ft. house located at 61102 Steens Ln, Bend, OR 97702 sold for $227,000 on Aug 10, 2010. The road to the summit is steep. The end of the tour loop winds through mile to the Alvord Desert floor. A 4x4 track can be found where Big Alvord Creek crosses the road at the Alvord Ranch. 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. 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. This whole part of Southeast Oregon is like finding a secret very few know about. Steens Mountain is one of Oregons great scenic and geologic wonders, a 30-mile/48.2-kilometer fault block that is a small mountain range rather than a single peak. Making Notes: Consider the timing of your journey: Theres almost no shade in this area that routinely hits 90 degrees, and water is extremely limited. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. as well as Irish and Basque sheepherders, were once drawn to the upper 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. Starting at the tiny, historic town of Frenchglen, on OR-205, the ascent is 43.61km (27.1 miles) long. I decided to camp next to the lake (>200 ft. away of course), which holds water all year long. Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. Update; reportedly fish and game is working on a plan to exterminate goldfish from Mann Lake. Steens Mountain is a mighty fault-block edifice that rises dramatically from its surroundings. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. The United States Congress designated the Steens Mountain Wilderness in 2000 and it now has over 170,200 acres. 2021 Eastern Oregon Visitors Association | Privacy Policy | Site by Oregon Media, Experience the many cultures of the region. 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. 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. Sights that can be seen along the first part of the loop are Fish Lake, The Kiger Gorge, and the Steens Mountain Summit.In the past the south half of the loop road had not been passable unless in a vehicle with high clearance, and four wheel drive. 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. Its said to bethe highest road of Oregon. Livestock and wildlife on roadwaysmuch of southeast Oregon is open range. Borax Lake is a great place to see migratory birds in the spring and early summer.South Steens Rim: Three points along the Steens Escarpment have at least 1000 feet of prominence including this point directly west of Alvord Lake. It is truly a step back into time. My love affair with the high desert runs deep; my fondest childhood Is any of the information on this page incorrect? 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. on the Steens. 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. This point considered as a mountain climbed from the Alvord Desert; is quite possibly the most difficult summit to reach in Oregon.Devine Rock: The second most visually prominent rock feature along the east face of Steens Mountain is this rotten chunk of Steens Basalt overlooking Big Alvord Creek and the Alvord Ranch. Check with local BLM authorities. 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. Open July to November based on snow conditions.Mann Lake: (541) 573-4400Undeveloped campsites with vaulted toilets and a boat ramp. Start in the tiny community of Frenchglen, where the historic hotel is now run as a state park. The remaining snowdrifts were cleared earlier this week, and although road conditions have improved, travelers should still drive with caution. LockA locked padlock Dont know how we could have backed up if we had met another car. Quality well kept Renaissance home on the south east side of Bend. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. From the trailhead at the end of the road, the summit is just a short hike. No water or services available. Travel approximately 17 miles before turning right into Fish Lake Campground. The road is not difficult at all. Starting at the Historic Frenchglen Hotel make your way to Steens Mountain Loop and then onto Fishlake/Steens Mountain Rd. Talk about seeing what you just climbed. The mountain was once known as a sacred place by Native Americans who lived on its slopes. Get access to thousands of Trails Offroad Trail Guides with. So, I would check with the BLM office and see if the road is open now or when it does open. Make sure you bring warm clothes because it gets cold on the mountain even when the valley below is scorching hot. The result was four immense U-shaped gorgesKiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and Wildhorse. The night sky there is amazing I forgot how the sky looked. 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. Please respect landowners in the area and always get permission to go onto private property. 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. From Burns, Oregon, travel southeast for approximately 2 miles on State Highway 78. 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. It is an amazingly wonderful, but seldom visited part of Oregon. 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. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. Also, the first ever Redband Trout Reserve has been created to improve stream health and fish habitat. As cyclists, were spoiled living in Oregon. 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!" Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. 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. 23 Campsites with picnic tables and fire grates; first come, first serve. Even in this seemingly empty landscape, you have the chance to spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. For some reason I heard it in my head in the voice of those guys that do the Monster Truck event comme. Loop Road. Malheur Field Station: (541)549-2629spaces for trailers and 250 dormitory beds with provided bedding and showers. East Everglades Day Use Area on the park's northeastern boundary, encompassing SW 168 Street westbound to SW 237 Avenue and the entire roadway of SW 237 Avenue is closed to all public use to ensure public safety during construction operations with heavy machinery. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. The climb up and west from Fields on Highway 205 will give you a miniature preview of what youll encounter scaling Steens later on. policy linked to above. Please explore responsibly! The summit itself is adorned with cell towers where youll find your only reception out here - but the views are spectacular. 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. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Theres a bunch of camping, backpacking, and opportunities to hike into the gorges of the landscape here. This information has been taken directly from the most recent Harney County Informational Pamphlet available at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. Hiking is available in all areas and trailheads exist near Page Springs and South Steens Campgrounds, as well as Wildhorse Overlook and Pike Creek. If you time it right, you could view fulll moon rise from the top. My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable. Located at 4080 feet on the Alvord Desert Playa these springs are roughly nine miles north of the Andrews ghost town along the Fields-Denio road. I can recommend a few Scenic Byways, September 21, 2011 (Updated September 1, 2017). If not for the road beating I'd rate it a 5.0 The weather up there can be quite a bit different than down at Frenchglen so prepare for possible wind and cold. The Nearest Services are in the communities of Fields, Frenchglen, Crane, or Narrows, Oregon. Hines, OR 97738 Burns which calls itself the "Gateway to the Steens" offers the amenities of a large town and has a population hovering around 3000. 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. 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. Nearby Page Springs Campground sits alongside the Donner und Blitzen River (German for thunder and lightning). Detailed in William Sullivan's 100 Hikes in Eastern Oregon book; the Pike Creek trail follows an old roadbed for a couple miles up to, and beyond frontier mining sites, beyond that it is a bit of a scramble along a lightly maintained trail to the headwall of Pike Creek. It isnt until the Kiger Gorge overlook that the sense of elevation really takes hold. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Mountain Weather can be unpredictable and change suddenly. Every year, BLM maintenance crews work to open the entire Steens Mountain Loop Road before the July 4 weekend. Is that where you may see wild mustangs? 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon. Circumnavigate Steens Mountain including an arduous climb to the summit. Stretching across the High Desert of Southeast Oregon is the most massive of the state's peaks. Steens Mountain was originally called Snow Mountain back in the 19th century.Devine Rock is named for John S. Devine, the first cattle baron to arrive into the Alvord Basin. Every year, the Bureau of. At the East Rim Viewpoint, peer off the precipice to the Alvord Desert 1 mile/1.6 kilometers below. 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. of elevation gain. LockA locked padlock You or someone else may add some info here if you have it. opportunity to stand at the headwall of a classic textbook example of Permits, Fees, Limitations 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. Be prepared for sudden lightning storms, snow, rain, and high winds. 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