New Wallowa Lake hike leads to spectacular views, commune with cows
When traveling to the Wallowa Mountain area, you’ll find no shortage of amazing hikes with views of the so-called “Oregon Alps.” The Wallowa Lake East Moraine, which opened to the public only a couple years ago, is one worth adding to your bucket list.
The 3-mile round-trip trail is moderately easy. Gorgeous views come quickly as you walk over mostly smooth dirt road.
I trekked to the panoramic view of the lake with Kel Hoffman, who regularly heads out with his German shorthair pointer mix, Finn. Hoffman also works with the Wallowa Land Trust that partnered with the county, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Nez Perce Tribe to acquire the land in 2020.
'A textbook perfect moraine'
Late September was a great time to visit, the cool air and lack of fellow hikers (or bugs) making the at times steep uphill climb much more enjoyable. During the spring, you can spot wildflowers cropping up, but the fall foliage transition was gorgeous, too.
The trailhead is located along Highway 351, a few miles south of Joseph with shoulder parking available. There’s a kiosk with information about the trail, but otherwise, don’t expect much signage along the hike. Luckily, the road is well-maintained and easy to follow.
While scaling the East Moraine may just feel like walking up a big hill, its history makes it unique. The Wallowa Lake moraines were formed when a glacier moved down from the mountain range, pushing up earth on each side and melting to form the gorgeous body of water.
“People call it a textbook perfect moraine," Hoffman said. "People study this as a prime example of a glacial moraine, all this land pushed up by this river of ice flowing in and out over eons.”
Despite being right off the highway, the trail is serene, as you weave through grassland with peeks of the lake and the Wallowa Mountains throughout. Hoffman and I ventured out on a windy evening with cloud cover that obscured mountain caps but created beautiful swirling patterns with glimmers of sun.
The trail started easy, but I started feeling the burn in my legs and lungs about halfway up the moraine. It’s still plenty fine for kids and those with little hiking experience, but pacing yourself is advised. Hoffman and I began spotting more and more cow patties the farther we went, signaling progress toward the top, where the animals graze as part of the land’s multi-use mission.
The moraine continues to be managed collaboratively, making it a unique hiking destination in the area, with most other spots owned by the state or federal government. Hoffman said the collaboration is challenging and rewarding.
“It creates an opportunity for the county's values to be reflected on the land, as compared to a state park or national park dictating usage,” Hoffman said. “And that's a double edged sword. Some things are being done well — other things we're definitely learning about. This is a reflection of how people feel about the land that they live on.”
It’s all very new to the land trust and other partners. It’s hard to imagine gatekeeping such gorgeous open space, but before the 1,791-acre landmass was transferred to the county, it belonged to a family trust.
Balancing multiple interests on the land
While the West Moraine had largely been developed for housing, the East Moraine is relatively untouched. The partnership formed and worked for a decade to raise the $6.5 million needed to purchase the vulnerable parcel to keep it that way.
The inclusion of varying interests play out through the land. Parts of the trail system are also open for grazing, horseback riding and mountain biking, and some acreage is harvested for commercial logging.
Active listening to the Nez Perce Tribe’s input on land management and cultural engagement are a big part of Hoffman’s job as well. Recognizing the history of the tribe and their removal from the area and giving them space to collect first foods and medicines again is important to the land trust, Hoffman said.
“Preserving the natural setting is part of preserving their way of life,” he said about the Nez Perce. “We’re going on a learning journey, meeting with different tribes and trying to understand how what we do impacts them negatively or positively, where there’s room for organizational and interpersonal growth and collaboration.”
Conservation for wildlife is also a big part of the mission. The area serves as a migration corridor for diverse species like elk, mule deer, bobcats, cougar and more on their way to the Zumwalt Prairie to the north.
Dozens of cows greeted Hoffman, Finn and I once we reached the end of the hike. They stared vacantly at us as we moved toward the edge of a golden field for a full view of Wallowa Lake set underneath the tree-covered mountains. The experience of both the utility and recreation of the moraine made for a unique experience unlike anything else I found in the area.
More information about visiting the East Moraine is available on the Wallowa Land Trust website.
East Moraine Trailhead
In a nutshell: A fairly quick and easy there-and-back trail up the Wallowa Lake East Moraine near the Wallowa Mountain Range in northeastern Oregon.
Distance: About 3 miles round-trip (out-and-back trail).
Climb: About 900 feet.
Begins and ends: East Moraine Trailhead, off of Highway 351. 3.6 miles south of Joseph.
Olivia Stevens is the Statesman Journal's 2023 outdoors journalism intern. She can be reached at OStevens@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @byoliviastevens.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Wallowa Lake East Moraine offers hiking, cows and stunning views
