Page 10C
OUTSIDE
East Oregonian
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Elkhorn Alpine trail is backpacker paradise
By ZACH URNESS
Statesman Journal
BAKER CITY — Views across
the length of northeast Oregon feel
almost commonplace on the Elkhorn
Crest Trail, one of the highest and
most unique pathways in the state.
The 23-mile national recreation
trail tightropes across the granite
spine of the Elkhorn Range, where
mountain goats roam sheer peaks
and alpine lakes dapple multicolored
valleys high above the prairie below.
“It’s this beautiful little gem tucked
into a part of Oregon that’s still pretty
unexplored,” said Pat Thomas, owner
of Range Tour and Shuttle Company
in Baker City. “To hear my friends in
Bend tell it, the Elkhorns are located
somewhere near Outer Mongolia.”
I made the journey all the way
to Outer Mongolia, er, the Elkhorn
Mountains, this month for six days of
adventure.
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the Elkhorn Crest is its elevation. The
trail stretches from one high pass to
another — staying close to 8,000 feet
throughout — on a fairly level route
between trailheads at Anthony Lake
Campground and Marble Pass.
Water is almost nonexistent on
the crest, but short trails lead to
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Meadow, Summit and Twin lakes.
“It’s a very nice place to back-
pack,” said Jay Moore, recreation
specialist with Wallowa-Whitman
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tion of one steep area near Anthony
Lake, it’s a gentle trail with small
ups and downs. It’s very well
designed.”
The trail is intertwined with
northeast Oregon’s mining history.
Sections of the path show up on
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1931, connecting old boomtowns to
the high mountain lakes and crest.
The trail was gradually length-
ened, sometimes using dynamite
to blast through mountain passes,
on a route that had a reputation for
multiple uses.
Motorcycles were once a common
sight on the Elkhorn Crest, though
only a few are seen these days.
While day-hiking and backpacking
are the most popular uses, the fast-
est-growing activity on the Elkhorn
Crest is mountain biking.
“There’s a feeling of being way
out there, as you’re riding one of the
highest trails in the state and playing
around in these stunning lake basins,”
said Thomas, who offers mountain
bike tours, along with shuttles for
bikers and backpackers. “There
aren’t many places in Oregon where
you can do that.”
Mountain bikes, and motorcycles
for that matter, don’t have free rein
across the Elkhorn Crest.
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travel 14 miles before they hit the
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motorcycles aren’t allowed.
Established in 1984, the wilder-
ness boundary has long been a source
of frustration among locals for the
way it creeps just across the Elkhorn
Crest, limiting recreation on one of
the few alpine trails in Oregon where
pedals and engines can be used.
“Especially with mountain biking
getting bigger, there’s this sense that
without the wilderness right there, the
Elkhorn Crest could be this ultimate
destination trail,” Moore said. “You
hear it a lot, that people really wish
this particular area wasn’t in the
wilderness.”
“Would I like to see people be able
to ride all the way? Would it help me
as tour operator?” Thomas said. “Of
course, the answer is yes. The fact
that the boundary is there, on this
trail, is a little frustrating.
“But the rides are still really
incredible, and the trail so beautiful,
no matter how you use it.”
GUIDE TO HIKING AND
BIKING
THE
ELKHORN
CREST TRAIL 7KHUH DUH PDQ\
ways to day-hike, backpack and
mountain bike the Elkhorn Crest
Trail. Here are a few.
To set up a shuttle or take a guided
mountain bike tour, contact Range
Tour and Shuttle at (541) 403-2616
or rangetour(at)gmail.com.
BACKPACKING 7KH UHFRP-
mended route for backpacking the
entire 23-mile Elkhorn Crest Trail is
to begin at Marble Pass (which elim-
inates a steep climb from Anthony
Lake to Angel Pass). Make sure
to have a good map or guide. Plan
on bringing extra water, as there is
almost none on the main route. Plan
on detouring off the main trail to
camp at Twin Lakes, Summit Lake,
'XWFK)ODW/DNHRU/RVW/DNH7KHUH
is a long stretch between Twin Lakes
and Summit Lake of 10 miles that
usually makes for a long day.
HIKES FROM ANTHONY
LAKE 7KH PRVW SRSXODU WUDLO-
head is right next to this popular
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the trail climbs almost 1,000 feet to
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Popular day-hikes or backpacking
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Lake (8.4 if you go out-and-back),
6.4 miles to Lost Lake or 10 miles to
spectacular Summit Lake.
