Heading East From Home: Cabin Escapes in The Elkhorns

When people think of the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, I'm sure they think of the tall, snow capped mountains and pristine alpine lakes that tower over Enterprise and Joseph, Oregon. But what social media junkies and out-of-towners may not realize is that this National Forest is huge - 3,738 square miles huge. Reaching as far West as the Blue Mountains in Grant County, to the depths of the Hells Canyon and the Idaho Border, there's just no way you can explore the entire make up of this amazing country in a short period of time.

We decided to first explore the parts that were most familiar to us and trust me when I say, that isn't saying much. We have visited Anthony Lakes Ski Resort a handful of times during the winter months and though my family is from around that area, I have never really taken the time to get to know it. With that being said, we wanted to explore the area that is so near and dear to our hearts but this time in the Summer months when the air is warm and you can actually see the ground and running water under your feet.

While this trip wasn't filled will endless ridgeline hikes and ice cold lake plunges, we did discover how amazing the area is and have decided that from here on out, this trip will remain a tradition.

Getting There

On the way there, it was past dark so decided to forego the scenic routes and stick to I-84 from Portland to La Grande. Once you hit La Grande, head West towards North Powder and follow the signs to Anthony Lakes. Once you drive past the Anthony Lakes Resort, you'll follow the Anthony Lakes Highway 11 miles to your desired destination, ours was Peavy Cabin.

Heading back offers a number of routes, back the way you came through La Grande and up I-84 to Portland or West into the Blue Mountains and through various small and ghost like towns of Eastern Oregon. We decided to take the Blue Mountains Scenic Byway back to the Columbia River Gorge and it did not disappoint. From alpine mountains to canyon land views and sweeping wheat fields, we experienced it all and with hardly anyone else on the road which made it easy to stop for pictures along the way.

Places to Stay

To be honest, the camping was plenty here but coming from Portland on a Friday after work had us worried about finding a great spot that night and without a reservation. We searched and searched the web until we found an opening for our planned weekend, it was at this old cabin along the North Fork of the John Day River. My standards weren't high, this place was build in the 1930's by a Oregon State University Forestry professor and later handed over to the Forest Service to rent out. When we arrived, my expectations were blown out of the water, this place is truly a hidden gem and at that moment I understood what it felt like to want to keep a place in the wilderness to yourself and not share with the rest of the world.

The Peavy Cabin felt like my own personal oasis complete with a wading river within walking distance, space for our pup to run free, a personal wood shed and even a toilet. We were living large. What I didn't expect was how well maintained it was both structurally and accommodations wise, I mean so well so that we could have brought only our sleeping bags, a thing of clothes, and food and been well off. With a propane fridge, freezer, and stove, a sink basin, a wood burning stove, and all the dishes you needed to prep any meal, this place was strapped with supplies.

It wasn't just the cabin that held all the charm in this area, through an overgrown path you could access the North Fork of the John Day river and hike or down as far as your feet and fallen tree climbing abilities permitted you. The water was shallow in most parts making it easy to wade to and from swimming holes but when you ran into an obstacle, a quick hop out and walk through the tall grass was just as easy. Besides the easy access to the river, you are surrounded by tall mountains and wild flower meadows on your drive in. It's was honestly like something out of a fairy tale making it easy to not feel bad about hanging around the cabin all day and doing absolutely nothing.

Hikes, Rivers, & Lakes Galore

Camping is cool when you have a lake or river nearby but it's even cooler when you have a handful of rivers and lakes all within hiking distance from each other so that if one is crowded or bug infested, the next one is close by to explore as well.

We tried adventuring around Anthony Lake to start our hike but the mosquitos were like nothing I had experienced, be sure to wear long sleeves (even on nice days) and load up on the insect repellent if you decide to brave the swarms. We, on the other hand, were not prepared nor did we feel like suffering through the clouds of mosquitos so we headed back West towards our cabin to spend the day at Crawfish Lake.

Being only a few miles from our cabin turn off and only a mile in hike, we decided this would be the best bet for stellar views, easy on a hurt foot, and less crowded by the shore. Despite the intense incline to the lake, we were right. The lake was huge with plenty of spaces to spread out and enjoy your own little corner of the lake. Across from our spot, there are a few small rock cliffs that probably made for great sunbathing and cliff jumping.

There are a number of other Lakes and hikes within the area so be sure to grab a map and check out a few others if your time permits.

It was here that we spent the rest of our day, relaxing by the shore, playing fetch with the pup, reading a great book, and enjoying each others company around the fire. We didn't need sunrise summits, miles upon miles of trail, rivers to kayak down, or cliffs to climb - we just needed to re-charge and that's exactly what we got.