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Wallowa Mountains Office
& Visitor Center
Hells Canyon NRA , Eagle Cap RD , and Wallowa Valley RD
88401 Hwy. 82
Enterprise , OR 97828
(541) 426-5546
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Last Updated March 25, 2009
We now have all of the criteria for the Winter season.
Lots of snow and cool temperatures! Weekend snow accumulations helped
cover some icy lower elevation conditions. Snow flurries are predicted
the rest of this week. Think SNOW! Also, make SAFETY a part of your
trip. Avalanche danger is high at this time.
Snow depths at Salt Creek Summit Sno-Park (6100 feet elevation) are
at 36" and more. Road conditions to the Sno-Park include snow
and occasionally rocks in the road that have fallen off of the sidehills.
Travel with caution and preferrably with four wheel drive vehicles.
Plowing to the Sno-Park has begun because enough snow has fallen to
warrant plowing.
GENERAL RECREATION INFORMATION
The Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center and Offices is the headquarters for the Eagle Cap Ranger District, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area , and Wallowa Valley Ranger District. It is located on the north end of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest . Access to this area includes State Highway 82 east of La Grande, Oregon and State Highway 3 (south of Lewiston , Idaho ).
The north end has over 175 miles of designated snowmobile trails and approximately 20 miles of designated cross-country ski trails. The majority of the groomed trails are centered out of Salt Creek Summit Sno-Park with one of the main snowmobile routes (FS Rd 39) connecting to Pine Ranger District (south end of Wallowa-Whitman National Forest). This area offers open forest suitable for sledding, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, and other winter recreation activities.
VEHICLE ACCESS AND SNOWPLOWING ACTIVITY
Plowed County & Forest
Roads |
Plowed to |
Parking at |
Notes |
Forest Rd. 39 |
Salt Creek Sno-Park |
At turnouts along Forest Rd. 39 and at SnoPark
|
Forest Rd. 39 jct. is 8 miles east of Joseph
on State Hwy. 350 (Imnaha Hwy )
|
Tucker Down County Rd. 633 |
Ferguson Ridge Ski Area & Sno-Park |
At turnouts along road and Ferguson Ridge Ski
Area & Sno-Park |
County Rd. 633 is 4 miles east of Joseph on
State Hwy. 350 ( Imnaha Hwy ) |
SNO-PARKS
Sno-Parking area parking lots and adjacent parking areas at the end
of the plowed road serve the ski area users and other winter recreationists.
Sno-Park permits are required to park vehicles and trailers
in these areas from December 1 through April 30. Sno-Park
permit sales are used to fund plowing of the Sno-Parks. Failure to
display a permit in the windshield while parked in a Sno-park can
result in a citation and fine. If you are from Idaho, California or
Washington and have a current and valid Sno-Park permit to use from
your residence state, they will be honored in Oregon.
Sno-Park |
Location |
Comments |
Salt Creek Sno-Park
Ferguson Ridge
Sno-Park |
20 miles southeast of Joseph, Or Forest Rd 3900
7.5 miles southeast of
Joseph, Or on Tucker Down Rd #633 |
The site has parking space for approximately
55 vehicles with trailers.
The site has parking space for approximately 6-8 vehicles |
A Day or seasonal Sno-Park permit may be purchased from one of the following businesses:
Oregon Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Enterprise , Oregon (541) 426-4024
Monday – Friday 10:00 am - 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 5 pm
Outlaw Motor Sports, Enterprise , OR 97828 (541) 426-3491
Monday – Friday 8:00 am-5:30 pm & Saturday 8:00 am-12:00 pm
Sports Corral, Joseph , Oregon (541) 432-4363
Monday – Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 a.m.
SNOWMOBILE ROUTES
Snowmobile trails on the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and Wallowa
Valley Ranger District are groomed by the Wallowa County Gamblers
Snowmobile Club per Memorandum of Understanding with the Forest Service.
Motorized vehicle traffic is prohibited in areas posted as designated
snowmobile routes .
For more current grooming and trail conditions, call one
of the Gambler's Snowmobile Club members listed below.
Wilderness areas are closed to snowmobiles & other motorized
use .
