bought the $5/bundle firewood which came with about 5 logs and it was enough for a few hours. I assume RV'ers bring their own! We hiked by the lake and the views are beautiful, there's even a little beach area. Pets are not allowed on the sand but you can bring them as long as they're leashed. The restroom/shower facilities were spotless but they close for cleaning from 1-2:30 daily. See my photos. Only 2 showers were open this time of the year, so it's best to go early in the evening. I ended up waiting about 15 minutes before a shower opened up. Unfortunately, it started raining in the middle of the night and the tent started leaking, so we cut our trip short and packed up at 0600. We only got to hang out for less than a day but it was still worth it to see the lake and scenic drive.

We had a great time camping here at the end of May! We stayed in the buttercup loop and although…read morethere are no hook ups it was wonderful and there was no one else in site except the host! We had so much fun kayaking and fishing and so did our chocolate lab! I think cascade will be an annual stop for us and looking forward to checking out the other loops!

Photos
Lake Cascade State Park - Fees 2024

Fees 2024

Lake Cascade State Park - Clear waters

Clear waters

Lake Cascade State Park

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Wallowa Lake State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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