The road is not difficult at all. I'm a big fan of Oregons wide-open spaces, especially east of the Cascade Mountains- where the distances are great and thepeople are few. A lock ( Its bumpy in places, but much of the surface has been upgraded and improved in recent years, except for one short, narrow, steep section of the road near the viewpoints of Big Indian and Little Blitzen gorges. Conditions No conditions reported in the past 7 days Want to report conditions for this trail? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Write a review to inform other visitors! As you crest and start downhill, take the time to stop for Kiger Gorge, perhaps the most magnificent of the glacial gorges carved into this mountain. eagles, the largest raptor on Steens Mountain, can often be seen riding Fish Lake: What is most likely Steens Mountains most popular campground can be found at Fish Lake. Yes, the loop drive of Steens Mountain will be 50+ miles of washboard gravel road, but the scenery is unlike almost anything you will ever see. Hiking is available in all areas and trailheads exist near Page Springs and South Steens Campgrounds, as well as Wildhorse Overlook and Pike Creek. 3 beds, 2.5 baths, 2466 sq. From Burns, take State Highway 78 southeast for approximately 2 miles. The payback for the many miles of climbing is the steep downhill back to Frenchglen. 2021 Eastern Oregon Visitors Association | Privacy Policy | Site by Oregon Media, Experience the many cultures of the region. Starting at approximately 4300, Pike Creek trail is about 5.4 miles RT to Pikes Knob, out and back, however the entire hike is stunning and there is no wrong place to turn back. Sounds like the road may not be open for the season yet (research tells me July-October is usually. Do you know any spectacular road?Click here to send us all the info, and we'll publish it! And Steens is not the only wonder youll experience; theres also the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, the aforementioned Alvord Desert, and the milkshakes in Fields. You are allowed to drive out and camp anywhere on the playa except for along the west side, which is private property. This is one of the few places you can drive across the escarpment, and the road passes alongside "The Stonehouse", a large blocky outcropping of Basalt.Alvord Desert: The driest location in Oregon with less than 10" of annual rainfall is the Alvord Desert, which is the largest of several alluvial plains along the Fields-Denio Highway. It's an amazingly scenic drive that is a worthy part of any trip to the Steens. Ivisited in the early fall and there was one other car. of a national treasure. Be alert, drive with caution, and plan to share roadways with cattle, deer, elk, antelope, wild horses, and rabbits! Loop Road. During the Ice Age, glaciers formed in the major stream channels on the mountain. Starting at the Historic Frenchglen Hotel make your way to Steens Mountain Loop and then onto Fishlake/Steens Mountain Rd. On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. I tre fratelli, Walter, Frederick e Benjamin, fatto lungo il Piccolo Fiume Blitzen, e hanno cominciato ad allevare il bestiame. Eventually youll make it to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, home to tens of thousands of birds who stop here on their long migratory voyages. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' This tour route scales the Steens, climbing thousands of feet and topping out just shy of the summit at 9,734 feet/2,967 meters. Youll come away with an up-close-and-personal appreciation for the scale of this geologic goliath, with its glacier-carved valleys, aspen groves, pure-water lakes and views to forever. Sixty-six miles in length, the first half of the loop is gravel with some washboarding and general roughness; but its usually passable in a low clearance vehicle from July until September, or even into November if snow comes late in the year. Heres an idea of the scale: At the top of the mountains loop road, youre standing at nearly 10,000 feet, looking down at the Alvord Desert, almost exactly vertically below you at around 4,000 feet. Seeing it from the Alvord Desert reveals that it is in fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens Basalt. Abundant water and feed attracts Bighorns and some of the most epic Mule Deer you will ever see, and all from the highway near this rare desert oasis.Much of the mountain is within BLM land and open to the public with some areas more accessible than others. wild, free-roaming nature. Along the way, you'll have ample opportunities to view wildlife and take in the grandeur of a national treasure. The climb up and west from Fields on Highway 205 will give you a miniature preview of what youll encounter scaling Steens later on. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. Even in this seemingly empty landscape, you have the chance to spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope. Here the road turns west, and when you reach The Narrows theres a store if youre feeling like something cold to drink and you probably will. MLS# 201001561. Its a rustic resort that offers several ways to soak in a hot pool, plus camping and a store. Some of the graffiti scratched into the tree bark was made decades ago by Basque shepherds, many of whom first arrived in Oregon in the late 19th century and settled in the southeastern corner of the state. On behalf of Oregon Bikepacking and VeloDirt, we present a select number of our routes that we find particularly special. Here the road turns west, and when you reach The Narrows theres a store if youre feeling like something cold to drink and you probably will. Overlooking the mouth of Pike Creek Canyon is Pike Rock at 5808 feet, and at the head of Pike Creek is a series of spectacular basalt pinnacles and walls. This last half travels down the sidewall of Big Indian Gorge along a feature called the Roosters Comb offering some nice looks back towards the summit and gorgeous views of Big Indian Gorge, but much of the mountain can be seen and enjoyed without ever traveling this second half of the loop. They combine web maps created using ArcGIS Online, ESRI's mapping system, with multimedia contenttext, photos, video, and audioto let you know about the rich diversity of Oregon/Washington BLM's programs and places. Bighorn sheep can We recommend high clearance or 4x4 vehicles for primitive roads, including the steep and rocky portion of the Steens Mountain Loop Road near South Steens Campground. Routes are non-existent and the rock along knife-edge ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly. The road also provides access to Steens Summit and the Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District campgrounds. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. You'll drive through a herd of sheep on the way up. At the East Rim Viewpoint, peer off the precipice to the Alvord Desert 1 mile/1.6 kilometers below. Migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway use Harney County as a rest and refueling stop. Over 12 miles, youll climb about 4,400 feet but the scenery will distract you, as you ascend the ridge between the Little Blitzen and Indian gorges; make sure to stop for every viewpoint along here. A short trail drops from the summit road down to the lake, a hike that can be done round trip in less than 2 hours from the Steens Mountain Loop Road. Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. From Kiger Gorge, continue for 3 more miles to East Rim Overlookwhere you overlookthe Alvord Desert from the highest point of the mountain. of elevation gain. The summit ridgeline is one of the more magical locations in Oregon. Camping is first come first serve but depending on the time of year it won't be crowded at all. Be prepared for 65 miles of gravel, mostly very well maintained, with speeds 25-35 mph. The night sky there is amazing I forgot how the sky looked. Turner River / Wagonwheel / Birdon Roads Loop Drive. Some RV sites have less shade and level outdoor space than others. The south. Youll come away with an up-close-and-personal appreciation for the scale of this geologic goliath, with its glacier-carved valleys, aspen groves, pure-water lakes and views to forever. A scenic loop road (Steens Mountain National Back Country Byway) is found on the south end of town and provides easy access to the high country. LockA locked padlock Written July 20, 2021. When I was there in late May the Loop Road was still closed due to snow. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. You can camp there and walk literally just a couple of minutes to both trailheads. As you crest and start downhill, take the time to stop for Kiger Gorge, perhaps the most magnificent of the glacial gorges carved into this mountain. What are the scenic backroads in Southeastern Oregon? The average gradient is 3.87%. Also, the first ever Redband Trout Reserve has been created to improve stream health and fish habitat. As cyclists, were spoiled living in Oregon. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Sightseeing in Kiger Gorge at Steens Mountain. Alvord Hot Springs: Unquestionably the most popular of the Steens Mountain area hot springs. From Kiger Gorge, the road turns south and skims along the rim. Anyone have experience in mid-June on the Steens Mountain Loop Road? Stonehouse BM: A steep 4x4 road crawls up Stonehouse Creek and breaks across the north escarpment near Mann Lake. Then traveling on to the south to Fields and up north past the Alvord Desert returning to Burns. Kiger gorge is one of the most beautiful places to see and experience. Continue a short distance past Frenchglen, then turn left onto the Steens Mountain Loop Road. there. Yes, the loop drive of Steens Mountain will be 50+ miles of washboard gravel road, but the scenery is unlike almost anything you will ever see. Fish Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be found also. Making 5 Star Route / Burns, Oregon / Published July 2018. Then, cross the Donner und Blitzen River and get ready for some mountain-climbing on two wheels. 28910 Highway 20 West We were so excited for our miracle and for the fabulous views we could see from the high viewpoints all along the way. This loop drive of 58 miles is gravel with a washboard surface that is totally awesome. quaking aspen and mountain mahogany as the moisture levels increase. Distance: 59 miles Hiking is available in all areas and trailheads exist near Page Springs and South Steens Campgrounds, as well as Wildhorse Overlook and Pike Creek. Steens Mountain is an example of a fault-block mountain, formed when My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable. It took up about 3 hours with view stops and lunch. Talk about seeing what you just climbed. It takes about 2hrs. Its said to bethe highest road of Oregon. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Finally, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out and can be reached by high clearance vehicles only. Learn more about travel impacts in Oregon. Burns District Office I think there would be plenty to see on both those loops if you are interested in the geology, geography, and history of the area. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. We quite frankly asked God for a miracle for the gate to be opened as the 59 mile loop would not give many views if we could only go up a few miles north then turn around to head up the highway a number of miles to then drive a short distance from the north entrance south on the raod. Youre back on 205, and this time it looks like a causeway as it bisects two shallow lakes (water levels are quite seasonal; no guarantees on how much youll see here). I did see some wild horses on the drive. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. The Nearest Services are in the communities of Fields, Frenchglen, Crane, or Narrows, Oregon. Itll make your jaw drop. By clicking "ACCEPT", you agree to be the terms and conditions of each As you head north on this lonely road, youll find a new level of depth for the phrase wide-open spaces the horizon can seem might far away out here. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. The trail comprises deep glacier-carved gorges, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and alpine lakes with aspen for shade. (There is a collection of cell towers on top so it is easy to spot, as well as being marked by signs)There is a parking lot from which you ca Mann Lake can be found in the Steens Mountain Wilderness area. If not for the road beating I'd rate it a 5.0 The weather up there can be quite a bit different than down at Frenchglen so prepare for possible wind and cold. Also, the Alvord Desert and the Steens Mountains are in the region as well. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your The South Steens Rim overlooking Alvord Lake has an average elevation exceeding 7000 feet over the length of 6 miles not broken by canyon or pass. (Great name). The North Loop road is not as steep as the South Loop. massive internal pressure forced the east edge upward along a fault line. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Steens Mountain is one of Oregons great scenic and geologic wonders, a 30-mile/48.2-kilometer fault block that is a small mountain range rather than a single peak. It was SO worth the time and drive to see this beautiful area, and we were delighted that our prayers were answered!! It can be driven by standard vehicles and passenger cars shouldnt have any trouble. Please explore responsibly! Steens Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. opportunity to stand at the headwall of a classic textbook example of Located at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and open year round.Frenchglen Wayside State Park:No camping spaces, but picnic spaces and a vaulted toilet. The road can be rough on the descent, with some washboarding, but its a small price to pay for seeing the land youre riding through. More rides by this ambassador on rideswithgps.com, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use & Accessibility. Weather UV Index Daylight Saturday 27 / 11 F Sunday 19 / 3 F Monday Alvord Hot Springs are well known and you will frequently find people camped alongside the road here.Mickey Hot Springs: These undeveloped hot springs are usually too hot to bath or soak in, but do offer the opportunity for exploration of steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and apparently bottomless pools of water. 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