| Line Name: | Wallowa Lake Tramway |
| Image Alt: | A gondola begins its descent from Mount Howard. Wallowa Lake and the Wallowa Valley are to the right. |
| Status: | Operational |
| Character: | Recreational |
| Location: | 59919 Wallowa Lake Highway Joseph, Oregon |
| Country: | United States |
| Coordinates: | 45.2636°N -117.1809°W |
| End: | Mount Howard |
| No Stations: | 2 |
| Carrier Cap: | 4 |
| Operating Times: | mid-May until early October |
| Trip Duration: | 15 minutes |
| Lift Type: | MGD |
| No Towers: | 25 |
| Inst Power: | 150 h.p. |
The Wallowa Lake Tramway is an aerial cable gondola lift near Joseph, Oregon, in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest of the United States, named for Wallowa Lake. The tram runs from the floor of the Wallowa Valley to the top of Mount Howard.[1] It travels to an elevation of 8000feet above sea level and allows for views of the Eagle Cap Wilderness area and the rest of the Wallowa Mountains.[2]
The tramway was built in 1968,[3] and opened for service in 1970.[4] In June 1992, a malfunction caused the evacuation of the lift's passengers who were then flown by helicopter down the mountain, with no injuries reported.[5] This was the first safety incident for the tram.[4] Later that year, the tramway was used to haul fire fighters fighting a forest fire to the top of the mountain.[6] In 1999, tram owners explored expanding the tramway to include a winter resort.[7]
Twenty-five towers are used along the route to support the cables of tramway.[3] The Wallowa Lake Tramway rises 3700feet vertically,[8] starting at the 4200feet level of the lake.[9] At the top of the gondola ride, an elevation of 8150feet, is Oregon's highest restaurant, the Alpine Grill.[10] The Tramway runs May through October.[11] It formerly ran on the weekends in winter for skiing and snowshoeing.[12] The four-person gondolas take fifteen minutes to make a one-way trip.[8] [12]
The tram is the steepest four-person gondola in North America, ending at the 8256feet peak of Mount Howard.[13] The tram is operated on 115acres of land leased from the Forest Service through a special national forest permit.[7] At the summit one can view wildlife,[1] and wildflowers in an alpine meadow. Parts of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are visible from the summit. Two miles (3 km) of hiking trails are available.[4]