Celebrating Independence Day at Wallowa Lake is an exhilarating experience, owing to the unique geology of the lake's formation!
On either side of this glacially-carved basin, lateral moraine rises to a height of 800' above the water, causing sound to ricochet in a long-rolling echo. As each mortar bursts and reigns down its shower of sparks, its boom can be heard a dozen times after, lending an even more dramatic effect to an already spectacular event.
Because Shake The Lake is put on by the whole county (with big help from some very generous donors such as The Stubborn Mule), in June you may see donation cans set up at various points around Joseph and Enterprise, such as Joseph Hardware, where you can contribute to help keep it going.
For those staying at Wallowa Lake Village during the celebration, it is advised to either go early (as many families do each year) and stake out some turf close to the north end, or to head into town before the show and park there. From town you can walk a gentle one-mile paved path to the north-end County Park where the show starts (around 10pm).