A handy guide
to hiking the
Elkhorn Mtns.
The Statesman Journal
Zach Urness /Statesman-Journal via AP
This photo taken July 6 shows the Hoffer Lakes, which are a one mile hike from Anthony Lake in the Elk-
horn Mountains west of Baker City.
Zach Urness/Statesman-Journal via AP
In this photo taken on July 8, the mountain goats of Twin Lakes Basin stand on the Elkhorn
Mountains west of Baker City. The animals are not particularly fearful of humans.
HIKES FROM MARBLE
PASS: The roads en route to this
remote trailhead are awful and require
a reliable high-clearance vehicle
along with a person comfortable
with driving sketchy roads. However,
the journey is rewarded, since the
trailhead begins at 7,540 feet and
the incredible views begin almost
immediately. A hike of roughly 5
miles (one way) will bring you to
the Twin Lakes Basin, probably the
most impressive spot in the Elkhorn
Mountains.
HIKES FROM TWIN LAKES
TRAILHEAD 7KH ORZHVW RI WKH
three trailheads, the trail here provides
steep but direct access through wild-
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Lakes Basin. The hike is 3 miles
one-way and climbs 2,300 feet to the
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mile and 500 foot of climb to connect
with the Elkhorn Crest Trail.
ROCK
CREEK
BUTTE
SCRAMBLE: You can climb to the
highest peak of the Elkhorn Range
on a nontechnical scramble. The
Elkhorn Crest contours below Rock
Creek Butte about a mile west of the
junction with Twin Lakes Trail. To
climb the 9,106-foot peak, follow the
WUDLO WR WKH EXWWH¶V ÀDWWLVKPHDGRZ\
west side (not on the craggy exposed
northeast side). The most direct route
begins on Twin Lakes Trailhead and
climbs about 3,700 feet and 6 miles
(12 round-trip) to the summit, which
is marked by a large rock carin.
MOUNTAIN BIKING %LNHV
are allowed, and most common,
on the 14 miles from Marble Pass
Trailhead to the boundary of the
1RUWK )RUN -RKQ 'D\ :LOGHUQHVV
area. Most bikers either ride out
and back on the Elkhorn Crest Trail
from Marble Pass or complete a
20-mile loop on the Elkhorn Crest
Trail, Summit Lake Trail and down
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WKH 1RUWK 3RZGHU 5LYHU )RU PRUH
detailed information, contact Range
Tour and Shuttle at 541.403.2616 or
rangetour(at)gmail.com.
DIRECTIONS 'LUHFWLRQV WR
$QWKRQ\ /DNH 7UDLOKHDG )URP
I-84 between La Grande and
Baker City, take Exit 285 in North
Powder. In North Powder, follow
the ski area signs on Highway 237
for 4 miles to Ellis Road. Turn left
on Ellis Road and go about 1 mile
to the Anthony Lake Highway. Turn
right and follow the Anthony Lake
+LJKZD\ EHFRPHV )RUHVW 5RDG
73) for 16 miles to trailhead (just
before the campground entrance)
on the left.
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awful nature of this road cannot be
stressed enough — only high-clear-
ance vehicles should attempt this
Zach Urness/Statesman-Journal via AP
This photo taken on July 9, shows a view of Rock Creek Butte, the
tallest peak, at 9,106 feet, in the Elkhorn Mountains.
Zach Urness/Statesman-Journal via AP
This photo taken on July 8 shows the Elkhorn Crest Trail tightropes
across the Elkhorn Range of Eastern Oregon.
GULYH)URP%DNHU&LW\JRQRUWKRQ
Highway 30 to the northern edge of
town to Pocahontas Road; turn left
(west) on Pocahontas Road and go
about 7 miles to the Marble Creek
5RDG EHFRPHV )RUHVW 5RDG
turn left on Marble Creek Road and
go 9 miles to the top of the ridge to
the trailhead.
1RWH $OWKRXJK WKHUH LV DFFHVV
from the southwest, near Sumpter on
Road 6510, it is not recommended.
The roads are even worse than the
route from the Baker City side.
'LUHFWLRQV WR 7ZLQ /DNH 7UDLO-
KHDG)URP%DNHU&LW\WUDYHOVRXWK
on Highway 7 (also known as the
Elkhorn Scenic Byway) toward John
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'HHU&UHHN5RDGDQGYHHUOHIWWRVWD\
RQ)RUHVW5RDG'ULYHDERXW
PLOHVDQGWXUQULJKWRQ)RUHVW5RDG
6530. Go 0.6 mile and turn left on
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mile is steep and quite rough.
