Oregon’s largest and most popular wilderness area is now more accessible thanks to a joint effort by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service.
The project permanently protected what was the largest private inholding in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and improves public access to an additional 23,000 acres of surrounding public land
That 471-acre tract is now in the public’s hands as part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Located directly west of Wallowa Lake in northeast Oregon, this long narrow stretch of land is an important elk transition area because it lies between elk summer range in the high country and winter range in the lowlands.
It’s also home to mule deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, goats and other bird and animal life.
On top of that, it’s crucial riparian habitat for spawning spring chinook salmon AND it’s great for hikers because the project insures unimpeded access to Hurricane Creek and Falls Creek trails.
RMEF and the Forest Service leveraged key funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to make this project possible.