Wandering in the Wallowas

Billed as one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon, the Wallowa Mountains are an unrivaled marvel within our stunning state. Granite mountains, alpine meadows, glacial lakes, cascading rivers, and abundant wildlife all make this area a truly remarkable playground.

Since they are tucked away in the very Northeast corner of Oregon, though, the breathtaking views of this mountain range are often overlooked. The drive out to the Wallowas is just over 6 hours from Bend, depending on which trailhead you’re using. The Eagle Cap Wilderness area has the highest and most popular concentration of trails and has many points through which to access it.

For this trip, I was heading over for the Wallowa Lake Alpenfest to perform with my Bavarian dance group. The plan was to sneak in a couple days of hiking beforehand. I used the Wallowa Lake Trailhead as my starting point to wander up the west fork of the Wallowa River. Ice Lake was my base camp for two nights while I made a run up to the summit of the Matterhorn. Please enjoy the following pictures from this truly amazing journey!

West Fork Wallowa River trail

Beginnings of fall color

West Fork Wallowa River valley

Ice Lake

False summit of the Matterhorn. The true summit is behind this peak at 9,826 feet.

Hurricane Creek and Eagle Cap Wilderness

Returning from the summit looking down on Ice Lake 

One last look back towards the lake

Sparks Lake in September

Typically by this time of year, the water at Sparks Lake has almost entirely drained. It makes its way through the porous lava rock and travels through the earth before popping up again at a stream. But this year, because of the significant winter snow, and some recent snow and rain, the lake has retained its water late into the season. 

While there are hundreds of Cascade Lakes, Sparks Lake remains one of our favorites. Wildlife like bald eagles, beavers, and tree frogs are often visible as well as some of the most stunning views of the Cascade Range. Its windy fingers make you feel like you are discovering a place for the first time, and the frigid waters remind you that you're paddling on (or swimming in) snowmelt. 

Reason #1 to bring a Hydro Flask of hot cocoa on the tour... Sometimes those early morning paddles in the fall are cold! 

Photos by Danny Walden

Pacific Wonderland

For almost 30 years, our friends at Deschutes Brewery have been pumping out some pretty amazing beer. From hoppy IPAs to smooth porters to refreshing pale ales, there is truly something for everyone, in every season. One of our current favorites (that we often bring on our Moonlight Canoe Tour) is the Pacific Wonderland Lager. We never thought that we could identify so closely with a beer, but here we are, raising a glass to a beer we believe in. We are inspired by the place we call home. We cannot get enough of the snow capped mountains, the rushing rivers, the expansive desert, the smell of juniper in the air. Just watch this video and tell me you don't feel inspired to get out and do something fun right now! 

Because we love this place so much, we also want to be sure to take good care of it for our children and the generations to come. That's why we love Deschutes Brewery even more. They are always giving back to their community. Not only do they regularly donate to local charities, Deschutes Brewery is also committed to environmental protection. Through the Deschutes River Concervancy (which we talked about a few weeks ago), the brewery has pledged to put one billion gallons of water back into the Deschutes River. They also work hard to offset 100% of their electrical power usage from renewable sources. We could not be more proud to serve (and drink) their beer.