Lostine Canyon Auto Tour

One million years ago, the earth's climate became colder, causing smore snow than rain to fall, forming a large ice field in the center of the Wallowa Mountains. This auto tour will take you on the path of this glacier.

The Lostine Canyon is part of the Lostine Wild and Scenic River corridor. The management plan for this area established a limited capacity for recreation use to protect the outstanding fisheries, wildlife, botanical and scenery resources. Designated sites have been established for camping and recreation livestock. Vehicles must stay on roads or in designated parking areas. During weekends in July and August, campsites may be full.

How to Use This Guide:

Mileage

Begin your drive at the junction of Lostine River Road and Highway #82.

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Lostine River Road, County Road #551-State Highway #82 junction. Driving south up the Lostine valley you will notice many large grassy mounds called moraines. These are the first footprints of the glacier as it pushed down the canyon from the ice field.

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The moraines are made of soil and rocks carried down from the canyon above. As the front of the glacier arrived in the open valley, summer melting halted the advance for hundreds of years. Based on the height of the moraines, geologists have estimated the thickness of the ice at 400 feet.

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Another advance of ice down the valley halted here for a time and smaller moraine hills were built. Geologists estimate that a large lake formed below the glacier dammed by the terminal moraine at its mouth.

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In 1966, the Silver Creek Fire occurred. Over 1400 acres were rapidly burned during the run to the ridgetop. Trees are gradually returning to the hillsides.

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ENTERING THE WALLOWA-WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST-Forest Road #8210. President Theodore Roosevelt established the Wallowa Forest Reserve in 1905. In 1911 it became the Wallowa National Forest. The Wallowa was combined with the Whitman National Forest in 1954 to improve the administration in this area.

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POLE BRIDGE PICNIC GROUND is named for the old bridge which crossed the river about 50 feet below the present site until 1968. Built only of poles, it usually washed out during the spring thaw. The foundations can still be seen on the south bank.

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POLE BRIDGE-The glacial ice once poured 100 feet down over a hard rock shelf. Later water erosion cut a deep gorge through a rock rib in the canyon bottom.

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LOSTINE GORGE OVERLOOK-A short trail leads from the parking area to a spectacular overlook of the river. Examples may be seen of the gradual advance of vegetation on rock, from primitive lichens and mosses to grass, bushes, then trees. The rock is slowly broken down and added to by dead vegetation to eventually make a thick layer of soil.

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WILLIAMSON CAMPGROUND-This campground was previously known as Wild Goose Camp. In 1911, during a fierce storm a group of hunters were camped here. They watched as a large flock of geese flying through the fog saw the reflections of the campfire as a lake. One hundred of them died when they crash landed into the trees. By 1913 the Lostine Canyon road had been extended to Blake Williamson's cabin. The campground derived it's name from Blake Williamson who prospected and lived in this area. Toilets and 10 camp sites, no drinking water.

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LAKE CREEK DAY USE AREA-This 1/4 miles trail access the old Lake Creek Campground. The area was destroyed by a flood in 1967. Three picnic sites can be found near the river.

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LOSTINE GUARD STATION-It was built in 1933 and like the river town and canyon, was named for some early settler's home town of Lostine, Kansas. This cabin now houses Forest Service volunteers in the summer and fall, and is available for rent during the winter months. Drinking water available across the road from the cabin in the summer.

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WALLA WALLA-This area was once called "dead dog" by local Indians. The present name is an Indian term meaning "small rapid river." Four camp sites.

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IRONDYKE-Walking, talking Miller, an old prospector, once worked an iron mine near here. This site contained a large church camp until most of it was knocked out by a rockslide in 1976. Traces of the log amphitheater can still be seen between the road and the river. Five camp sites.

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BOWMAN & FRANCES LAKE TRAILHEAD (LILLYVILLE)-Bowman (#1651) and Frances Lake (#1663) trails start here. Bob Bowman of the Lapover Ranch built this trail to get to the John Henry Wilson Mine. Sam Lilly's family lived here in cabins while he worked in the mines around 1909. A wagon road reached this point by 1915. One toilet, loading ramp and hitch rails.

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LAPOVER RANCH-The only private land in the canyon is a group of mining claims filed in 1911. This area first contained ten mining claims owned by the Contact Mining and Milling Company. Over $30,000 was spent in development work, but little mineral was found. Later it became a pack station and dude ranch. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice, William O. Douglas, spent summers here for many years. One story has it that the ranch was named for the part of Missouri that "lapped over" into Kansas when the Missouri River changed course.

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AVALANCHE PATHS-Wide swaths have been cut down the canyon wall across the river by snow slides. They usually break loose in the spring, carrying timber and rocks into the valley floor. Trees two feet in diameter have been snapped off.

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TURKEY FLATS-This spot may have been named for Turkey Jones, who won a card game with a friend and, thus, the privilege of naming their campsite. Another tale relates to a big turkey feed planned by Bob Bowman. The birds escaped their pen at Lapover, but were caught again here along the river. Five camp sites here and five more south, between the road and the river.

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FRENCH CAMP-First a sheep camp and then a Presbyterian Church camp, this site was named for John French. The CCC built the kitchen and water system in the 1930's as a part of their base camp. Day use/picnic area only, 3 sites and a toilet.

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ARROW-This camp's name is of unknown origin, although it probably comes from the Nez Perce Indians who hunted this canyon frequently. Three camp sites.

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SHADY CAMPGROUND/MAXWELL LAKE TRAILHEAD-Shady was a sheep camp until the 1930's when the CCC put in the tables and fireplaces. Maxwell Lake Trail (#1674) entry is at the north end of the campground. It is steep, rocky and maintained only for hiking. Twelve camp sites and toilets. Visitor with livestock shoul park and keep stock east of the Lostine River road.

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TWO PAN CAMPGROUND & TRAILHEAD-The West Fork of the Lostine River Trail #1670 takes you to Minam Lake and the East Fork of the Lostine River Trail #1662 takes you to the Mirror Lake. The Lostine River Road did not reach the end of the Canyon until 1955. Before then sheepherders stayed here often, and at one time left two frying pans hanging on a tree for anyone to use, wash and replace. Six camp sites, toilets, hitch rails, and loading ramp.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Recreation

Lostine Canyon Auto Tour