Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness

• 

• 

Hidden in a pocket of northeast Oregon, the Eagle Cap Wilderness is home to 358,461 acres of wild terrain, vast granite mountains, glacial u-shaped valleys, and abundant wildlife. This is not the Oregon that people typically think of. Here, the Rockies cross into Oregon, where 53 high mountain lakes are formed and there is over 540 miles of trail to explore. This is a truly wild place.

The south end of the Eagle Cap Wilderness at Cornucopia serves as a launch point to access the incredible wilderness area. Although the south edge of the Eagle Cap Wilderness is not widely accessed, I like to argue that it’s far more spectacular than the widely popular north edge. Perhaps this argument stems from the fact that here you can experience solitude. True solitude. On more than one occasion I have spent an entire week exploring this area on horseback, never to see another human being.

There isn’t a designated campground at the (ghost) town of Cornucopia, however Cornucopia Lodge is an excellent starting location. Like any wild place, the weather can vary in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Lower elevation trails are usually accessible from June till November, while high elevation trails are snow-free from late June/mid July through the end of September or early October.

This wild place served as my playground growing up. Now, let me show you the Eagle Cap Wilderness that I love.

---

 

 

 

---

 

Katlin Eyre