Each September, the mountain town of Joseph celebrates its alpine spirit with Alpenfest, and there is no better place to enjoy it than from historic Wallowa Lake Lodge, our home for three nights in Oregon’s Little Switzerland. We ride the tram to the summit of Mount Howard, take our seats for an evening of traditional music and dance, and follow the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers aboard an excursion train through quiet canyon country. It is a thoughtfully planned journey to one of the most beautiful corners of the Pacific Northwest, shared with a small group of fellow travelers.

Our journey begins with morning pickups in the Willamette Valley and the Portland area. We travel east through the Columbia River Gorge, pausing in Hood River to stretch our legs, then continue across the open wheat country of eastern Oregon.

We enjoy lunch together in historic Pendleton, a town with deep roots in the ranching traditions of the West.

Crossing the Blue Mountains, we travel through the Grande Ronde Valley and into Wallowa County, where the rugged peaks of the Wallowa Mountains rise above the valley floor.

We arrive at historic Wallowa Lake Lodge, set among the pines at the head of the lake, and settle in for three nights.

We gather for a welcome dinner together in the lodge dining room, the perfect start to our shared adventure.

After breakfast at the lodge, we ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway to the summit of Mount Howard, more than 8,000 feet above sea level, with sweeping views of Wallowa Lake, the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the valley below.

We ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway to the summit of Mount Howard, more than 8,000 feet above sea level, with sweeping views of Wallowa Lake, the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the valley below. During Alpenfest, the music of the alphorn carries across the mountaintop, a fitting welcome to Oregon’s Little Switzerland.

We enjoy lunch at the top of the mountain before riding the tram back down, with time to rest at the lodge.

Later in the afternoon we head into Joseph, a charming mountain town known for its bronze foundries and the sculptures that line Main Street. We stroll among the galleries and shops at our own pace and visit the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

After an early dinner together in town, we take our seats for an Alpenfest evening concert, filled with alpine music and traditional dancing in the spirit of the old country.

We take our seats for an Alpenfest evening concert, filled with alpine music and traditional dancing in the spirit of the old country.

Overnight: Wallowa Lake Lodge, Wallowa Lake, Oregon

After breakfast, we travel through the valley to the small town of Elgin, where we board the Eagle Cap Excursion Train.

Our journey follows the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers into quiet canyon country far from the highway, where we watch for wildlife and the first touches of autumn color.

Lunch is served aboard the train before we return to Wallowa Lake for a free afternoon.

Relax at the lodge, walk along the lakeshore or simply enjoy the mountain air.

We gather for dinner together at the lodge, sharing stories from our days in the mountains.

Overnight: Wallowa Lake Lodge, Wallowa Lake, Oregon

After a final breakfast at the lodge, we say farewell to Wallowa Lake. In Joseph, guests may choose to visit the Wallowa County Museum, which tells the story of the valley from the Nez Perce people to the pioneers and ranching families who followed, or enjoy a quiet last morning in town.

In Joseph, guests may choose to visit the Wallowa County Museum, which tells the story of the valley from the Nez Perce people to the pioneers and ranching families who followed, or enjoy a quiet last morning in town.

We retrace our route over the Blue Mountains for lunch together in Pendleton, then continue west along the Columbia River to The Dalles, at the eastern gateway to the Gorge.

We retrace our route over the Blue Mountains for lunch together in Pendleton, then continue west along the Columbia River to The Dalles, at the eastern gateway to the Gorge.

We check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner together on our final evening of the tour.

We check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner together on our final evening of the tour.

After breakfast, we visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, where exhibits trace the natural and cultural history of the Gorge and live raptor programs bring birds of prey up close.

We visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, where exhibits trace the natural and cultural history of the Gorge and live raptor programs bring birds of prey up close.

We travel west through the Gorge for a farewell lunch together, sharing memories of our journey, before continuing home with afternoon drop-offs at our pickup locations.

We travel west through the Gorge for a farewell lunch together, sharing memories of our journey, before continuing home with afternoon drop-offs at our pickup locations.