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High Wallowa Loop National Recreation Trail #1813

The High Wallowa Loop National Recreation Trail (#1813) is composed of a main loop trail and two side spurs going to the Royal Purple Overlook and the Northern Overlook. All three trails total about 1.2 miles. The trail begins on top of Mount Howard at the Wallowa Lake Tramway building and loops around the mountain top. The summit provides spectacular views of the Wallowa Mountains, the deep blue waters of Wallowa Lake, the majestic peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the distant Seven Devil Mountains of Idaho and the Wallowa Valley below with the communities of Joseph, Enterprise, and Wallowa in the distance. The gondola is the steepest vertical lift for a four passenger gondola in North America.

Difficulty level: Overall 'easy' to 'more difficult'

Current Conditions
Current Conditions

Specific Trail Information

Trail Type

Standard/Terra Trail — A trail that has a surface consisting predominantly of the ground and that is designed and managed to accommodate use on that surface.

General Information

Late May

No fees are required for this site. However to access the trail by way of the Wallowa Lake Tramway you will need to purchase a tram ticket. The tram operates from late May through early September.

No

General rules of use and restrictions apply for this developed recreation site.

Getting There

Directions

From Joseph, Oregon travel south on Highway 351 for 6 miles around Wallowa Lake to the Wallowa Lake Tramway; The trail can be accessed from the tramway.

Additional Information

Operated By

Wallowa Lake Tramway

Last updated June 12th, 2025