The loop roads are in good condition. While spring and fall are your best bets, the mountain Loop Road is only open certain months of the year - typically August and September - so you'll want to check on that before starting out. Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. Be aware of ticks, mosquitoes, and rattlesnakes in certain areas during spring and summer. 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. your way to the summit, take note of evolving plant life. Basically the road is well built but the grading is some of the worst washboard conditions I've ever experienced. "Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen." With scenic landscape views and some of the darkest skies in all of the lower 48 states, this place is amazing. On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. About 8.5 miles up the road and its arrow-straight through here youre back off the highway again, and returning to true solitude for the 13 miles between highways. I was first introduced to SE Oregon through the Giant Loop Motorcycle Tour. Thankfully we packed a lunch because it was much longer than I thought. Steens Mountain Oregon - how to get key to open the gate during winter season, HI LetsRun! That being said, the trip up to snow line was breathtaking and beautiful! point on a remarkable drive. Burns District Office Because the Steens Mountain Loop was on husband's bucket list, we added it on to our annual late June Bend birthday/anniversary trip. The peak isnt quite sublime, however, because cell phone and radio towers, along with propane tanks, are present. 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. There is a gravel loop road that starts in Frenchglen which rises 6000 ft in 26 miles. More rides by this ambassador on rideswithgps.com, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use & Accessibility. Make sure you bring warm clothes because it gets cold on the mountain even when the valley below is scorching hot. Mann Lake is one of only a couple lakes along the eastside of Steens Mountain that does not dry up. 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. to travelthe50 miles out and back with ~5000ft. Look for stands of quaking aspen and mountain mahogany on drier rocky ridges. 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. Any snow was off the roadway and we could see the Alvord Desert below as well as mountain peaks in the distance and deep valleys below. Massive internal pressures forced the east edge of the Steens upward. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. The stunning geography of Steens is on display the entire way, with views over the Alvord Desert at the trailhead and a sweeping vista down the canyon below the lake. Also, the first ever Redband Trout Reserve has been created to improve stream health and fish habitat. The average gradient is 3.87%. A true desert isnt something you come across too often, but this expanse thats more akin to the Bonneville Salt Flats than the Gobi or Sahara, is one very large piece of flatness. 2023 Travel Oregon | The official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information. Please explore responsibly! Allow 3 or more hours to enjoy the views and solitude. Popular activities include camping, picnicking, sightseeing, and exploring the open country on foot and horseback. 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. Thats more than a mile, nearly straight down. Snow can remain on the road into the summer, delaying the opening of the full loop. The mountains high elevation can cause rapid temperature changes. 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). Always start your trip with a full tank of fuel and call ahead for current information about fuel availability in the Steens Mountain area. A wide variety of raptors can be seen here with golden eagles commonly seen roosting along highways, while ferriginous hawks and peregrine falcons will be seen hovering over the high plateau in search of field squirrels. There is a strong cell service and a wi fi. While spring and fall are your best bets, the mountain Loop Road is only open certain months of the year - typically August and September - so you'll want to check on that before starting out. Vehicles, sheep, and cows are banned in the wilderness. The loop road is a wonderful multi-day trek for just such an excursion. The road to the summit of Steens Mountain is the highest road in Oregon, reaching nearly 10,000 feet. Dont know how we could have backed up if we had met another car. An official website of the United States government. There are five major glaciated canyons 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. My love affair with the high desert runs deep; my fondest childhood Is any of the information on this page incorrect? 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. 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. The road also provides access to Steens Summit and the Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District campgrounds. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. Odds are good if you have sharp enough eyes (or binoculars) youll see elk on the canyon floor thousands of feet below and you might even spy the famous Kiger Mustangs, a legendarily beautiful band of wild horses that roam this remote part of the state. 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. Written July 20, 2021. Although the views are breath taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns and often narrow road. 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. Alvord Peak: Overlooking Fields is this mountain at 7132 feet. The campground was nice, quiet, and well-maintained (including the outhouses!). was off the roadway and we could see the Alvord Desert below as well as mountain peaks in the distance and d A must do if ever in this part of Oregon! Quality well kept Renaissance home on the south east side of Bend. Dont hesitate to talk to localsarea landowners and Federal employees are generally visible in the Steens Mountain area. