Taken as a mountain with a nine thousand foot crest, the peak runs over eight miles from north to south. 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. A private campground, gas, phone, and store is available at Frenchglen. Give yourself 3 hours to drive with short stops; plan for 4 to 5 if you will be doing more exploring. The campground was nice, quiet, and well-maintained (including the outhouses!). As cyclists, were spoiled living in Oregon. Its one of Oregons most rugged and lesser-visited destinations. Weather conditionsthe mountains high elevation can cause rapid temperature changes. Limited water sourcescarry enough water and food to last your entire trip, and do not drink from untested water sources. 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 . . If you time it right, you could view fulll moon rise from the top. That road is gravel all the way around the loop. Starting at the tiny, historic town of Frenchglen, on OR-205, the ascent is 43.61km (27.1 miles) long. Kigermann is one of Oregon's Hundred Highest Peaks. While the upper ecosystems from the valley floor to the mountain top. Within this area, cooperative and innovative management projects will be maintained and enhanced between the BLM, private landowners, tribes, and other public interests. a massive "U" shaped canyon. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The full loop is a long day of serious gravel cycling with more than 7,500 feet in elevation gain. A tilted mesa with an active fault on its steep, eastern side, this fault-block mountain has risen up in the past five to seven million years. Finally, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out and can be reached by high clearance vehicles only. The loop road typically opens in June, but snowfall in this desert land can be highly variable from year to year.Summiting the mountain via its steep eastern face should not be taken lightly. While a radio facility mars the absolute summit, there are many other wild peaks along the crest. Located at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and open year round.Frenchglen Wayside State Park:No camping spaces, but picnic spaces and a vaulted toilet. Although the views are breath taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns and often narrow road. 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. I love spending time in the city of Burns, they have some great parks and restaurants. The result was four immense U-shaped gorgesKiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and Wildhorse. Sustainable grazing and recreational use, including fishing and hunting, will be continued where consistent with the purpose of the Act. 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. Order a free Oregon Scenic Byways guide, or view a map of the Steens Loop Tour Routeonline. Many hikers opt to summit Steens Mountain via Big Indian Gorge which has a developed trail running the length of it. 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. 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. Official websites use .gov Thats more than a mile, nearly straight down. site is used. YEAH!! The North Loop road is not as steep as the South Loop. Fish Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be found also. The summit itself is adorned with cell towers where youll find your only reception out here - but the views are spectacular. Any tips or recommendations would be appreciated. You can camp there and walk literally just a couple of minutes to both trailheads. Trail Overview. 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. The tour route begins its climb in earnest, ascending from arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of quaking aspen. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' 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. Open Season Fish Lake Campground is open mid-June through October. 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. For some reason I heard it in my head in the voice of those guys that do the Monster Truck event comme. Elevation can change from less than 4,000 feet to over 9,000 feet in just a few miles. 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. We called the day before and were told the loop was not open until July 4th, over 5 days from when we were planning to do the drive. "Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen." Making You'll drive through a herd of sheep on the way up. Turning southeast here on the Steens Loop road you begin a gradual climb towards a distant ridgeline, the crest of Steens Mountain. Steens The herd is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to preserve their 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. I cannot find the link online (keep checking the webpage) and I forget the issue. Are reservations needed at campgrounds in the steen my area, and how far will I need to drive on gravel roads to get there? Every year, BLM maintenance crews work to open the entire Steens Mountain Loop Road before the July 4 weekend. The north road to Steens Mountain summit opened June 11, which is unusually early, but the south portion of the loop is unlikely to be driveable until later this summer, if at all. Ivisited in the early fall and there was one other car. Watch for wildlife along this stretch, particularly the wild horses that roam these wild lands. 