Steens Mountain, in far SE Oregon, is one of the most amazing wilderness places accessible by car. Visitors bike on rugged mountain roads, photograph landscapes, wildlife and wildflowers, and catch redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River. Be prepared for sudden lightning storms, snow, rain, and high winds. Located on the north side of the creek, gaining permission to travel on this land from the Alvord Ranch may be necessary. Bring our travel magazine along. No water or services available. Mountain acts as a great moisture collector, creating vastly different
Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. The trail comprises deep glacier-carved gorges, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and alpine lakes with aspen for shade. An official website of the United States government. On the advice of the BLM gal, we decided to see as much as we could and started at the south entrance heading north where we were able to view the MANY wild horses near a watering hole close to where we began the drive on the decent gravel roadway which, by the way, was fine for our car. 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. 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. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. Above the juniper and aspen, severe climate and thin soils result in a belt of grasses, low-growing plants, and stunted, wind-formed shrubs. That being said, the trip up to snow line was breathtaking and beautiful! Hines, OR 97738 Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. mule deer and elk also call the mountain home. The Steens Mountain Loop is spectacular, but it can be blocked by snow late into the season as was my experience in June 2022. I also understand there is a great hamburger and shake place in Fields. A note: From here to Fields, its a long and typically hot stretch of riding just over 100 miles, so carry two days worth of water with you. The famous notch in the east ridge of Kiger Gorge formed during a later glaciation when a small glacier in Mann Creek Canyon eroded through the ridge top. Also, the Alvord Desert and the Steens Mountains are in the region as well. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The end of the tour loop winds through
It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon. Distance: 59 miles
It took up about 3 hours with view stops and lunch. Conditions No conditions reported in the past 7 days Want to report conditions for this trail? Raptors, including golden
And it fit! Go big or go home . At nearly 10,000ft in elevation and not being well known, the Steens will make you to feel like youre in a truly remote place. It offers a great view of the sunset and if you stay at night will offer the one best stargazing in all of the U.S. as Steens Mountain claims the darkest skies in all of the lower 48 states. Because the Steens Mountain Loop was on husband's bucket list, we added it on to our annual late June Bend birthday/anniversary trip. From the top, the view is east to the Alvord Desert; to the south on the mountain is Wildhorse lake, accessible by a steep climb down/up. 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. 28910 Hwy 20 West It'd been years since we'd visited Steens and best of all, nothing has changed. A. 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. in the lower, drier environs, giving way to dense stands of juniper, then
Expect to find the pools somewhere in the range of 100-120 degrees. It is an amazingly wonderful, but seldom visited part of Oregon. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Youll once again cross the Donner und Blitzen River en route back to OR-205, the High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway. We saw a white BLM pickup coming down at a fairly decent speed and thought, "maybe this is the guy who has opened the gate for us!" While a radio facility mars the absolute summit, there are many other wild peaks along the crest. Its designated a Wild and Scenic River from here to its head-waters atop the mountain. Absolutely gorgeous. Vehicles, sheep, and cows are banned in the wilderness. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The Steens loop roads past Fish Lake to the north, and Big Indian Gorge to the south, remain closed due to lingering snow. For example, the Fish Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be found also. Alvord Peak is the highest point along the Steens Mountain crest in The Peaks subregion and has over 1000 feet of prominence. Official websites use .gov 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. 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. Wood is not readily available, and the cutting down of trees should not be practiced at any cost, although its immediately apparent some of the aspens here have been cut down. A lock ( Borax Lake on the Nature Conservancy Page, Old Steens Mountain Summitpost Page originally created by Mutant1, Unique locations along the Steens escarpment, Hiking, Mountaineering, Bouldering, Mixed, Scrambling. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. Turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen, Oregon. Looming over Kiger is the eponhymously named Gunsight notch also glacially carved. (Great name). wild horse country. In the midst of this vastness is Alvord Hot Springs, if youre feeling like a relaxing soak to soothe your muscles. Dont know how we could have backed up if we had met another car. It's an amazingly scenic drive that is a worthy part of any trip to the Steens. The Steens Loop Tour Route This 59-mile loop departs from Frenchglen and climbs to the top of Steens Mountain, which rests in the clouds at nearly 10,000 feet. This land, at the top of the Steens Mountain, is the most sensitive to disturbance and will be managed to safeguard the pristine environment. The summit ridgeline is one of the more magical locations in Oregon. Steens Mountain is located 60 miles south of Burns near Frenchglen and Page Springs Campground. 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. a massive "U" shaped canyon. These animals navigate the rough eastern face of Steens Mountain high above the Alvord Desert. Every year, the Bureau of. opportunity to stand at the headwall of a classic textbook example of