TRAIL NAME |
TRAIL # |
TERMINI |
MILES |
GROOMED |
Wallowa Mtn. Loop |
3900 |
Salt Cr. to Jct. of FS Rd. 6600 |
30.0 |
03-19-09 |
Divide |
3915 |
|
6.0 |
03-12-09 |
Duck Lake/Fish Lake |
6600 |
|
12.0 |
02-11-09 |
Haas Owl Loop |
2025 |
|
8.0 |
002-26-09 |
Harl Butte |
3930 |
|
15.0 |
02-26-09 |
Jaynes Ridge |
3965 |
|
10.0 |
02-12-09 |
Lick Creek |
023 |
|
4.0 |
03-05-09 |
Lick Cr/Coverdale |
3925 |
|
9.2 |
03-19-09 |
Target Springs |
3905 |
|
5.0 |
02-26-09 |
Wayside #3950 Loop |
3950 |
Salt Creek to Coverdale via 39 Rd, Wayside #3950
|
|
03-19-09 |
Tenderfoot |
100 Rd |
|
1.5 |
03-12-09 |
Indian Crossing |
3960 |
|
9.0 |
03-05-09 |
200 Rd. Loop |
200 Rd. |
|
10.0 |
03-19-09 |
Dry Cr. |
3962 |
|
6.0 |
02-26-09 |
Hells Canyon O.L. |
3965 |
|
9.0 |
02-26-09 |
Upper Imnaha (Fish Weir) |
|
|
7.0 |
02-26-09 |
Doe Cr. #3980 |
|
|
8.0 |
NO |
NORDIC SKI TRAILS
TRAIL NAME |
TRAIL NO. |
DESCRIPTIONS |
DIFFICULTY |
MILES |
Summit Loop Trail |
#1644 |
A flat, easy ½ hour ski loop suited for
beginners. It has several gentle hills and passes through open
meadows with stands of both live and burned trees |
Easiest |
1.3 - signed |
Mtn. View Loop |
#1646 |
Access is from the east end of the Divide Loop.
You should allow 3 to 4 hours time to ski round trip from the
Sno-Park. This trail has several steep hills on the north and
west sides of the loop and may be skied in either direction.
The east half of the loop is a flat ridgetop through open meadows
with views of Wing ridge in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. |
More Difficult |
2.9 - signed |
Divide Loop Trail |
#1645 |
An extension of the Summit Loop, you should
allow 1 to 1.5 hours round trip from the parking lot. Skiing
the loop clockwise is recommended to enjoy a steep descent on
the west side, just north of the junction with the Summit Loop.
There is a gradual ascent on the north end of the loop, and
the remainder is on a flat ridge top. The trail passes through
many open meadows and some burned areas. |
More Difficult |
1.7 - signed |
Devils View Loop |
#1652
|
1.5 hours to ski this intermediate loop. Excellent
views of the Seven Devils Mountains to the east |
More Difficult
|
1.8 - signed |
Wagon Road Trail
|
#1819 |
This is a 1.5 – 2 hour ski one way to the junction
of the big Sheep Cutoff Trail with many nice views of the Seven
Devils Mtns. This trail winds along the lower slopes of Wing
Ridge with several gradual ascents while traveling south |
More Difficult
|
4.1 - signed |
Big Sheep Cutoff |
#1819A |
A challenging set of switchbacks negotiates
2200 feet of elevation change |
Most Difficult |
0.5 - signed |
|
|
|
|
|
Comments : Nordic ski trails are marked but not groomed . Up-to-date Nordic trail and snowmobile information is available at the Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center (426-5546). PLEASE remember grooming and trail conditions can change rapidly according to the weather.
Local Club Contacts :
Wallowa County Gamblers
Gary Bethscheider, President, (541) 432-6853 or (541) 263-0304
Dan Thompson, Vice President, (541) 432-0912
Eagle Cap Nordic Club
Ken Bronec, President, (541) 432-3281
WINTER ACTIVITY – OUTFITTER AND GUIDES
Wallowa Alpine Huts
500 N. River
Enterprise, OR 97828
Telephone: (541) 426-4887
1-800-545-5537
Website: http://www.wallowahuts.com |
Wing Ridge Ski Tours
PO Box 714
Joseph , OR 97846
Telephone: (541) 432-0712
1-800-646-9050
Website: http://www.wingski.com/
|
The above outfitter and guides are equal opportunity service providers operating under special use permit administered by the USDA – Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest :
DEVELOPED CAMPING AND DAY USE SITES
All Campgrounds and day use sites are not maintained in the off season.
Be advised that there are no services, clean up or safety inspections provided during the off season.
Users will need to bring their own water, toilet paper and other supplies and are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and hauling away any trash or other waste they generate. PACK IT IN – PACK IT OUT!!!!
Enjoy your Winter Outdoor Activities… BE PREPARED BY:
Checking the weather forecast.
Checking your vehicle for fuel and operation.
Letting someone know your timetable; and primary and alternate routes.
Taking along communication devices (like a cell phone or two-way radios).
Dressing appropriately in warm, water proof clothing.
Carrying a Winter Storm Survival Kit.
Watching out for un-maintained and unsafe trail conditions. Areas of caution include: slides, logs and blowdown trees across trails, icy or melted sections, and avalanches.
Enjoy your outdoor winter activity on
the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest !
|