BRIEFLY
Nature hike highlights
Wallowa Lake
JOSEPH — To learn about
Wallowa Lake’s botany and
geologic history, people are invited
to an Into the Wallowa Outing.
Wallowa Lake State Park
Wanderings with Land Trust Staff
is Saturday, Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to
noon. Participants will meet near the
teepee at Wallowa Lake State Park
at Joseph.
The land trust’s mission is to
protect Wallowa County’s rural
nature by working with private
landowners, American Indian tribes,
local communities and governmental
entities to conserve land.
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQLQFOXGLQJ
other outings and lectures,
contact julia@wallowalandtrust.
org, 541-426-2042 or visit www.
wallowalandtrust.org.
Here’s a guide to
almost all of the best easy,
moderate and challenging
hikes at Anthony Lake and
the Elkhorn Mountains.
EASY HIKES AT
ANTHONY LAKE
The great thing about
Anthony Lake is the number
of easy and moderate hikes
nearby. Here are a few.
Hoffer Lakes (1.2 miles,
easy)
The best easy hike at
Anthony Lake heads to
Hoffer Lakes, a pair of
scenic pools nestled below
craggy peaks.
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at Anthony Lake, the
route follows the trail past
walk-in campsites and
then onto Hoffer Lakes
Trail (hash)1641. It’s just a
0.5-mile hike from Anthony
Lake to Hoffer Lakes. We
swam in both and even
found a small waterfall up
against the cliffs.
Black Lake (2.2 miles,
easy)
This hike is a little more
interesting than Hoffer
Lakes, even if the end result
isn’t quite as dramatic.
Beginning near the boat
ramp at Anthony Lake,
Black Lake Trail (hash)1600
passes the aptly named Lily
Pad Lake, swings onto the
Elkhorn Crest Trail and
arrives at large and pretty
Black Lake after just one
mile. We swam from a log
jutting out into the lake.
The trail climbs a semi-
steep section near the end,
EXWLVVWLOOFODVVL¿HGDVHDV\
'XWFK )ODW /RRS
miles to viewpoint, 10.4
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This is the most spectac-
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at Anthony Lake by far. It’s
not really for kids, unless
they are very strong hikers.
The trail begins at the
Elkhorn Crest Trailhead
(right next to Anthony Lake
Campground) and climbs
1,000 feet to Angel Pass
DQG'XWFK)ODW6DGGOHERWK
beautiful spots.
If you want to swim in
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it’s an extra 2.2 miles and
600 feet of elevation loss
and gain. The loop turns
ULJKW RQWR &UDZ¿VK %DVLQ
Trail before following an
old road back to Anthony
Lake.
Make sure to bring a map
and plan a few hours for this
adventure.
HIKES
NEAR
ANTHONY LAKE
1RUWK )RUN -RKQ 'D\
River (5 miles, easy)
)ROORZ WKH :LOG DQG
6FHQLF1RUWK)RUN-RKQ'D\
River on a trail to a place
called the “Bigfoot Hilton”
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hike.
The hike begins at the
1RUWK)RUN-RKQ'D\FDPS-
ground just off the Elkhorn
Scenic Byway.
Baldy Lake (2 to 3.5
miles, easy)
This beautiful cliff-
rimmed lake is a bit of wild
card because the access road
to reach it is so awful.
)ROORZ 5RDG DQG
signs for Baldy Lake for
two miles before parking
(unless you have a rugged
high-clearance
vehicle).
Hike the road for about 0.5
mile and the trail an addi-
tional mile to the lake.
THE
ELKHORN
CREST
The recommended route
for backpacking the entire
23-mile Elkhorn Crest Trail
is to begin at Marble Pass
(which eliminates a steep
climb from Anthony Lake
to Angel Pass). Make sure to
have a good map or guide.
Plan on bringing extra
water, as there is almost
none on the main route.
Plan on detouring off
the main trail to camp at
Twin Lakes, Summit Lake,
'XWFK )ODW /DNH RU /RVW
Lake. There is a long stretch
between Twin Lakes and
Summit Lake of 10 miles
that usually makes for a
long day.
To set up a shuttle or take
a guided mountain bike tour,
contact Range Tour and
Shuttle at (541) 403-2616 or
rangetour@gmail.com.