Wallowa Lake State Park, State park at Wallowa Lake, Oregon, US
Wallowa Lake State Park is an Oregon state park on the southern shore of a glacial lake in the Wallowa Mountains, in the northeastern corner of the state. It covers sandy beach areas, forested hillsides, picnic grounds, and camping zones that run along the water's edge.
The Nez Perce people lived around this lake and the surrounding mountains for centuries before settlers arrived in the mid-1800s, drawn by the fertile valley below. The state gradually acquired land in the following decades to create the park that visitors know today.
The name Wallowa comes from the Nez Perce language and is thought to refer to a fish trap made of stakes and line, reflecting how the tribe used these waters. Near the south end of the lake, a small monument marks the connection between this land and the people who lived here long before it became a park.
The park gets busy in summer, so booking a campsite well ahead of your visit is a good idea, especially for weekends. Arriving in the morning gives you the best chance of finding parking close to the beach and lake access points.
The lake sits at the end of a valley shaped by a glacier that left two large moraines still visible on either side of the southern shore. These low ridges frame the water and give the valley its narrow, enclosed shape that you notice as soon as you arrive.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
