| Minam River Oregon |
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Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Designated Reach: October 28, 1988. From its headwaters at the south end of Minam Lake to the Eagle Cap Wilderness boundary, one-half mile downstream from Cougar Creek. Classification/Mileage: Wild -- 39.0 miles; Total -- 39.0 miles. The Minam is entirely within the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Because of this and the geology of the area, there are outstanding opportunities for experiencing solitude, freedom, closeness to nature, tranquility, self reliance, challenge, and risk in this river corridor.The area is heavily used for hunting, fishing, backpacking, horse packing, and other recreational activities. The variety in landscape is dramatic and memorable, from the steep and glaciated upper drainage, to the heavily forested U-shaped valley in the middle portion, and finally to the deeply dissected basalt canyons of the lower canyon. The combination of glaciated and granitic-dominated geology of the headwaters, which contrasts with the lower volcanic basalt dominated landscape, provides a textbook-perfect example for studying the formative process of the Wallowa Mountains. The corridor also displays examples of a variety of geologic processes, including glaciation, volcanism, faulting and folding, and erosion. The area is considered a premiere reservoir for big-game species. Wildlife such as wolverine, fisher, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, black bear, river otter, bald eagle, and cougar inhabit the area. |
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