Things to Do in Joseph, Oregon

Wallowa Lake is a glacial lake about 3.5 miles long, held in by moraines that rise more than 900 feet above the water. The state park sits at its south end, with a beach, fishing spots, picnic areas and a year-round campground. The seasonal Wallowa Lake Marina rents everything from kayaks to motorboats.

★ Good to know Day use requires a state parks parking permit, which you can buy on site.

This four-person gondola opened in 1970 and climbs from 4,450 feet to 8,150 feet on Mt. Howard in just under 15 minutes. At the top are more than 2 miles of trails. The Wallowa Valley Overlook, under a mile from the terminal, looks out over Joseph, Enterprise, Lostine and Wallowa. The Summit Grill serves lunch at the upper terminal.

★ Good to know The tram runs as a summer operation, so check the season and weather on its site before you drive up.

Larger-than-life bronze sculptures line Main Street, and the galleries around them sell work by nationally known sculptors. Valley Bronze of Oregon has cast bronze in Joseph since 1982 and added a monument facility in 1987 for large pieces. Its foundry tours walk you through molding, casting and finishing, and usually take 60 to 90 minutes.

★ Good to know Foundry tours run weekday mornings at a set time, so contact the foundry at 307 W. Alder St. before you plan around one.

Look for the big log building on Main Street as you come into town. The Josephy Center is Joseph’s arts hub, with a gallery, rotating exhibits and classes.

★ Good to know It’s open Monday through Saturday in summer and Tuesday through Saturday the rest of the year.

Old Chief Joseph, father of the Chief Joseph who led the Nez Perce in 1877, was reburied here in 1926 at the north end of the lake. The 5.1-acre cemetery is a National Historic Landmark and part of Nez Perce National Historical Park. Next door, 62-acre Iwetemlaykin, Nez Perce for “at the edge of the lake,” has a walking trail, a pond and mountain views.

★ Good to know The cemetery is a sacred site: stay on paths, leave dogs outside the boundary and visit between dawn and dusk.

The museum fills the 1888 First Bank of Joseph building at 110 S. Main St., which is on the National Register of Historic Places. That bank was robbed in 1896, and one robber was shot and killed. Exhibits cover the Nez Perce, the pioneers who followed and early county history.

★ Good to know It’s open from Memorial Day weekend through September; in winter, email the curator to arrange a visit.

Pedal-powered rail bikes roll along the old Joseph Branch line, which runs 63 miles from Elgin to Joseph. The Joseph route is an easy ride through the valley at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains. The company also runs a canyon route along the Wallowa River from Minam.

★ Good to know Book ahead; the company has set change and cancellation windows and sells optional trip protection.

At about 361,000 acres, this is Oregon’s largest wilderness, with 534 miles of trails and dozens of alpine lakes. The Wallowa Lake Trailhead, just past the state park’s Little Alps day-use area, is the closest way in from town. Even a short out-and-back along the river gives you a feel for it.

★ Good to know Trails at this elevation can hold snow into early summer, so check conditions with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest before you go.