Getting there: Eagle Cap Wilderness sits in the northeastern corner of Oregon, about 300 miles east of Portland, 285 miles southeast of Seattle, and 80 miles south of Lewiston, Idaho. The closest city with regular airline service is Lewiston, a drive of about two hours from Eagle Cap. For those with time, driving from Portland to Eagle Cap is worth it. Taking Interstate 84, part of the way you follow the scenic Columbia River Gorge. There is great scenery just about everywhere on the drive across Oregon.
When to go: For climbing, backpacking and hiking in Eagle Cap, summer through fall. Most trails are clear of snow by July 4, but some trails that cross passes can be snow-covered into August. For trail conditions (and to ask if mosquito season is over), contact the U.S. Forest Service's Wallowa Mountains Office and Visitor Center in Enterprise, phone 541-426-4978. In the winter, cross-country skiing is great in the Wallowas. There's also snow-camping, for those with the gear and the know-how.
Weather: There's generally lots of sun in this part of Oregon during the summer. Temperatures can rise into the 90s and dip into the 40s at night.
Lodging: Hotels, motels and lodges can be found in Joseph and Enterprise, two towns close to Eagle Cap trailheads. For names and telephone numbers, contact the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce at 800-585-4121 (Web site: www.eoni.com, or the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association, 800-332-1843 Web site: www.eova.com.
Dining out: Reasonably priced meals can be had in Joseph and Enterprise.
Other things to do: Boating, swimming and fishing at Wallowa Lake, at the northern edge of the wilderness and near the town of Joseph. Also popular is the Wallow Lake Tramway, which takes visitors to the top of Mount Howard.
Old Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce is buried in a cemetery on a hill overlooking Wallowa Lake. There's golfing and horseback riding in the area.
The town of Joseph is worth exploring. Its main street is lined with bronze sculptures with Old West themes made by local artists. Joseph also has sporting goods shops carrying everything from fly rods for fishing the local streams to backpacks for hikers heading into the mountains.
About 2.5 hours from Enterprise is Hells Canyon, North America's deepest river gorge.