Although the views are breath taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns and often narrow road. So, do you htink there is plenty to see on that loop into the mountains off from Frenchglen to keep us busy? The herd is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to preserve their
Steens Mountain is the largest fault-block mountain in the northern Great Basin. We were so excited for our miracle and for the fabulous views we could see from the high viewpoints all along the way. ecosystems from the valley floor to the mountain top. Camping is first come first serve but depending on the time of year it won't be crowded at all. The drive offers an extraordinary landscape of volcanic uplifts, deep glacier-carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, wild rivers, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species. 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). From Burns follow State Route 205 south for about 60 miles to Frenchglen, which hosts a store, gas station, and post office in one building that is not always open; and a nice historic hotel (think bed and breakfast). 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. On a clear day, you can see beyond Oregon to Nevada, Idaho and California. If you time it right, you could view fulll moon rise from the top. Steens Mountain is a mighty fault-block edifice that rises dramatically from its surroundings. The CMPA encompasses an extraordinary landscape with deep glacier carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and a way of life for all who live there. Approximately 900,000 acres are designated off limits to mineral and geothermal extraction. (113), Climber's Log Entries The entire Steens Mountain Loop Road has just been opened. An official website of the United States government. Oct 1, 2019 HI LetsRun! 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. There are pit toilets at the South Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom stop. The road is all gravel but is well maintained as long as it's open. Devine founded the Whitehorse Ranch in 1869, and later the Alvord Ranch. Your safety and enjoyment are important. A summitpost page exists for this mountain.Pike Canyon: The only developed trail on the east face of Steens Mountain can be found in Pike Canyon. 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. 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. 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. Although not posted as such, several campsites with fire rings exist at the trailhead. This grueling but extreme-adventurous 276-mile loop takes you around and on top of Steens. Quando i fratelli d'Indovinello arrivarono il 1900, ci furono 100.000 bestiame e pecora che sfiora la gamma aperta in dintorno di valli Steens. 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. A summmitpost page exists for this mountain and much more information can be found there including amazing pictures of the Kiger Gorge and notch. From the east rim overlook, the Steens Mountain drops over a vertical
You can expect any other roadsindicated by dashed lines on a mapto be passable by four-wheel drive vehicles only. 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. I highly recommend one extra stop on this loop, at the Steens Summit/Wildhorse Lake parking lot. The North Loop road is not as steep as the South Loop. I did not see any mustangs while there. The rest of the Steens Mountain Loop Road can accommodate passenger cars at lower speeds. 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. 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. You can ride this loop in either direction, but for the sake of this description lets assume you want to save the most stupendous views for later in the trip. Traveling with a current map of the area is essential! YEAH!! Several private outfitters and guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities. The road is easy to drive most of the year, but due to the elevation, snow lingers in the spring and comes early in the fall, which can make driving . The road departs the tiny, historic town of Frenchglen and climbs up Oregons eighth-tallest mountain on a tour of massive gorges, vast panoramas and one of the most spectacular lakes in the Pacific Northwest. Limited water sourcescarry enough water and food to last your entire trip, and do not drink from untested water sources. you'll have ample opportunities to view wildlife and take in the grandeur
It can be driven by standard vehicles and passenger cars shouldnt have any trouble. That being said, the trip up to snow line was breathtaking and beautiful! The road is not difficult at all. This 17-mile drive takes you through open wet prairies and popular wading bird feeding areas. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Minimum Drive Time: 3-5 hours
Located in the Great Basin, it is a 30 mile long fault block uplift mountain which reaches almost 10,000 ft at it's highest point. The more. High Clearance Vehicles Recommended on some portions of the Steens Mountain Loop. Stonehouse BM: A steep 4x4 road crawls up Stonehouse Creek and breaks across the north escarpment near Mann Lake. 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. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. It is also home to a herd of the famous wild Kiger mustangs featured in the movie "Spirit." I tre fratelli, Walter, Frederick e Benjamin, fatto lungo il Piccolo Fiume Blitzen, e hanno cominciato ad allevare il bestiame. 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