Union Creek

Union Creek offers a well-developed boat launch facility on Phillips Lake (Phillips Reservoir), a 2,235-acre impoundment created by Mason Dam as part of the Baker Project. The ramp features two lanes and ample trailer parking, making it suitable for kayakers, canoeists, and larger motorboats. A small snack and bait shack operated by the concessionaire is available on-site. The setting is attractive, with the launch nestled in open ponderosa pine forest, and the facility is within walking distance of Union Creek Campground and day-use picnic areas, offering convenient camping and staging options for multi-day trips.

This is a popular destination for fishing and recreation on the reservoir. Paddlers and boaters should note that Phillips Lake is a large reservoir environment rather than a free-flowing river section, so conditions will vary with water level and weather. The proximity to Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and the Southern Elkhorn Mountain/Powder River Basin recreation area makes this a good base for exploring the broader region. For current conditions, facility details, or accessibility information, contact the local Forest Service office or visit the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest website.