Oregon · Hiking

Chief Joseph Trail

Chief Joseph TrailPhoto: pfly from Pugetopolis, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
4.7 mi
round trip
6,137 ft
climb
7,531 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Chief Joseph Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. It doesn't name Chief Joseph Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Chief Joseph Trail is a 9.4-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness, part of the Eagle Cap Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is rated expert. The trail starts at about 7,480 feet and climbs to a high point of 7,531 feet, with a total elevation gain of 6,137 feet over the course of the trip. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.6 miles in, with a grade of 38 percent. The trail is a long, steep day. Plan on about six hours for the round trip, and expect the climb to be the most demanding part of the route. The Chief Joseph Ascent and the Old Chief Joseph Trail both lie about 0.7 miles away, so they make natural add-ons or alternatives. Nearby, the Wallowa Mountains climbing area is about 4 miles off, and Hurricane Creek Campground is about 4.1 miles away. Paddlers can reach the West Fork Wallowa River and the Wallowa River, both about 6 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Chief Joseph AscentPhoto: pfly from Pugetopolis, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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East Fork Wallowa TrailPhoto: randallagordon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Old Chief Joseph TrailPhoto: pfly from Pugetopolis, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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West Fork Wallowa TrailPhoto: ilya_ktsn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~6 min drive

23.34-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 4,659 ft gain/loss and 8,376 ft max elevation.

Ice Lake TrailPhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Wallowa Park Tie-In TrailPhoto: Breibeest, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors