The Wallowa Mountains are a hidden gem in the northeastern corner of Oregon. Rising up from the mile-deep canyon of the Snake River on the Idaho border, these peaks reach almost 10,000 feet. Eagle Cap Wilderness Area covers most of these mountains, offering great backpacking opportunities. Join us on this amazing week-long hike through the high country, complete with alpine lakes, glacier-carved valleys, lush meadows, and incredible sights. The group plans to hike 4-6 miles most days. Trails in the Wallowas can be more challenging, but result is some of the most amazing views in the PNW. This wilderness is one of the best kept secrets in the Pacific Northwest and looks much like the Swiss Alps!
(actual itinerary will be adjusted to the weather and group)
Arrival Day: Arrive to campus in the morning, meet your group and collect any outdoor gear you are borrowing from College Outdoors. Eat lunch on campus, then drive about 7hrs to the Wallowa Lake State Park campground.
Day 2: Hike 6-7 hours with some elevation to campsite 1, a beautiful alpine lake.
Day 3: Shorter day! Hike 2 hours to campsite 2, play games and explore the area.
Day 4: Longest day! Around 10 hours of hiking with time for breaks and food, before arriving at campsite 3.
Day 5: Rest day, games, and chill time, explore nearby lake, stay at campsite 3.
Day 6: Hike about 2 hours to campsite 4, LC Night! Learn about Lewis & Clark from current students.
Day 7: Hike 2 hours out to the trailhead and into town to reunite with other backpacking groups and the Hike & Paddle Oregon’s Alps group. Stay at the lodge for hearty food, skits, games, showers, and real beds!
Final Day: Return to campus, clean up gear, move into dorms, and eat one last meal with your group!
The rugged Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon shoot up to nearly 10,000 feet and are more similar to the Rockies than the Cascades, with granitic ridges and Ponderosa forests. These are the traditional homelands of the Nez Perce tribe, who named the mountains for the nearby Wallowa River (pronounced Wal-OW-ah), meaning “fish trap” in the Nez Perce language. This rugged and remote range is actually the remnant of tropical islands! Its peaks and valleys are home to Indigenous people (including Chief Joseph), miners, and ranchers. There are over fifty sparkling alpine lakes here, scoured out by glaciers in the last Ice Age. The Wallowas are gorgeous mountains, often described as the “Oregon Alps.” Streams are crystal clear and wildflowers will still be in bloom in late August.
Your trip will begin at a campground on Wallowa Lake, spend six spectacular nights in the backcountry, and end with a night at the summer camp with Hike & Stand-Up Paddleboard Oregon’s Alps Trip group. On the last day of your trip, we’ll pack up and head back to Portland the evening before New Student Orientation begins. The Wallowas are about a 7-hour drive from Portland, and well worth the trip. You will be carrying a backpack with everything you need that will weigh somewhere between 40 and 60 lbs, depending on your weight and your physical condition. The trails in the Wallowas climb into the heart of the rugged mountains, so the trails are often steep. You will hike through ponderosa forests, alpine meadows, glacial carved valleys, and camp by mountain streams and remote lakes. Not everyone in the group will want to hike at the same speed, so we’ll do what is best for the group when it comes to hiking pace, routes, campsites, and day hikes. Most days you’ll hike 3-5 miles, and one day you’ll have the challenge (and accomplishment!) of hiking nearly 10 miles over Polaris Pass. Depending on your route, you may enjoy a layover day in the middle of the trip with options to relax at camp, or explore on day hikes. Vegetation and weather are similar to that found in the Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado mountains (August weather is typically dry and sunny early in the day). The weather can be a beautiful 80° F at noon, and then be snowing by evening. It’s not uncommon to have a little snow in late August in the Wallowas. Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning are common, but tend to be fairly short. It’s not unheard of to have a rainy period lasting several days. Nights are generally cool to cold in the mountains, and the temperature can drop below freezing at night. We practice minimum-impact camping techniques
such as packing out all litter and food waste, not using soap in streams or lakes, and not camping on fragile meadows. We’ll go over these practices before we head out.
No problem! This trip is designed for beginners and perfect for any adventurous spirit who wants to explore, bond with a small-group of peers, and see some of the Pacific Northwest’s most spectacular trails.
No backpacking experience required! We’ll teach you everything you need to know.
Prep for the pack: Borrow a backpack (any size), fill it with 4-gallon (1 gal. = 8 lbs) jugs and take a walk! It will feel heavy at first but don’t worry - it gets easier! You can learn how to fit your pack properly so that the weight is on your hips. You can start off with just a little extra weight, and gradually increase throughout the summer, up to 20% of your body weight.
Break in your hiking boots: If you are getting new-to-you boots for this trip, you’ll want to wear them around in the weeks leading up to the trip. New boots + long treks = painful blisters. It is very important to break in your boots by wearing them with a pack for extended periods prior to your trip.
Get moving: It’s a great idea to walk or run this summer to get yourself into shape. This trip is rated as high physical rigor. Start of slow but add more distance and weight to your practice backpack throughout the summer so that you can be comfortable hiking 4-6 miles for days on end, with a backpack that weighs approximately 20% of your total body weight.
These forms can be completed only after you have received a trip placement email, and are due by Wednesday, June 18, 2025. You will need to log into your L&C Portal to complete these forms.
