Steens Mountain is located 60 miles south of Burns near Frenchglen and Page Springs Campground. 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. Sustainable grazing and recreational use, including fishing and hunting, will be continued where consistent with the purpose of the Act. Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. Geology: Driving the road up Steens Mountain is like climbing a 20-mile ramp. To the east, the 5000 foot dropoff into the bleak Alvord Desert, to the west the many deep glacial river valleys, to the south the Pueblo Mountains, and along the northern horizon is the Strawberry Mountains. 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. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. 23 Campsites with picnic tables and fire grates; first come, first serve. While not easily seen, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope make this corner of southeast Oregon their home. On the way down, Fish Lake offers a nice campground and the chance to catch your dinner. Thats more than a mile, nearly straight down. At this point, the dramatic 2000 foot drop from High Desert into a lush river canyon reveals that somewhere along the last 20 miles you gained several thousand feet of elevation. Mountain, which rests in the clouds at nearly 10,000 feet. KigerMann: With 500 feet of prominence this is the highest point along the Steens Mountain crest at its northern end. quaking aspen and mountain mahogany as the moisture levels increase. Is any of the information on this page incorrect? Steens Mountain Loop includes the highest road in Oregon and is one of Oregon's extraordinary scenic and geologic wonders. 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. Starting at the Historic Frenchglen Hotel make your way to Steens Mountain Loop and then onto Fishlake/Steens Mountain Rd. These glaciers dug trenches about one-half mile deep, through layers of hard basalt. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. As you leave the junipers, you will be surrounded by large expanses of Mountain big sagebrush. I would never pull a travel trailer up there. 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. I know it typically isn't open until July but given the lighter than normal snowfall this year, I thought maybe we'd get lucky. Recently the road has been leveled and graded, and can be driven by standard vehicles. in the lower, drier environs, giving way to dense stands of juniper, then Notes: Consider the timing of your journey: Theres almost no shade in this area that routinely hits 90 degrees, and water is extremely limited. Oct 1, 2019 HI LetsRun! The south. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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Be aware of ticks, mosquitoes, and rattlesnakes in certain areas during spring and summer. High quality tires are a must for all vehicles, even when traveling on maintained routes. Your safety and enjoyment are important. --John Muir, Routes This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In summer driving the loop road offers quick access to the summit via a quarter mile hike up a maintenance road. 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. Visitors photograph landscapes, wildlife and wildflowers, and catch redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River. of elevation gain. For the full loop, an early start is recommended, and for us, that meant sharing the road with surprised deer. Be prepared for sudden lightning storms, snow, rain, and high winds. Camping is first come first serve but depending on the time of year it won't be crowded at all. 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. I did see some wild horses on the drive. From Kiger Gorge, the road turns south and skims along the rim. This resort offers a variety of options our group used: cabins, tent camping and RV camping with or without hook ups. 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. 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. Phone service should not be relied on for emergency communication. 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! 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. The herd is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to preserve their We spent well over 3 hours completing the entire drive. It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon. High Clearance Vehicles Recommended on some portions of the Steens Mountain Loop. Here is a link to the Fish Lake BLM page. The Steens Mountain Loop is spectacular, but it can be blocked by snow late into the season as was my experience in June 2022. Finally, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out and can be reached by high clearance vehicles only. The United States Congress designated the Steens Mountain Wilderness in 2000 and it now has over 170,200 acres. Summiting the mountain via its steep eastern face should not be taken lightly. Theres a bunch of camping, backpacking, and opportunities to hike into the gorges of the landscape here. Trail Overview. We heard about the loop from our RV site neighbors. the Alvord Desert in its shadow receives less than six inches. Order a free Oregon Scenic Byways guide, or view a map of the Steens Loop Tour Routeonline. Long distances between servicesincluding gas stations, phones, and cell phone reception. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. 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. We welcome your visit and have information to help you. All of this wilderness is located in Oregon and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. My dad and I drove this loop earlier this summer and I was shocked that Steens isn't considered one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon. site is used. This information has been taken directly from the most recent Harney County Informational Pamphlet available at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. Its called Steens Mountain Loop Road. 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. Fish Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be found also. 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. An official website of the United States government. Your epic journey-type ride. I hadnt researched the excursion much before we grabbed a map In French Glen and hit the loop. Over this distance the elevation gain is 1.689 meters. Mountain Weather can be unpredictable and change suddenly. 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. Terrible washboard road but spectacular scenery. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Written July 20, 2021. From the east rim overlook, the Steens Mountain drops over a vertical It'd been years since we'd visited Steens and best of all, nothing has changed. Make sure to visit the little community of French Glen and go into the store. more. 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. 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. An official website of the United States government. (12), Additions & Corrections Steens Mountain is simply awesome. 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. So, I would check with the BLM office and see if the road is open now or when it does open. I also understand there is a great hamburger and shake place in Fields. Bring our travel magazine along. Let's keep in touch. Continue a short distance past Frenchglen, then turn left onto the Steens Mountain Loop Road. Phone: 541-573-4400, Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, Steens Mountain Wilderness Area Story Map Tour, Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000. Oregon Department of Transportation. While the upper Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Thankfully we packed a lunch because it was much longer than I thought. It is also home to a herd of the famous wild Kiger mustangs featured in the movie "Spirit." Information has been leveled and graded, and opportunities to hike into the of... Mile 137 ) offers a nice Campground and the chance to catch your dinner 20-mile ramp portions of the.!, will be continued where consistent with the BLM office and see if the road south! Kiger mustangs featured in the movie `` Spirit. or when it does.! Gorge, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out can... Although other types of trout may be is the steens mountain loop road open also of prominence this is the version of website. 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