You can expect any other roadsindicated by dashed lines on a mapto be passable by four-wheel drive vehicles only. Alvord Peak: Overlooking Fields is this mountain at 7132 feet. To avoid any potential issues, it's best to camp on the south, e Take in the View from Steens Mountain Summit, Hike Pike Creek Trail in the Steens Mountains. The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (CMPA) consists of 428,156 acres of public land offering diverse scenic and recreational experiences. Making Starting at the tiny, historic town of Frenchglen, on OR-205, the ascent is 43.61km (27.1 miles) long. (Great name). Then turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. The highest point on the mountain is a short walk on a rough (and gated) road that departs from the loop road coming up the west slopes. Escape to the hot springs of southeastern Oregon for a rejuvenating soak among natural marvels. 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. But the point is that Steens can be skiied, and skiied with gusto if you are up to it (50 degree couloirs currently elude me). The final hour and change, regardless of direction, requires traversing the sporadically You can drive onto the desert from several different dirtaccess roads along the Fields-Denio Rd, coming from the town Fields. (Great name). Obey road closure signs and stay on designated open routesdriving off road is prohibited. policy linked to above. When I was there in late May the Loop Road was still closed due to snow. Taken as a mountain with a nine thousand foot crest, the peak runs over eight miles from north to south. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. Hines, OR 97730. Welcome to the CMPA and enjoy the many resources and activities awaiting you. Is that where you may see wild mustangs? All campgrounds on Steens Mountain are open and in full service. Privacy Policy, Terms of Use & Accessibility. Open year round.South Steens Campground: (541) 573-440021 campsites, 15 equestrian campsites, toilets, drinking water, garbage service, fire rings and picnic tables.Located 18 miles up the South Steens Loop Road. Also I stayed 3 nights at the steens mountain resort which is an RV park with complete hookups some trees and grass bathrooms and a dump station for your RV. It is an amazingly wonderful, but seldom visited part of Oregon. During the Ice Age, glaciers formed in the major stream channels on the mountain. Bring our travel magazine along. Steens Mountain Oregon - how to get key to open the gate during winter season, HI LetsRun! 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). Ambitious hikers can head down 1,100 ft. to the beautiful Wildhorse Lake, but everyone else should definitely make the half-mile trip up to the 9,733 ft. summit of Steens Mountain. 28910 Highway 20 West This whole part of Southeast Oregon is like finding a secret very few know about. These a great stops with exciting backroads. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. "Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen." The night sky there is amazing I forgot how the sky looked. That depends on which campgrounds you use but for the most part yes there is a gravel roads to most campgrounds the one I stayed at was Steens Mountain Resort and it was a two and a half mile drive on a gravel road that is a little washboard. On October 30, 2000, the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000, providing additional protection to approximately 900,000 acres of Federal land in southeastern Oregon, was signed into law. The nearest higher peak is Eagle Peak, a distant 125 miles away to the west in California.The voyage to Steens Mountain begins by traveling south into the Great Basin from Burns, where you will pass by the verdant Malheur Wildlife Refuge. (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. I hadnt researched the excursion much before we grabbed a map In French Glen and hit the loop. Several private outfitters and guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities. This information has been taken directly from the most recent Harney County Informational Pamphlet available at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. It isnt until the Kiger Gorge overlook that the sense of elevation really takes hold. Itll make your jaw drop. There is a gravel loop road that starts in Frenchglen which rises 6000 ft in 26 miles. A lock ( You can find just about anything to suit your fancy here whether youre into glacier views of Mount Hood or exploring remote jeep roads and sleeping in the sagebrush. Kigermann is one of Oregon's Hundred Highest Peaks. Be alert, drive with caution, and plan to share roadways with cattle, deer, elk, antelope, wild horses, and rabbits! 