Climbing Mount Howard is wide open, raw, and steep. It opens up into views of Wallowa Lake, The Wallowa Valley, The Seven Devils in Idaho, and eventually deep into the heart of the Wallowa Mountains as you reach the top. This dirt and rock road is a service road for the tramway, which is closed to public motorized vehicles, but gets used enough to be in good shape. It was re-graded in 2024 so will take some time to settle down. I listed this as a mountain bike ride, even though it can be ridden with a cyclocross bike. This route was once billed as a downhill for mountain bikers from the tram and even a few call boxes still exist, that were intended for emergency help wen your 26er rims caved in and there were no cell phones.
Trail Notes
- 0.0mi From Imnaha Hwy 350, take Tucker Down Rd. to the south. This is a straight paved road that starts climbing gradually.
- 3.1 Pavement ends and the road veers left.
- 3.6 Pass the Snow Park for Ferguson Ridge Ski Area
- 4.5 Turn right onto the road that stays west of McCully Creek. If you cross the creek you have missed this turn.
- 5.3 Arrive at the trailhead for the McCully Creek Trail, which starts as a gated road to the left. The Mt. Howard road takes a hairpin turn and meets a closed gate you will go around. Continue to climb up the road as it becomes rather steep at times as it winds toward Mt. Howard. There aren't really any side roads to be confusing after this point.
- 8.8 When you're just about to the top, look for a hiking trail that crosses the road. Turn left onto this trail to travel a very short ways to the real summit. The road itself terminates at the top of the gondola, but this is not the true summit of Mt. Howard.
- 9.2 Arrive at the summit with a fantastic view in all directions.