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Point 8844: Located 1 mile east of the summit; on topographic maps this is marked as a nameless elevation, at 8844 feet. Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA): Restrooms Fuel may be available in the towns of Fields, Frenchglen, Crane, or the Narrows. While the upper At 9348 feet this point overlooks the Kiger Gorge and the "Big Nick" notch. As youre pedaling along, tune in to the chorus of bird calls and see how many distinct ones you can distinguish. Is that title clickbaitish? From Frenchglen, the first 5 miles/ 8 kilometers of the route along North Loop Road traverse the southern end of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. wild horse country. Although the views are breath taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns and often narrow road. I'm planning a trip down there, and based on my work schedule, it's looking like mid-June is the time I'll have to go. Visitor Activities Visitor activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and limited snowmobiling. on the Steens. It took up about 3 hours with view stops and lunch. Snow can remain on the road into the summer, delaying the opening of the full loop. 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. (Great name). Along the way, A route exists to the summit and explained in detail in 75 Scrambles In Oregon. Elevation can change from less than 4,000 feet to over 9,000 feet in just a few miles. Farther up, increased moisture creates ideal conditions for a dense belt of juniper. At the base of the mountain, where water is scarce, is a belt of sagebrush. Frenchglen Hotel is located next door.Located on the south end of Frenchglen.Page Springs: (541)573-440036 Campsites along the Blitzen River with toilets, water, garbage service, fire rings and picnic tables.Located 3 miles east of Frenchglen on the Steens Mountain Loop Road and open year round.Jackman Park: (541)573-44006 Campsites with toilets, water, garbage service, fire rings and picnic tables.Located 19 miles east of Frenchglen on the Steens Mountain Loop Road near Fish Lake. You are allowed to drive out and camp anywhere on the playa except for along the west side, which is private property. Let's keep in touch. in the lower, drier environs, giving way to dense stands of juniper, then The area is the premier recreation destination in Southeast Oregon and an iconic part of the Oregon's High Desert landscape. 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). A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Both ranches continue to operate to this day. From Burns, Oregon, travel southeast for approximately 2 miles on State Highway 78. Cattlemen, Livestock and wildlife on roadwaysmuch of southeast Oregon is open range. It takes about 2hrs. What are the scenic backroads in Southeastern Oregon? Ticks, Mosquitos, and Rattlesnakes may be present during summer months. The Kiger Gorge overlook offers the visitor a breathtaking The Nearest Services are in the communities of Fields, Frenchglen, Crane, or Narrows, Oregon. In summer driving the loop road offers quick access to the summit via a quarter mile hike up a maintenance road. Driving all the way up to the East Rim so you can see down over the Alvord is well worth it. 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. Finally, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out and can be reached by high clearance vehicles only. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 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. Rarely seen are the regions Bighorn Sheep. Best access to the summit via the east face is in the region of Kigermann where ridges do not drop off so dramatically along their north and south faces. I did see some wild horses on the drive. Glaciers once scoured down this mountain, scrubbing away softer sediments and creating distinct notches in the bedrock. Southeast Oregon is a beautiful region with some great sightseeing opportunities. You might hear a stray reference to The Steens and think its a mountain range, but theres really just the one and its huge one. Go big or go home . Steens When the hard work ends, youll be at the top of the road, at over 9,500 feet, looking back down on that desert you camped in, and the road you pedaled, far below. 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. Obey road closure signs and stay on designated open routesdriving off road is prohibited. Deep in the southeast section of Oregon, the road is a spectacular gem in the high desert and provides sweeping views of the region, including Wildhorse Lake and Keigor Gorge. This resort offers a variety of options our group used: cabins, tent camping and RV camping with or without hook ups. 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. (Great name). Well, it turned out he WAS and the gate opened 5 days early a few minutes before we got there!! The mountain loop is also the only truly rough riding. mile to the Alvord Desert floor. Getting lostthe remote nature and vast landscape of the Steens Mountain area may leave even the most experienced traveler directionally confused or just plain lost. 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. Continue a short distance past Frenchglen, then turn left onto the Steens Mountain Loop Road. , increased moisture creates ideal conditions for a dense belt of sagebrush Pike Creek is the steens mountain loop road open very out. Only truly rough riding south east side of Bend steep drop offs, sharp turns often... Take note of evolving plant life listen, mountains speak and wise men listen. a variety options... Only a couple lakes along the eastside of Steens mountain is the highest in. 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