3 beds, 2.5 baths, 2466 sq. There are pit toilets at the South Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom stop. I debated how to write it. However the views and scenery are incredible with magnificent overlooks of the Alvord Desert and surrounding areas. The peak was renamed in 1860 for United States Army Major Enoch Steen, who fought and drove members of the Paiute tribe off the mountain.Pic: Jared McCullough. Sagebrush dominates Anyone have experience in mid-June on the Steens Mountain Loop Road? Visitors bike on rugged mountain roads, photograph landscapes, wildlife and wildflowers, and catch redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River. SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURE: Steens Mountain Loop Road closes seasonally during the winter and is usually open between mid-June and October. Make sure to visit the little community of French Glen and go into the store. Itll make your jaw drop. The end of the tour loop winds through Steens Mountain makes you feel like you are on top of the world. Any tips or recommendations would be appreciated. your way to the summit, take note of evolving plant life. Burns which calls itself the "Gateway to the Steens" offers the amenities of a large town and has a population hovering around 3000. What are the scenic backroads in Southeastern Oregon? Farther up, increased moisture creates ideal conditions for a dense belt of juniper. If you time it right, you could view fulll moon rise from the top. The 52-mile Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway provides easy access to the mountain's four campgrounds and the Kiger Gorge and East Rim scenic viewpoints. On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. Learn more about travel impacts in Oregon. This grueling but extreme-adventurous 276-mile loop takes you around and on top of Steens. While the upper Steens Thats more than a mile, nearly straight down. 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. 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. Malheur Field Station: (541)549-2629spaces for trailers and 250 dormitory beds with provided bedding and showers. The peak isnt quite sublime, however, because cell phone and radio towers, along with propane tanks, are present. The trail comprises deep glacier-carved gorges, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and alpine lakes with aspen for shade. The tour route begins its climb in earnest, ascending from arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of quaking aspen. The east face of the fault scarp drops immediately over one vertical mile to the Alvord Desert and in places would require true mountaineering ability to climb. Your safety and enjoyment are important. Your epic journey-type ride. Along the way you will climb above river canyons seeing hidden groves of quaking aspen, willows, and mountain mahogany. adventures and follow local regulations. that escaped from early explorers, Indians, settlers, miners, and ranchers. quaking aspen and mountain mahogany as the moisture levels increase. On a clear day, you can see beyond Oregon to Nevada, Idaho and California. KigerMann: With 500 feet of prominence this is the highest point along the Steens Mountain crest at its northern end. closed in the winter months. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! . Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. You also agree to the storing of cookies on Steens Mountain, Frenchglen: Address, Steens Mountain Reviews: 5/5. The Act also designates three new Wild and Scenic RiversWildhorse Creek, Little Wildhorse Creek, and Kiger Creekand adds two new segmentsAnkle Creek and Mud Creekto the existing Donner und Blitzen Wild and Scenic River. Was not expecting that! Set high in the Steens Mountain Wilderness, the road is usually open from mid-June to October, weather permitting. Point 8844: Located 1 mile east of the summit; on topographic maps this is marked as a nameless elevation, at 8844 feet. Is any of the information on this page incorrect? At 7782 feet Devine Rock is one of the more difficult summits in Southeast Oregon as it's protected by cliff bands on all faces. Every year, the Bureau of. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. Camping is first come first serve but depending on the time of year it won't be crowded at all. mountain in the summer to graze their stock on the lush meadows that thrive Make sure to visit the little community of French Glen and go into the store. Stretching across the High Desert of Southeast Oregon is the most massive of the state's peaks. The owners are very nice it's a nice quiet facility but there is the 2.5 mile drive on a gravel road to get there I believe the price was $23 per night and they have a 30 amp and 50 amp connections. All of this wilderness is located in Oregon and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The result was four immense U-shaped gorgesKiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and Wildhorse. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. The climb up and west from Fields on Highway 205 will give you a miniature preview of what youll encounter scaling Steens later on. This land, at the top of the Steens Mountain, is the most sensitive to disturbance and will be managed to safeguard the pristine environment. One notable exception is Big Indian Gorge which does have a developed trail running the length of it. Scenery is stunning, especially dramatic Kiger Gorge Lookout, then East Rim Overlook, overlooking Alvord Desert and The loop is about 60 miles, ascends to 9600 feet, and should not be missed. Quality well kept Renaissance home on the south east side of Bend. Talk about seeing what you just climbed. Reply Report inappropriate content 21 replies to this topic It was SO worth the time and drive to see this beautiful area, and we were delighted that our prayers were answered!! Written July 20, 2021. Well, it turned out he WAS and the gate opened 5 days early a few minutes before we got there!! A few established campgrounds and dispersed camping sites are along the trail and viewpoints to pull over and take in the breathtaking scenery from wilderness canyons to the Alvord Desert in the east and learn about the formation of this spectacular mountain range. This 59-mile/95-kilometer loop includes the highest road in Oregon, traveling around and up this grand Great Basin landmark. 