Eight valleys radiate from 9572-foot Eagle Cap, the rock hub of the Wallowa Mountains. Although Eagle Cap is not quite the tallest peak in this range, its 360-degree view is unmatched, and a surprisingly well-graded trail climbs to the summit from the East Lostine River’s meadows. If your goal’s the summit, plan on a two-day trip. If you’re out for a day hike, settle for a view of the cliff-edged peak from the Lostine meadows or Mirror Lake.

Note that group size is limited to 12 on trails and 6 in camps. Tents must be at least 100 feet from lakeshores, grazing horses must be at least 200 feet from lakes, and campfires are banned within a quarter mile of Mirror Lake.

Drive Interstate . . .

. . .  Peer over a cliff to the east for a breathtaking look down at barren Glacier Lake. To the left, blue-green lakes dot the forested Lake Basin beneath the white cliffs of the Matterhorn. Still farther left, meadows roll down the barrel-shaped East Lostine River valley toward the Two Pan Trailhead where you began.

Other Options

Several backpacking loops return . . .

This chapter is an excerpt from 100 Hikes: Eastern Oregon