Forest Service Trail #1942 Why? A fine day hike if you’re in the La Grande area. Season: Mid-June through October Ease: Difficult. It’s 7.8 miles and 2,180 feet up to the Jim White Ridge trail connections. My only hike into the Wallowas from the West side so far has been a trip up the Little Minam River from the Moss Springs trailhead, up to the river’s headwaters. There were no high mountains or lakes along the trail or at its end, just woods and open country and the river. I don’t think it’s a hike I’d drive all that way to do again. But if I was visiting La Grande, as I was at that time, I surely would. I started my hike from Moss Springs in an early morning mist and was soon playing tag with a small herd of mule deer – a great way to start any day. The first 2 miles were downhill and level, until I crossed Dobbin Creek – a different Dobbin Creek that one sees on the Bear Creek Trail – and then the Little Minam River. Crossing either could be an interesting undertaking in the spring and early summer. The late September day I hiked, both were ankle deep but had dry rocks to step on. Once the streams are crossed, it was just uphill for 5.8 miles to the junction with trails along Jim White and Cartwheel Ridges. Not bad uphill, just uphill, and much of that through the woods. It felt a little like hiking in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, only the trees were different. In the Wenaha-Tucannon, there are lots of ponderosa pines. Here, it was lodge pole plus fir and spruce. It’s a pleasant but not exciting trail - except for the close at hand tree that fell as I snacked. It’s a noise that gets your attention. About 1 ½ miles before the trail junction on the ridge, the surroundings open up as the trail crosses the Little Minam Burn and finally gets to tree line. Then there are some nice views back along the river valley. From the higher spots I also could see the flat land to the west of the Wallowas. But I never did see much in the way of distant high country – or even high country within the Wallowas – because the day was overcast. There were steep meadows at tree line plus a bit of new snow in the highest spots and the sheltered areas below trees. Besides the mule deer, I saw an assortment of birds and heard an elk bugle a couple of times. Directions: In Cove, Oregon, turn at the high school – to the left if coming from LaGrande and to the right, which is signed, if coming from Union. Drive 8.7 miles to Moss Springs Campground. The trailhead is 0.2 miles further in. Trail #1920 goes off to the right, while trail #1942 up the Little Minam and trail #1908 to Minam Lodge split just after you start walking. All are signed. Information: U.S. Forest Service Wallowa Mountains Visitors Services, Joseph, OR, (541) 426-5546. Maps: USGS Mount Fanny, Jim White Ridge and China Cap, Oregon; Imus Geographics Wallowa Mountains, Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon. Connections: If you hike the 7.8 miles to the Cartwheel Ridge Trail #1907, you can return to the trailhead by hiking that trail southwest, then picking up either the Crib Point #1909 or Dobbin Creek #1913 Trails to get back to the Little Minam River Trail 2 miles shy of Moss Springs. |