The 4 Technical Creek Crossings (Strategies & Tips) Hiking to Chimney Lake! | Eagle Cap Wallowa 4K

On July 13, 2024, I started at Bowman Trailhead (also Francis Lake Trailhead), in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and hiked 10.6 Miles, 2500 FT Elevation Gain, up into absolutely incredible Eagle Cap Wilderness, to Laverty Lake and ultimately Chimney Lake as the turnaround point for this Out and Back Alpine Day-Hike!

Beyond Chimney Lake is Hobo Lake, Lookout Mountain, Bear Lake, and Wood Lake. While it is technically possible to do all this one Very Super Long Day-Hike (well over 4000+ FT Elevation Gain), it is a much better design, in my humble opinion, to construct a 2 Night, 3 Day Backpacking Trip to fully explore/saturate this area:

Day 1: Backpack up to and set up Base Camp at Laverty Lake or Chimney Lake
Day 2: Explore Hobo Lake, Lookout Mountain, Bear Lake, and Wood Lake as a leisurely Day-Hike from Base Camp
Day 3: Hike back to Trailhead

Please be advised there are 4 Technical Creek Crossings to get up to Chimney Lake across Bowman Creek and the Laverty Lake run-off area. None of them were too sketchy/dangerous, in my humble opinion, very doable if you practice situational awareness and take the optimal crossing attack vector. All 4 of these Technical Creek Crossings are featured in this FULL HIKE Video along with my recommendation for the optimal way to cross them....of course do so at your own risk.

Here are some Video Links (also from this Channel) of the BEST CAMPGROUNDS to use as BASE CAMPS in the Lostine River Zone of Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Eastern Oregon, gateway to INCREDIBLE, SERENE & PRISTINE Eagle Cap Wilderness!

Shady Campground:

https://youtu.be/UjqxEXK56C4

Turkey Flat Campground:

https://youtu.be/qBKeLAaGcAs

Arrow Campground:

https://youtu.be/beNxyrVKrk4

French Camp Rustic Log Cabin Shelter Picnic Day Use Area:

https://youtu.be/1rivFRUz7Tk