Chimney Lake – 08/20/2024

After spending the first three nights of our vacation in Baker City it was time to move our home base to the north side of the Wallowa Mountains. We had three more hikes planned beginning with Chimney Lake. We packed up and made the 2-hour drive to the Bowman-Francis Lake Trailhead.

This was another of Sullivan’s featured hikes (post). He gives two options for the hike, an out-and-back to Chimney Lake or continuing on a nearly 30-mile loop past several other lakes. We didn’t have time for a three-day backpacking trip now, so we set our eyes on the out-and-back day hike.

We followed signs for the Bowman Trail and Chimney Lake which took us across Lostine River Road to a bridge across the Lostine River.

On the far side of the river the trail began to climb. It was a steady but reasonably graded climb using a series of five switchbacks to gain just over 2000′ in a little under 4-miles to a junction with the Chimney-Wood Trail.

The trail entered the Eagle Cap Wilderness at the first switchback.

At the second switchback we came to Slide Falls on Bowman Creek.

Lewis monkeyflower

The views from the trail improved as we climbed above the falls.
Eagle Cap (post) in the distance.

Chipmunk

One of the switchbacks.

Western tanager

Pearly everlasting

Paintbrush

Baneberry

Pika

Bowman Creek

Grass of parnassus

The trail crossing Bowman Creek.

Arnica

Monkeyflower

Bees on American sawort.

Golden-mantled ground squirrel

Another pika.

Elderberry

The trail leveled off a little at the beginning of Brownie Basin where we stayed right at a fork.
The lefthand fork led to a campsite and meadows in the basin.

Gentians

Meadow in Brownie Basin.

The junction with the Chimney-Wood Trail.

We turned right at the junction and climbed another 0.7-miles to Lower Laverty Lake.

One of several pine siskins that were in these plants.

Aster

Fritillary

Lupine and aster

Butterfly on pearly everlasting

Another western tanager.

Gentians and St. Johnswort

Lower Laverty Lake

A patch of fireweed above the lake.

Hooded ladies’-tresses

American kestral

Lower Laverty Lake

After walking along the lakeshore for 0.2-miles the trail continued another 0.5-miles to Chimney Lake.

Twin Peaks across the Lostine River valley.

Eagle Cap at the far end of the valley.

Heading for Chimney Lake.

Chimney Lake

We continued a short distance around the lake to some granite boulders where we took a break to enjoy the scenery.

Gentians along the lakeshore.

The rocks ahead where we took our break.

Islands in Chimney Lake.

We shared our resting spot with numerous golden-mantled ground squirrels, pikas, and butterflies.
No matter how cute they are, please don’t feed the wildlife (Leave No Trace principle 6).

Sulphur butterfly

We heard more pikas than we saw. Here is the one, blurry, photo I managed to get.

Milbert’s tortoiseshell

Golden-mantle managing to feed itself.

After a nice long break we started back. With the Sun now overhead, the views across the Lostine River valley were clearer than they had been in the morning.

Twin Peaks

Aster

California tortoiseshell

Grouse

A comma, possible green comma.

Back at the bridge over the Lostine River.

Lostine River in the afternoon.

Our GPS put our hike at 11.3-miles with over 2400′ of elevation gain.

We finished just after 2:15pm which was perfect timing for us to make the 50-min drive to Enterprise and be at our motel for check-in at 3pm. This hike was amazing, but we’ve come to expect that from anything in the Wallowas. They never seem to disappoint. I had even spotted a fox hunting in a field on the drive in that morning. (Heather unfortunately missed it.) We settled into our room and prepared for another hike from Lostine River Road the next day. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Chimney Lake