Mount Howard & East Peak, Oregon – Northwest Wildflowers

Wildflower Destinations > Blue Mountains

Mount Howard & East Peak

Wallowa County, Oregon

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Fees: $50 tram ride (or NW Forest Pass at the McCully Trailhead)

Activity: hiking

Elevation: 7940'-8783'

Current status (as of 5/5/25): not blooming

Notes: The easiest way to get to the trails is a $50-per-person ride up the Wallowa Lake Tramway; alternatively, you can walk or bike 3.6 miles (and 2500') up the access road from the McCully Trailhead southeast of Joseph. Once you're up on Mt. Howard, you can do a leisurely 2-mile stroll around the tourist trails, or head south toward East Peak for a more adventurous hike. There are some nice subalpine springs on the northeast side of East Peak, and there's also an easy-to-follow trail to the summit (9370').

Peak wildflower bloom at Mt. Howard & East Peak is typically from early July through the end of August, but there may be some flowers blooming from mid-June until mid-September.*

Typical year:

Info links:

US Forest Service

Photo albums: 2024

NWS weather forecast

Wildflowers in this area:

WildflowerSearch.org

iNaturalist observations

Consortium of PNW Herbaria

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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.