Oregon · Rock climbing · Joseph

Lakes Basin

5 routes
5.7 – 5.9+
Alpine

Is Lakes Basin open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. It doesn't name Lakes Basin, 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.

Lakes Basin is a climbing area in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, part of the Eagle Cap Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in northeastern Oregon. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness, so expect backcountry conditions. The climbing here is alpine, with five routes spread across the basin. The grades run from 5.7 to 5.9+, with the Barley Cox Route at 5.7 and the Barley Hurley Route at 5.9+ as the easiest and hardest of the group. The Barley Cox Route was first climbed by Matt Barley and Forrest Cox, and the Strong Reister Route was done by Colin Strong and Isaac Reister in 2021. Several trails start close by. The Moccasin Trail is about 0.2 miles away, the Horseshoe Lake Trail about 0.5 miles, and the Razz Lake Trail about 0.8 miles. For paddling, the West Fork Wallowa River is about 2.3 miles off.

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