We welcome your visit and have information to help you. 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. (Great name). The mountain was once known as a sacred place by Native Americans who lived on its slopes. Hines, OR 97730. The night sky there is amazing I forgot how the sky looked. The result was four immense U-shaped gorgesKiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and Wildhorse. (Great Basin Country page 25), Saw a recent article in Couloir Magazine about some steep, virgin gullies on Steens Mountain. The road to the summit is steep. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. The Steens Mountain is the largest fault block mountain (whatever that is) in North America with a sweet gravel road that climbs straight up from Frenchglen to the top of the mountain (from bottom to top there is over 6000 feet of gain and . 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. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. 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. And once you turn right onto the Loop Road (Mile 220), your world starts turning upward the first climb gains about 1,000 feet over 7 miles. Best Time to Visit: July through October, the road is The peak isnt quite sublime, however, because cell phone and radio towers, along with propane tanks, are present. It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon. Look for a dirt road with a cattle guard on the west side of the road, about 1.9 miles nort Alvord Hot Springs at the base of Steens Mountain deep in the heart of the eastern Oregon Wilderness is a hidden gem, known mostly to climbing enthusiasts and the ambitious adventurer willing to drive the nearly 4 hours from Boise, Bend, or 2.5 hours from the nearest town of any size, Winnemucca in Nevada. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon. Next up is the tiny ranching outpost of Fields, where the drive-in is renowned for both their food and their ice cream and not just because its the only option for a very long way in any direction. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. Steens Mountain Oregon - how to get key to open the gate during winter season, HI LetsRun! Official websites use .gov Planning a road trip at the end of this month to the Steens and just wondering if there's a chance of the Steens Loop being open yet? Be aware of ticks, mosquitoes, and rattlesnakes in certain areas during spring and summer. Go big or go home . For the full loop, an early start is recommended, and for us, that meant sharing the road with surprised deer. Loop Road. I was first introduced to SE Oregon through the Giant Loop Motorcycle Tour. It takes about 2hrs. Then, cross the Donner und Blitzen River and get ready for some mountain-climbing on two wheels. Sagebrush dominates Along the way, 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. My love affair with the high desert runs deep; my fondest childhood Is any of the information on this page incorrect? Be prepared for sudden lightning storms, snow, rain, and high winds. 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. YEAH!! I cannot find the link online (keep checking the webpage) and I forget the issue. As youre pedaling along, tune in to the chorus of bird calls and see how many distinct ones you can distinguish. --John Muir, Routes The climb up and west from Fields on Highway 205 will give you a miniature preview of what youll encounter scaling Steens later on. Oregon Department of Transportation. Take State Highway 205 to Frenchglen and follow the signs east to the Steens Mountain Loop Road. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The Steens Mountain Loop Road is now open to about 9,200 feet elevation, according to BLM road crews actively working in freezing temperatures and whiteout snow conditions. Itll make your jaw drop. For example, the in the lower, drier environs, giving way to dense stands of juniper, then A lock ( wild horse country. 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. The trail comprises deep glacier-carved gorges, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and alpine lakes with aspen for shade. 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. An official website of the United States government. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The average gradient is 3.87%. Please explore responsibly! the Alvord Desert in its shadow receives less than six inches. We recommend any visitors to see this island in the sky place. sometimes be spotted negotiating rocky escarpments; pronghorn antelope, It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon. So, I would check with the BLM office and see if the road is open now or when it does open. The Steens Mountain Loop Road provides access to four designated campgrounds, Steens Summit and Wildhorse Lake Trailheads, the Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District. Steens That road is gravel all the way around the loop. Watch for wildlife along this stretch, particularly the wild horses that roam these wild lands. At the base of the mountain, where water is scarce, is a belt of sagebrush. Others enjoy hunting for wild game and visiting special places, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Let someone at home know where you plan to go and when you plan to return. High quality tires are a must for all vehicles, even when traveling on maintained routes. All Rights Reserved. The Act is a culmination of a cooperative effort between Oregon's Congressional delegation, Oregon's Governor, and the Secretary of the Interior to forge legislation that will provide long-term protection to the cultural, economic, ecological, and social health of the Steens Mountain Area. Located north of the Alvord Desert on the east side of the mountain. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This loop drive of 58 miles is gravel with a washboard surface that is totally awesome. massive internal pressure forced the east edge upward along a fault line. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Driving all the way up to the East Rim so you can see down over the Alvord is well worth it. Also, the Alvord Desert and the Steens Mountains are in the region as well. The landscape to your west has been gradually taking up a higher spot on the horizon, and after you leave Mann Lake youll be below the main bulk of Steens, at the same time as you spill out into the Alvord Desert. Check out a nearby All-Access Preview trail guide: Steens Mountain Loop includes the highest road in Oregon and is one of Oregon's extraordinary scenic and geologic wonders. The rest of the Steens Mountain Loop Road can accommodate passenger cars at lower speeds. point on a remarkable drive. Written July 20, 2021. Here is a link to the Mann Lake BLM page. Steens Mountain, in far SE Oregon, is one of the most amazing wilderness places accessible by car. Seeing it from the Alvord Desert reveals that it is in fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens Basalt. So head north out of Frenchglen up Highway 205 to get warmed up; after almost 18 miles of pavement, veer off the highway toward Diamond (even smaller than Frenchglen, but another great historic hotel/restaurant) and then onto the first stretch of the many, many miles of unpaved road youll experience. From there you will continue for about 22 miles to find yourself at Kiger Gorge Lookout. 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. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. 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. 