Eagle Cap Wilderness
Oregon's largest Wilderness encompasses the heart of the Wallowa Mountains, once home to the Nez Perce Indians. It also qualifies as the state's largest continuous alpine area and encompasses Legore Lake, at 8,880 feet the highest lake above sea level in the state. Approximately 534 miles of trails provide visitors with opportunities to travel throughout this area. The area is accessible by several trailheads ranging from rustic sites with low amenities and requiring high-clearance vehicles to paved trailhead parking areas with restrooms. Some of these sites require a trailhead parking permit (i.e. Northwest Forest Pass). These may be purchased on site at the fee stations, or as an annual pass at local outdoor stores or online.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 355,553 acres |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.24° N, 117.41° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 16) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 26 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
15 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 campground. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 4 miIrondyke Forest Camp ↗Campground · June
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedStarvation 11A Rx
33 mi from the center point · 719 acres
- PrescribedSumac 2A Rx
41 mi from the center point · 417 acres
- PrescribedBirdtrack Unit 620 Rx
44 mi from the center point · 200 acres
- PrescribedRailroad Rx
49 mi from the center point · 375 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.2 miCornucopia Jailhouse ↗Cornucopia, OR
- 2.7 miFirst Bank of Joseph ↗Joseph, OR
- 2.8 mi
- 3.5 miFlora School ↗Flora, OR
- 4.8 miO.k. Theatre ↗Enterprise, OR
- 4.8 miGotter Hotel ↗Enterprise, OR
- 4.8 miLostine Pharmacy ↗Lostine, OR
- 4.9 miWallowa County Courthouse ↗Enterprise, OR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Eagle Cap Wilderness and Oregon
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Eagle Cap Wilderness?
355,553 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Eagle Cap Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Eagle Cap Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Eagle Cap Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Eagle Cap Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Eagle Cap Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.240° N, 117.409° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Eagle Cap Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Starvation 11A Rx at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Eagle Cap Wilderness?
The National Register has 21 listings within 15 miles, including Cornucopia Jailhouse and First Bank of Joseph.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.