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. Burns District Office of Bureau of Land Management (541-573-4400), Burns BLM PageMalheur National Wildlife RefugeBorax Lake on the Nature Conservancy PageSteens Mountain CanyonsOld Steens Mountain Summitpost Page originally created by Mutant1, Steens Mountain is named for Eunoch Steen an Army Major who led campaigns against the Northern Paiutes on the mountain. 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. quaking aspen and mountain mahogany as the moisture levels increase. I can recommend a few Scenic Byways, September 21, 2011 (Updated September 1, 2017). Oregon Bikepacking Fuel may be available in the towns of Fields, Frenchglen, Crane, or the Narrows. One exception however is the Roaring Springs along the Catlow Valley. This 59-mile/95-kilometer loop includes the highest road in Oregon, traveling around and up this grand Great Basin landmark. Mountain Weather can be unpredictable and change suddenly. Download a detailed guide (PDF). On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. The road is not difficult at all. Open July to November based on snow conditions.Fish Lake: (541) 573-440023 Campsites with toilets, water, garbage service, fire rings, picnic tables, and a boat ramp into the lake (no motorized boats permitted).Located at Fish Lake 17 miles east of Frenchglen. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Borax Lake is 10 acres, and water welling up from within it feeds a series of cooler ponds and marshes surrounding the primary spring. (28), Comments Minimum Drive Time: 3-5 hours While much of the highlands are within hiking distance of the loop road and open to the public, some of the deep gorges are privately owned by large local ranches. Conditions No conditions reported in the past 7 days Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. A Trip to Steens, Oregons Secret Mountain, Relax at the Hot Springs of Southeastern Oregon. Copyright 2023. 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. I highly recommend one extra stop on this loop, at the Steens Summit/Wildhorse Lake parking lot. Starting at OR-205, near Frenchglen, the road is 43.61km (27.1 miles) long. Permits, Fees, Limitations Tucked away in the southeastern part of Oregon, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. 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. 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. Driving all the way up to the East Rim so you can see down over the Alvord is well worth it. Open May to November depending on snow. A series of much hotter pools can be found on the north slope of Borax Lake. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. Yes the road is washboard at first. 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. We are 2 couples planning our Steens trip. Terrible washboard conditions for miles, which is a shame since it's such a spectacular area once you get up top. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. Along the way, The Kiger Gorge overlook offers the visitor a breathtaking Borax Lake: A treasure truly unique to Oregon is this 100+ degree pond hidden amidst the wastes of the southern Alvord Desert near Fields. Itll make your jaw drop. Make sure to visit the little community of French Glen and go into the store. Other mountains get all the attention in Oregon: Mt. Seeing it from the Alvord Desert reveals that it is in fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens Basalt. 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. point on a remarkable drive. SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURE: Steens Mountain Loop Road closes seasonally during the winter and is usually open between mid-June and October. When I was there in late May the Loop Road was still closed due to snow. The loop roads are in good condition. You are allowed to drive out and camp anywhere on the playa except for along the west side, which is private property. The area is not fenced, but it is up to you to be aware of where you are on the playa. as well as Irish and Basque sheepherders, were once drawn to the upper 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. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Steens Mountain is simply awesome. Most of the road to the mountain is graveled but well maintained. It takes about 2hrs. Wonderful views, local history, wild horses, and much more. This 17-mile drive takes you through open wet prairies and popular wading bird feeding areas. Solitude at it's finest. 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. What are the scenic backroads in Southeastern Oregon? Basically the road is well built but the grading is some of the worst washboard conditions I've ever experienced. Between the Coast and Cascade Ranges, the high desert of central Oregon, and the remote expanses of eastern Oregon, we have all the makings for top-notch gravel riding and bikepacking. Best Time to Visit: July through October, the road is 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. Here is a link to the Fish Lake BLM page. I decided to camp next to the lake (>200 ft. away of course), which holds water all year long. All campgrounds on Steens Mountain are open and in full service. 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. Southeast Oregon is a beautiful region with some great sightseeing opportunities. Notes: Consider the timing of your journey: Theres almost no shade in this area that routinely hits 90 degrees, and water is extremely limited. 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. If you want one last hit of civilization before heading out into the wilderness, book a room here (you can also camp on the lawn) and enjoy a family-style meal or two. 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