Eagle Cap Wilderness, OR – Volunteer Vacations 2023

Join this popular trip and head into the upper Imnaha River drainage in the Eagle Cap Wilderness! Volunteers will depart from the Indian Crossing Trailhead and backpack into a feature of the Imnaha River known as Blue Hole. Pack stock will carry all food and group gear, giving us time for a 2-mile hike into base camp with 500 ft of elevation gain. Volunteers will need to carry their personal gear ONLY.

The trail provides spectacular views of the Imnaha River drainage along with views of the high alpine peaks of Wallowa Mountains. Work will include brushing and constructing trail drainage features such as water bars, French drains, and possibly turnpikes. Some lighter trail maintenance, such as log-out and campsite rehabilitation, may also be on the docket if time allows.

Volunteers will hike 1-3 miles with about 500 feet of elevation gain per workday, traveling on backcountry trails and occasionally off trail. The Forest Service will provide transportation from the meeting location in Enterprise, OR. Volunteers wishing to drive their own vehicles are welcome to, or you can leave your vehicle at the Forest Service headquarters in Enterprise. Indian Crossing Trailhead is 45 miles from Enterprise on an entirely paved road.

There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Nimiipuu (Nez Perce), Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, their deep and sacred connection to these lands, and those who continue to steward these lands today. We offer this land acknowledgement as the first of many steps to stand as an ally and amplify Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to join us through continued efforts to support Indigenous communities and learn more about the history of the lands on which we live, work and recreate.