Minam State Park is springing ahead. There is still a lot of rain and muddy days ahead but it is making our campground very green! We are gearing up for our busy season at Wallowa Lake State Park, but a great and quieter alternative is to spend the night at our rustic campground- Minam State Park. Looking for a place to do some daytime activities? Minam State Park is also a great place for your outdoor needs as it caters heavily to river rafters and is popular for fishing.
Spring has been felt in many ways: we have turned our clocks an hour ahead, seen the snow starting to melt, and have passed the technical “1st day of spring” on our calendars. However, if you have not been here to visit during spring time then here are some things you can expect! Spring in the Wallowas can be a bit different from those towns located at lower elevations. Joseph and Wallowa Lake are located at around 4,200 feet and still have patches of snow in the valley and packed snow up on the trails. Lake temperatures are still frigid but we have seen many fisherman out of the lake trying their luck! Campers are coming in for spring break to enjoy the snow and sunshine- we hope you will join us too.
‘First Day Hike 2018’ was a great way to welcome in the year! We had a good turn out of people come to Wallowa Lake State Park to participate in our activities. Ranger Dutcher presented some history about the park and provided some warm tea and cocoa! Shortly after, Ranger Barber lead a guided hike into the Wallowa-Whitman National forest and to B.C falls. If you haven’t been hiking or snowshoeing up here in the winter- we promise you wont be sorry! The views are beautiful this time of year. Please remember to dress appropriately and bring proper gear for your hikes.
It is certainly not as cold or harsh a winter as last year, however, the nights are creeping down in temperatures. There is still plenty to do at the park and in town. During the summers, our park is a fun-filled environment and while it caters to many people. On the other hand, Wallowa Lake can also provide some “one-on-one” reflective time in the silent days of winter. Come experience our park and feel reconnected to your own piece of “the little alps”.
Winter is one of the most gorgeous times of the year in Wallowa county. If you haven’t been able to come see our park yet- this is the time of year to do it. Wallowa Lake State Park is open all year round! There are limited sites available for reservations on line as most of our park operates as a “first-come-first-serve” basis. Have you tried our yurts? They are a great way to winter camp as you enjoy the skiing at Ferguson Ridge or snow shoeing in the back country! Happy trails.
Have you ever seen a river run red with fish? Every year up here at Wallowa Lake, the river is filled with these Kokanee salmon during spawning season as they make their way to the lake. Although it is illegal to fish the river during this time, it is always a treat to go and see them. Come on up here and see for yourself!
It is that time of year that Wallowa Lake State Park starts recruiting volunteers and hosts for the 2018 summer season. Do you want to join our staff in tackling projects, helping our visitors, and enjoying the Eagle cap wilderness all the while making new friends and memories? We would love to hear from you! Our volunteers help our staff run our park and maintain its strive for excellence while providing excellent customer service. Many of our hosts return but we always have open spots for others who have not been with us before. Thank you to our host this summer- we couldn’t do it without you!
Please contact Shawnae Stanton at lakelinks in the comments section.
Happy Friday! We wanted to show a sneak peak and spoiler alert of what the eclipse is going to look like – in case some of our visitors and guests were not aware. The total solar eclipse is happening on August 21st, 2017! Make sure you head on outside around 10AM (PST) in the morning to watch the event if you are in Oregon. We know we will be! Don’t forget to wear those UV protective eye glasses.
Well we may not have the tigers, but we have sighted a lot of wildlife this past month at Iwetemlakin State Heritage Site. These include: many new fawns, bears headed up for berries, and birds of types. Due to more animal activity, we like to remind our visitors to keep in mind “Leave-no-trace” behind. Please help us protect our wildlife by picking up your sites and personal belongings before heading out for the day. Happy trails!
Are you an avid fisherman? Say no more. Wallowa Lake is the perfect spot for all your fishing needs. The lake is stocked with Steel Head and Kokanee salmon and is the ideal spot for your early morning fishing or late night cast. We are positive that we have the picture perfect view for your day out on the water. Come get hooked and see what all the fuss is about.
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