The Wallowas wilderness is unlike anywhere else in Oregon. They don’t call it the Swiss Alps of Oregon for no reason. This is my second time visiting this stunning wilderness area. It’s no doubt that these hikes will be some of the hardest I’ve ever completed!
On this blog post you will learn what we thought of the trail, how to prepare, and how to get there. Let’s get into it!
Getting to the Wallowas
From Eugene the Wallowas is 8 hours-Portland it is 5. Located at the easternmost point of Oregon, the Wallowas are remote, and contain some of the hardest backpacking in Oregon due to the sheer size of the mountains. Quite the drive out there so I suggest you have everything aligned that you want to do before making the trip out. What is nice about this wilderness area is that you don’t need to book permits in advance, just at the trailhead before you hike.
When you drive this way, you are transported into old western themed towns carved out by the Oregon Trail. This was my second time visiting the Wallowas-to backpack Ice Lake.
Backpacking Ice Lake
Duration: 15.6 miles round trip
Elevation: 3,356 feet of elevation gain
Dogs: allowed on leash; there are horses on this trail so be aware you will be sharing the route with them
Camp rules: be sure to set up camp at least 50 feet from other campers. Even if you are tired set your bag down and find room for privacy. Folks don’t hike all this way to be right next to your neighbor.
Leave No Trace: pack a poop shovel and do not leave toilet paper after you do your business. To brush up on the rules of this wilderness area before you go I suggest contacting the ranger station and reviewing here.
The Hike Itself
This hike is hard and I am not going to sugar coat it! You hike up beautiful alpine meadows, steep switchbacks, and are exposed to the sun the majority of the trail before reaching the lake. I would suggest starting early in the morning if you are hiking during summer months. We did this hike in July and started in the afternoon. It was extremely hot and there are only a couple streams to fill up on water along the way. We started our hike at the Wallowa Lake Trailhead where you fill out your hiking information and leave the attached portion in your car.
The Trail
For this trail there is no climbing, just hiking straight up into the lake basin. It is pretty well marked and you most likely will see other hikers out on the trail here. We were thankfully using our Garmin Explorer + as we approached the lake basin because we were SO tired and felt like we would never get there before dark. Again, this is a great reason to start early and not hike during the hottest part of the day.
Reaching the lake basin was unlike anything else. Truly. We were so defeated but pleasantly surprised by the amount of space we could choose from to camp. There are shaded areas which was key for the dogs. Unfortunately being the time of year it was we were getting absolutely destroyed by mosquitos. Be prepared for that if you are hiking after snowmelt.
This area is known for having wildlife. According to trip reports there have been people who have seen wolfs, deer, and bighorn sheep. We only saw deer while at our campsite. They seemed to be hungry for human food so we made sure not to share with them or leave any food out.
What To Pack
Depending on the time of year, you want to be prepared going into this hike. We hiked in July so it was quite hot out. A basic list of items that we packed include:
- Backpack- I use the Gregory Maven 55L on this hike
- Tent-I used the Big Agnes HVUL 3 person
- Sleeping bag
- Electrolytes-I make sure to drink 1 whole one before going into elevation to avoid headaches!
- Poop shovel and biodegradable soap-make sure not to wash your hands in lakes and streams.
- Garmin InReach Explorer +– make sure your subscription and texting works before you leave
- Mosquito repellant for the bugs. They were nonstop while we visited so be prepared.
- Proper layers for weather. No rain on the forecast so we opted for puffy jackets and layers due to the heat and cold at night. If rain is on the forecast a poncho is my favorite hiking accessory.
Summary
Overall we enjoyed the destination of Ice Lake. I will say though, I have been to the Eagle Cap side before and I loved that hike more. There is more to see within a short day hike without having to pick up camp.
Ice Lake is no easy feat to get to. Although the climb is steep, you are bound to see many wildflower blooms, views of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, and eventually the Ice Lake basin in itself. One down side is many people hire horses to take them up into the basin with their gear; meaning you will dodge quite a bit of horse poop on the hike up. This was a little annoying to deal with since we had our dogs with us. If I went again I would probably leave them at home.
Overall the Wallowas Wilderness is an area most people should see.
Not into hiking? I suggest taking the tramway up to the viewpoint so you can see she sheer size of the mountains. Wallowa Lake is another great destination to rent a cabin and travel around the lake by boat. I know this is on my list!
Have you backpacked Ice Lake before? Leave a note in the comments! I would love to hear about your experience.
