By Heather Lee

At the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, this historic town is a portal to outdoor delights. Wallowa Lake teems with salmon, and the guides at the Joseph Fly Shoppe (541-432-4343) can show you where they’re biting. The Wallowa Lake Tramway (541-432-5331) whisks visitors to the top of Mount Howard, where you can pick up a hiking trail for an easy walk downhill. Canoe rentals are available at Wallowa Lake Marina (541-432-9115), and there’s a trailhead that leads into the Eagle Cap Wilderness, prime backpacking country with dozens of alpine lakes nestled among rugged peaks.