Walla Walla is located in the midst of breathtaking natural scenery. Senior Jack Ferrell and sophomore Sarah Judkins, both members of the Whitman Hiking Club, share their favorite trails for both day and overnight trips.
Harris Park
“One of my favorite hiking memories is waking up on a ridge top in Harris Park and seeing a herd of elk on the next ridge over,” said Ferrell, founder of the Whitman Hiking Club. Harris Park, 14 miles southeast of Milton-Freewater, has a beautiful trail hike up a creek valley in between rolling hills: “and there’s blackberries!” said Judkins. The more ambitious, said Ferrell, can take a steep off-trail hike up the hillside for better views of the woods and fields. For a longer hike or a backpacking trip, the ridge tops provide great camping spots.
North Fork Umatilla
Wilderness
Located 30 miles east of Pendleton, the North Fork trail follows the Umatilla River through the Blue Mountain range in Oregon. Ferrell says it’s a little hard to find by car but worth the trip. The close proximity to Walla Walla makes it a good day hike; it’s also a popular fishing spot.
Juniper Canyon
Juniper Canyon is only a 40-minute drive west of Walla Walla, which makes it a good place to spend an afternoon. There’s a sand dune on a hillside above a creek where hikers can both climb and relax. Ferrell says there are plans to dam the creek, which would destroy the wetlands and canyon.
Eagle Cap Wilderness
Eagle Cap, part of the Wallowa mountain range in northeastern Oregon, is about a 2.5-hour drive from Walla Walla. Both Judkins, who hiked Eagle Cap in fall, and Ferrell, who went in March, emphasized that there were no other people for miles around. The trail is above the tree line and winds through meadows, alpine lakes and, in winter and early spring, snowy peaks. Judkins and Ferrell recommended Eagle Cap as a good destination for a longer backpacking trip.
The Whitman Hiking Club provides opportunities for all levels of hikers to get out of Walla Walla and into the wilderness. The Whitman Outdoors Program has gear to rent for longer backpacking trips.
