Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Composed of over 2.3 million acres of land, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest includes areas within Oregon and Idaho. Within the boundaries of the forest visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of four separate wilderness areas, ten designated Wild a Scenic rivers, and the Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area. A variety of ecosystems thrive within the park, ranging from the depths of Hell’s Canyon to the peaks of the Eagle Cap Mountains reaching nearly ten-thousand feet into the sky. The forest is named in honor of the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce Tribe and two Presbyterian missionaries, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.
Historically, the area was home to the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce Tribe, and, later, members of the Cayuse, Shoshone, and Bannock tribes. During the 19th century the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce spent summers in the region hunting big horn sheep, elk, and other game. In 1877, over 700 members of the Nez Perce Tribe made a 1,170 mile trek from the Wallowa Valley through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana in an attempt to avoid placement on the Lapwai Indian Reservation. Led by Chief Joseph, Chief White Bird, and others, the group tried in vain to reach Canada, all the while pursued by the U.S. Army. This event was commemorated through the creation of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, which passes through a portion of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest near Dug Bar in Hell’s Canyon.
A small portion of the Oregon Trail also passed through this area at Blue Mountain Crossing. This interpreted stretch of the trail represents the only significant portion of the path located within a National Forest.
Credits and Sources:
“Wallowa-Whitman National Forest,” http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/wallowa-whitman/. Accessed July 21, 2015.Images Credit- U.S. Forest Service
