The best camping in Wallowa Lake State Park, OR

On the southern shores of the glacial Wallowa Lake, this state park features ample opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife viewing, and taking in the views of Northeast Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains and the surrounding Eagle Cap Wilderness. The seasonal Wallowa Lake Tramway is also a big draw and ferries passengers up to the peak of Mount Howard, at an altitude of 8,150 feet. Wallowa Lake Campground offers a mix of tent sites, hook-ups, and yurts, plus a swimming area and kayak and boat launches.

1. Sites can be reserved up to six months in advance through the Oregon State Parks online reservation system. Spots open at 6am.
2. If you’re flexible about dates, a flexible search option is available. Weekends tend to fill up fast.
3. During the off-season (October through mid-May), some sites are available on a first-come, first-serve, walk-in basis.

Wallowa Lake is open for year-round camping, although only some of the sites (and both yurts) remain open during the cooler season (October through the middle of May). The park also shuts off most of the water supply during that time (though one frost-free spigot remains open). While the summers in the area are pleasantly warm, temperatures dip dramatically in October and don't really start warming up again until late May.

• The town of Joseph is a 10-minute drive from the park. Here you'll find a small supermarket, a handful of boutiques and restaurants, and even a few museums.
• Boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals as well as fishing licenses and reservable moorage are available at the nearby Wallowa Lake Marina, which is open seasonally from mid-May through mid-September.
• All sites come with firepits and firewood is available for sale at the park between sites C1 and C4. Do not bring outside firewood into the park, as it can carry insects and diseases.
• Pets are allowed at the campground, but not at the swimming area. There’s also an off-leash dog area at the end of Loop A.