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. ecosystems from the valley floor to the mountain top. Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. Ready to hit the road? 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. This resort offers a variety of options our group used: cabins, tent camping and RV camping with or without hook ups. Quality well kept Renaissance home on the south east side of Bend. The Steens Mountain Loop is spectacular, but it can be blocked by snow late into the season as was my experience in June 2022. 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). Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. Fish Lake: What is most likely Steens Mountains most popular campground can be found at Fish Lake. The climb up and west from Fields on Highway 205 will give you a miniature preview of what youll encounter scaling Steens later on. Please respect landowners in the area and always get permission to go onto private property. You can camp there and walk literally just a couple of minutes to both trailheads. Learn more about travel impacts in Oregon. Distance: 59 miles 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. 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 youll want to check on that before starting out. It was SO worth the time and drive to see this beautiful area, and we were delighted that our prayers were answered!! At the East Rim Viewpoint, peer off the precipice to the Alvord Desert 1 mile/1.6 kilometers below. Stayed at the Alvord Dessert Hot Springs and had a great time there and the views on top of the Steens Mountain are breath taking. 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. west slope of the mountain may receive as much as 25' of precipitation, Hiking is available in all areas and trailheads exist near Page Springs and South Steens Campgrounds, as well as Wildhorse Overlook and Pike Creek. Starting at the Historic Frenchglen Hotel make your way to Steens Mountain Loop and then onto Fishlake/Steens Mountain Rd. Make sure to visit the little community of French Glen and go into the store. While the upper This is the only place you can see the Borax Lake Chub, a fish that has evolved to survive in what is essentially a hot spring. Turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen, Oregon. A summmitpost page exists for this mountain and much more information can be found there including amazing pictures of the Kiger Gorge and notch. The 52-mile Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway provides access to four campgrounds and the views from Kiger Gorge, East Rim, Big Indian Gorge, Wildhorse and Little Blitzen Gorge overlooks are not to be missed! 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!" Later, the area became known as Steen's Mountain, named after the Army Cavalry Major, who defeated and removed the Native American population from the mountain during the Snake Indian Wars. Bring our travel magazine along. We are 2 couples planning our Steens trip. 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. Rough terraindeep canyons and rocky slopes are a natural party of the rugged mountain territory. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Making All campgrounds on Steens Mountain are open and in full service. Long distances between servicesincluding gas stations, phones, and cell phone reception. 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. Minimum Drive Time: 3-5 hours Open July to November based on snow conditions.Mann Lake: (541) 573-4400Undeveloped campsites with vaulted toilets and a boat ramp. Itll make your jaw drop. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Mountain, which rests in the clouds at nearly 10,000 feet. The herd is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to preserve their It is also home to a herd of the famous wild Kiger mustangs featured in the movie "Spirit." The trail comprises deep glacier-carved gorges, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and alpine lakes with aspen for shade. mule deer and elk also call the mountain home. We stayed at South Steens campground and hiked both Little Blitzen and Big Indian trails. The Kiger Gorge overlook offers the visitor a breathtaking Sustainable grazing and recreational use, including fishing and hunting, will be continued where consistent with the purpose of the Act. Alvord Hot Springs: Unquestionably the most popular of the Steens Mountain area hot springs. I highly recommend one extra stop on this loop, at the Steens Summit/Wildhorse Lake parking lot. Although the views are breath taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns and often narrow road. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable. We heard about the loop from our RV site neighbors. On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. 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. 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. Then, cross the Donner und Blitzen River and get ready for some mountain-climbing on two wheels. You or someone else may add some info here if you have it. Hood, the Three Sisters, Mt. 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. Cattlemen, Fuel may be available in the towns of Fields, Frenchglen, Crane, or the Narrows. Then turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. One notable exception is Big Indian Gorge which does have a developed trail running the length of it. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. your way to the summit, take note of evolving plant life. This massive fault block of basalt is the highest point south of the Three Sisters in Oregon, has 4373 feet of prominence, and is the highpoint of Harney County. 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. Glaciers once scoured down this mountain, scrubbing away softer sediments and creating distinct notches in the bedrock. A lock ( It is an amazingly wonderful, but seldom visited part of Oregon. of elevation gain. And for you, if you are returning be sure and consider staying at Crystal Crane Springs, in Hines (5 mi from Burns). It'd been years since we'd visited Steens and best of all, nothing has changed. Vehicles, sheep, and cows are banned in the wilderness. A Trip to Steens, Oregons Secret Mountain, Relax at the Hot Springs of Southeastern Oregon. Far below the alpine highlands, creeks and rivers hide beaver and native trout populations that are fed by snowbanks which can survive the blistering summer heat of the Oregon Desert.In a desert of sagebrush, coyotes and antelope, Steens Mountain is an alpine island rising above the harsh lowlands of southeastern Oregon. Yes the road is washboard at first. 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. 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. Open Season Fish Lake Campground is open mid-June through October. 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. While not easily seen, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope make this corner of southeast Oregon their home. Ticks, Mosquitos, and Rattlesnakes may be present during summer months. Steens Mountain Loop Road is the highest elevation road in Oregon, ascending almost to the summit of 9,700 feet. Some activities within the CMPA, such as motorized access for winter recreation and organized group functions, may require a special-use permit from BLM. 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. 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. 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