Wallowa Lake Tramway

Chief Joseph Mountain (9616 ft/2931 m). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Wallowa Lake, looking south to the Wallowa Mountains. Mt. Howard, the location of the tram, is the broad mountain in the middle. The conical peak to the right is actually a cross-sectional view of the ridge dividing the East (to left) and West (to right) Wallowa Rivers. The tan ridge to the left is the large lateral moraine that forms the east edge of Wallowa Lake. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Trail to viewpoint. Sacajawa Peak (9838 ft/2999 m) in the distance. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Plump California ground squirrel near the upper tram station. These guys are obviously used to handouts. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Sacajawea Peak (9838 ft/2999 m). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

The Matterhorn (9827 ft/2995 m). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Bonneville Mountain (to right). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Wallowa Lake from the top. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Eagle Cap (9572 ft/2918 m). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Ridge dividing the East and West Wallowa Rivers. Bonneville Mountain is the high point in the middle. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Sign at the top. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

View south. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

The upper tramway station with the Summit Grill. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Wallowa Lake and the tramway. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

View northeasterly. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Chief Joseph Mountain (9616 ft/2931 m). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Top of the tramway. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Sacajawea Peak (right; 9838 ft/2999 m) and The Matterhorn (white peak on ridge to left; 9827 ft/2995 m). Eagle Cap (9572 ft/2918 m) at extreme left. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Trail to viewpoints west. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Wallowa Lake from the tramway. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Looking down the tramway. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Upper tramway station. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

View out the gondola. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Wallowa Lake from the gondola. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Lower tramway station. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Tickets. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Canyon of the West Wallowa River, with The Matterhorn (the white peak; 9827 ft/2995 m) above. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

The Wallowa Mountains have been called the Oregon Alps. They are a rugged, glaciated range in northeastern Oregon, with peaks near 10,000 feet that consist of granite and metamorphic rock that is very different from the better-known Cascade volcanoes.

Much of the Wallowa (wuhl-OW-uh) Mountains lie within the Eagle Cap Wilderness, one of the first wilderness areas in the country (originally established as the Eagle Cap Primitive Area in the 1930s). A large lake of glacial origin, Wallowa Lake lies immediately north of the range and is the main point of access.

As might be expected, views of the high country in the Wallowas usually require a grueling hike. There’s one exception, however: views via the Wallowa Lake Tramway. Still the steepest tramway in North America, it rises some 3,700 feet from a station near the south end of Wallowa Lake to the summit of Mt. Howard at 8,256 feet. There is a network of hiking trails at the summit, plus what is said to be the highest restaurant in Oregon, the Summit Grill at the upper tramway station.

Know Before You Go

Take Oregon State Route 82 to Joseph and follow it through town, where it turns into Oregon SR 351. Continue following 351 along the east side of Wallowa Lake to the little settlement at the south end of the lake. Keep left at the turnoff to Wallowa Lake State Park; the tramway station is about 1/4 mile ahead on the left.