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A great trail to the stunningly beautiful Ice Lake with options of climbs up the Matterhorn and Sacajawea Peak.


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Map Key

7.8

Miles

12.6

KM

71%

Runnable

9,773' 2,979 m

High

5,504' 1,678 m

Low

4,658' 1,420 m

Up

414' 126 m

Down

12%

Avg Grade (7°)

36%

Max Grade (20°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

This trail is enters the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the usual federal wilderness area regulations and restrictions apply here. Practice Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics, camp 100 feet from fragile areas, bury human waste at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites.

This trail is usually closed by snow between November and May.

Description

Aside from the Lakes Basin, Ice Lake is perhaps the most popular destination in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, featuring an amazing lake plus nearby climbs of two iconic summits. On summer weekends and holidays expect this trail and the lake to be very busy and for campsites at the lake to be at a premium. Use this trail on a weekday if at all possible.

This trail leaves the West Fork Wallowa Trail #1820 just three miles in from the Wallowa Lake Trailhead. Here, it crosses Hurricane Creek on a log bridge, then climbs the canyon wall using a considerable number of switchbacks. The climb isn't steep, just constant. The views on the way up are great but the payoff is Ice Lake itself and the views of the Matterhorn from its shores.

The official trail ends at the eastern edge of the lake but a prominent use trail continues from there along the north side of the lake and goes on up to the summit of the Matterhorn. The best campsites are on the peninsula that juts into the lake south of the trail. There are also some campsites on the west and south sides of the lake.

Contacts

Shared By:

BK Hope

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 6 votes

#866

Overall
  4.8 from 6 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
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Trail Rankings

#26

in Oregon

#866

Overall
9 Views Last Month
3,973 Since Nov 23, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Ice Lake and Matterhorn at first light
Nov 23, 2017 near Joseph, OR
Ice Lake and Matterhorn in the afternoon
Nov 23, 2017 near Joseph, OR
The canyon of the West Fork Wallowa River
Nov 23, 2017 near Joseph, OR
The falls on Adam Creek
Nov 23, 2017 near Joseph, OR
Crossing Hurricane Creek
Nov 23, 2017 near Joseph, OR
A campsite at Ice Lake
Nov 23, 2017 near Joseph, OR

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Check-Ins

Oct 6, 2019
N Moyal
From WL trailhead to Ice Lake and back. 7.3 to the lake itself. There was snow the last couple miles but it was packed down and easy to run. 14.7mi — 3h 00m
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