You’ll be enchanted by the granite splendor of the Blue Mountains, the rugged grandeur of the Wallowa Mountains and the spectacular canyon country of the Snake River in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The Wallowa -Whitman National Forest contains 2.3 million acres ranging in elevation from 875 feet in Hells Canyon, to 9845 feet in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The varied forests are managed as sustainable ecosystems providing clean water, wildlife habitat and valuable forest products. And, for things to do and places to be, the Wallowa-Whitman is the setting for a variety of year-round recreation.
The Forest ranges from the Blue Mountains and rugged Wallowa Mountains down to the spectacular canyon country of the Snake River on the Idaho border. It is the largest National Forest administrative unit in the Pacific Northwest Region.
The forest is located in northeastern Oregon and western Idaho and runs the gamut elevation-wise from a lowly 875 feet in Hell’s Canyon to a lofty 9,845 feet. Plant life varies accordingly, from the desert-like countryside of Hells Canyon to the alpine vegetation of the Eagle Cap Wilderness and Seven Devils Mountains. In addition to the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the Forest includes three other wilderness areas; Hells Canyon, Monument Rock and North Fork John Day.
The Wallowa National Forest was created in 1908 from the combination of seven Forest Reserves and the Whitman National Forest was created in 1908 by combining three Forest Reserves. The Wallowa and Whitman National Forests have been managed as one since 1954.
Recreation
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest offers a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreational activities. The many activities include camping, picnicking, fishing, backpacking, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, hunting, four-wheel driving, motorcycle and ATV riding, downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The Forest has established campgrounds located throughout the Forest. If you prefer more solitude or want to explore the backcountry, most of the Forest is open for dispersed or backcountry camping. Some regulations apply. Typically, dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas or trailheads.
Traveler Facts
Contact Information
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
P. O. Box 907
1550 Dewey Avenue
Baker City, OR 97814
Phone: 541-523-6391
