Eloping to a Oregon’s Hidden gem

The Wallowa Mountains, often called "The Little Switzerland of America," are home to some of the most rugged granite peaks and pristine alpine water in the Pacific Northwest. While the Lakes Basin gets all the fame (and the crowds), Francis Lake remains a hidden gem for backpackers seeking raw, high-alpine solitude. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect setting for an intimate wedding with your closest friends and family. Best part is that is dog friendly so bring all the four legged family members along for the big adventure!

The Route: Climbing the Hurricane Divide

Our journey to Francis Lake began at the Frances-Bowman Trailhead at the end of Lostine River Road. It’s a bit of a rough road so be prepared for the washboard to rattle your bones a bit. But once you’ve arrived you’ll find few parking spaces, a bathroom and hitching posts. There’s no service here so make sure you’ve already downloaded your maps and anything else you need.

1. The Ascent

You’ll spend most of your day navigating long switchbacks that lead you toward the Hurricane Divide. The trail is a long steady, well-graded climb. It never gets too steep thankfully so just keep a steady pace and enjoy the views. Now if you want to bring family along that can’t make the hike you can follow my couple’s example and hire horses to carry your loved ones and gear to the campsite.

Water Warning: Water is notoriously scarce on the climb up. Pack at least 3 liters of water from the trailhead, as there are very few reliable streams until you actually reach the lake basin.

2. The Crest

After a long grueling climb up the switchbacks you’ll finally see the crest come into view. This 8,600-foot pass overlooks the lake and valley giving you a stellar view. You’ll see the "rusting" peaks of the Hurricane Divide—deep reds and browns that contrast sharply with the white granite of the surrounding Wallowas. Below you, Francis Lake sits like a sapphire in a bowl of jagged rock. From here you can see if anyone else is camping in the valley and in both my trips we were the only ones here. So this slice of paradise will likely be all yours as well. We took a nice lunch here and let the puppers get a nice nap in the shade while we enjoyed the view. Re-energized it was time to head down the final stretch.

3. The Descent

From the pass, you’ll drop about 900 feet into the basin. This section is steep and rocky, so take your time, especially if you’re carrying a heavy multi-day pack. it is all downhill though so you’ll quickly power through the last of your mileage and be at camp in no time.

Camping & Logistics

As you come down the trail to the lake you’ll want to find your campsite. For a wedding party my recommendation would be the large grassy meadow with a well established campfire. Our group was big enough to take both this spot and another meadowed area just up the hill from here. You can get water from the lake or find one of the streams running into it if you want something a little fresher. If you go the mule train route you can bring all the comforts of home for your campsite. We had a camp stove powered coffee maker and fresh baked cake. A luxury backpacking wedding for the history books.

Campsite Selection: Look for established sites on the north and west sides of the lake. Remember to camp at least 100 feet from the water to protect the fragile alpine shoreline.
Regulations: This is the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Self-issue a free permit at the trailhead. Campfires are prohibited within 100 feet of the lake to prevent resource damage.
Wildlife: Mountain goats are frequent residents of the Hurricane Divide. Keep your distance and never feed them—they are particularly fond of the salt in human sweat and may get uncomfortably close to your gear.

Find more on my hiking wedding guide!

Day two: The wedding

Our first day was dedicated to the hike and setting up camp. And it took the whole day. But as the sun rose on day two of our adventure it was time to get married. With fresh brewed coffee in hand we set out to look at the spots I had scouted the week before to pick a ceremony spot. It’s hard to pick a bad spot here but the best has to be the spot we went with right by the lakeshore. With the spot picked out the preparations began. With hair and makeup done, wedding attire doned, it was time to get married.

Can you still elope if you’re doing a wedding?

Hell yeah you can! After the ceremony and some celebrating with friends and family we threw on our packs and hit the trail again going deeper into the valley. Once we found the perfect spot we started making some magic with the golden light we were getting. Here these two lovebirds shared private vows sitting atop a boulder with a stunning landscape around them. Giving them that adventure elopement experience they wanted in addition to the intimate ceremony, so they really got the best of both worlds. I think this is a fantastic way to do things.