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. I wish I had better words to tell you how amazing this place is. Massive internal pressures forced the east edge of the Steens upward. Hiking is available in all areas and trailheads exist near Page Springs and South Steens Campgrounds, as well as Wildhorse Overlook and Pike Creek. Youll connect to Highway 78 at about Mile 65, and you can roll on to Crystal Crane Hot Springs at about Mile 74. (28), Comments Open Season Fish Lake Campground is open mid-June through October. Located at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and open year round.Frenchglen Wayside State Park:No camping spaces, but picnic spaces and a vaulted toilet. There is another campground on the steens Mountain Loop Road and it is a long Gravel Road good road but still gravel there's two campgrounds a horse camp and a family camp both are BLM campgrounds good-quality campgrounds with pit toilets and trash pickup. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. You'll drive through a herd of sheep on the way up. (113), Climber's Log Entries It is truly a step back into time. The area is not fenced, but it is up to you to be aware of where you are on the playa. The result was a 30-mile-long fault-block mountain with a spectacular and rugged east face that rises one vertical mile above the Alvord Desert. Take State Highway 205 to Frenchglen and follow the signs east to the Steens Mountain Loop Road. It takes about 2hrs. Oregon Bikepacking The loop road is a wonderful multi-day trek for just such an excursion. Wildhorse Lake, Riddle Brothers ranch, wild Kiger mustangs. In the midst of this vastness is Alvord Hot Springs, if youre feeling like a relaxing soak to soothe your muscles. 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). Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. The area surrounding the lake is pr Driving on the 205 you will turn onto the Steens Mountain LoopRoad at the Frenchglen Hotel State Heritage Site, then continue to drive 27 miles up into the Steens Mountain Wilderness, following the main road until you see the turnoff towards the summit. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. We hope you enjoy our routes, and we look forward to running into you out there under open skies along our favorite routes. Routes are non-existent and the rock along knife-edge ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly. The area is the premier recreation destination in Southeast Oregon and an iconic part of the Oregon's High Desert landscape. more. The gravel is generally good throughout the route. Although not posted as such, several campsites with fire rings exist at the trailhead. On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. Yes the road is washboard at first. Along the way, The mountain loop is also the only truly rough riding. Dont hesitate to talk to localsarea landowners and Federal employees are generally visible in the Steens Mountain area. Phone service should not be relied on for emergency communication. Follow this link to interactive maps of this amazing area! LockA locked padlock For the full loop, an early start is recommended, and for us, that meant sharing the road with surprised deer. The United States Congress designated the Steens Mountain Wilderness in 2000 and it now has over 170,200 acres. LockA locked padlock Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Be prepared for sudden lightning storms, snow, rain, and high winds. Rarely seen are the regions Bighorn Sheep. The road to the summit opens every June, and its gates remain unlocked until October or whenever snowfall makes passage unsafe. From the east rim overlook, the Steens Mountain drops over a vertical Terrible washboard road but spectacular scenery. Then, cross the Donner und Blitzen River and get ready for some mountain-climbing on two wheels. Also, the Alvord Desert and the Steens Mountains are in the region as well. a massive "U" shaped canyon. For example, the It is also home to a herd of the famous wild Kiger mustangs featured in the movie "Spirit." A few established campgrounds and . Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Check with local BLM authorities. 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. You or someone else may add some info here if you have it. One exception however is the Roaring Springs along the Catlow Valley. Ticks, mosquitoes, and rattlesnakes in certain areas during spring and summer. At the East Rim Viewpoint, peer off the precipice to the Alvord Desert 1 mile/1.6 kilometers below. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. After following Highway 78 for about 38 miles, turn south and start paralleling the faultline that led to the uprising that resulted in Steens Mountain. 2021 Eastern Oregon Visitors Association | Privacy Policy | Site by Oregon Media, Experience the many cultures of the region. Solitude at it's finest. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Popular activities include camping, picnicking, sightseeing, and exploring the open country on foot and horseback. Prominence this is the Roaring Springs along the way up gate during winter season, LetsRun. The Roaring Springs along the way you will climb above River canyons seeing hidden groves of quaking aspen straight. A few minutes before we got there! premier recreation destination in Southeast Oregon and is usually between. Wild Kiger mustangs there! this link to interactive maps of this amazing!... 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