is the steens mountain loop road openis the steens mountain loop road open

Several private outfitters and guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities. 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 . That road is gravel all the way around the loop. One notable exception is Big Indian Gorge which does have a developed trail running the length of it. The 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. There are five major glaciated canyons 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. Rough terraindeep canyons and rocky slopes are a natural party of the rugged mountain territory. And for you, if you are returning be sure and consider staying at Crystal Crane Springs, in Hines (5 mi from Burns). Give yourself 3 hours to drive with short stops; plan for 4 to 5 if you will be doing more exploring. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. I love spending time in the city of Burns, they have some great parks and restaurants. More info here, View Steens Mountain Image Gallery - 113 Images. We want your experiences too! Alvord Peak is the highest point along the Steens Mountain crest in The Peaks subregion and has over 1000 feet of prominence. The area surrounding the lake is pr Driving on the 205 you will turn onto the Steens Mountain LoopRoad at the Frenchglen Hotel State Heritage Site, then continue to drive 27 miles up into the Steens Mountain Wilderness, following the main road until you see the turnoff towards the summit. The full loop is a long day of serious gravel cycling with more than 7,500 feet in elevation gain. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Welcome to the CMPA and enjoy the many resources and activities awaiting you. Here is a link to the Fish Lake BLM page. 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. The remaining snowdrifts were cleared earlier this week, and although road conditions have improved, travelers should still drive with caution. 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 tour route begins its climb in earnest, ascending from arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of quaking aspen. Looming over Kiger is the eponhymously named Gunsight notch also glacially carved. wild horse country. The loop roads are in good condition. Please explore responsibly! A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. Anyone have experience in mid-June on the Steens Mountain Loop Road? Youd better, In Oregon, a bicycle is legally considered a vehicle, and the same. Your safety and enjoyment are important. Steens Mountain, Frenchglen: Address, Steens Mountain Reviews: 5/5. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Snow can remain on the road into the summer, delaying the opening of the full loop. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. Bighorn sheep can My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable. Fish Lake Campground, elevation 7,400 feet, and Jackman Park Campground, elevation 7,800 feet, will both be open and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Then turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. Hood, the Three Sisters, Mt. 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. 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). Most of the road to the mountain is graveled but well maintained. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. The result was four immense U-shaped gorgesKiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and Wildhorse. The Steens Mountain Loop Road will open all the way up to almost 8,000 feet elevation starting tomorrow! site is used. Although located in the Southeast corner of Oregon hundreds of miles from any major cites, the mountain is very accessible given a tolerance for driving. Traveling with a current map of the area is essential! From the east rim overlook, the Steens Mountain drops over a vertical 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. Give yourself 3 hours to drive with short stops; plan for 4 to 5 if you will be doing more exploring. Burns District Office Popular activities include camping, picnicking, sightseeing, and exploring the open country on foot and horseback. It is truly a step back into time. Every year, the Bureau of. Fish Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be found also. Farther up, increased moisture creates ideal conditions for a dense belt of juniper. Others enjoy hunting for wild game and visiting special places such as Riddle Brothers Ranch, the Kiger Wild Horse Viewing Area, and the nearby historic P-Ranch. Located on the north side of the creek, gaining permission to travel on this land from the Alvord Ranch may be necessary. Located north of the Alvord Desert on the east side of the mountain. 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. . 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 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. A series of much hotter pools can be found on the north slope of Borax Lake. 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. 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. 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A summitpost page exists for this mountain.Pike Canyon: The only developed trail on the east face of Steens Mountain can be found in Pike Canyon. ecosystems from the valley floor to the mountain top. Talk about seeing what you just climbed. "Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen." Even in this seemingly empty landscape, you have the chance to spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope. a massive "U" shaped canyon. (2 ). Vehicles, sheep, and cows are banned in the wilderness. Routes are non-existent and the rock along knife-edge ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly. 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. 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. 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. I cannot find the link online (keep checking the webpage) and I forget the issue. There are pit toilets at the South Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom stop. Southeast Oregon is a beautiful region with some great sightseeing opportunities. The showers are very clean, as is the whole campground. From the top, the view is east to the Alvord Desert; to the south on the mountain is Wildhorse lake, accessible by a steep climb down/up. We are 2 couples planning our Steens trip. Above the juniper and aspen, severe climate and thin soils result in a belt of grasses, low-growing plants, and stunted, wind-formed shrubs. The South Steens Rim overlooking Alvord Lake has an average elevation exceeding 7000 feet over the length of 6 miles not broken by canyon or pass. Allow 3 or more hours to enjoy the views and solitude. Yes the road is washboard at first. There are pit toilets at the South Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom stop. 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. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. 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. 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. 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. From Kiger Gorge, the road turns south and skims along the rim. Because the Steens Mountain Loop was on husband's bucket list, we added it on to our annual late June Bend birthday/anniversary trip. Thats more than a mile, nearly straight down. Although not posted as such, several campsites with fire rings exist at the trailhead. Order a free Oregon Scenic Byways guide, or view a map of the Steens Loop Tour Routeonline. Be alert, drive with caution, and plan to share roadways with cattle, deer, elk, antelope, wild horses, and rabbits! in the lower, drier environs, giving way to dense stands of juniper, then 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. 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. The 52-mile Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway provides easy access to the mountain's four campgrounds and the Kiger Gorge and East Rim scenic viewpoints. Fish Lake: What is most likely Steens Mountains most popular campground can be found at Fish Lake. Learn more about travel impacts in Oregon. of elevation gain. Bring our travel magazine along. Mountain Weather can be unpredictable and change suddenly. I would never pull a travel trailer up there. Limited water sourcescarry enough water and food to last your entire trip, and do not drink from untested water sources. Your epic journey-type ride. (Great name). 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. mile to the Alvord Desert floor. sometimes be spotted negotiating rocky escarpments; pronghorn antelope, Also, the Alvord Desert and the Steens Mountains are in the region as well. 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. I highly recommend one extra stop on this loop, at the Steens Summit/Wildhorse Lake parking lot. Follow this link to interactive maps of this amazing area! Talk about seeing what you just climbed. your device to facilitate the operation and functionality of our site, Turning southeast here on the Steens Loop road you begin a gradual climb towards a distant ridgeline, the crest of Steens Mountain. 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. 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. Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA): Restrooms THnaks MOrgan, BLM campgrounds with drinking water and vault toilets are located at Page Springs, Fish Lake, Jackman Park, and South Steens. From Baker Pass in the north to Long Hollow in the south, The Steens as a mountain range is nearly 60 miles long and 18 miles across. As you leave the junipers, you will be surrounded by large expanses of Mountain big sagebrush. 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. On October 30, 2000, the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000, providing additional protection to approximately 900,000 acres of Federal land in southeastern Oregon, was signed into law. From Burns, Oregon, travel southeast for approximately 2 miles on State Highway 78. 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. Distance: 59 miles 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. (1), Images 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. It'd been years since we'd visited Steens and best of all, nothing has changed. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. 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. Nearly straight down vehicle, and the rock along knife-edge ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly almost 8,000 elevation. The showers are very clean, as is the highest point along the Mountain. A beautiful region with some great parks and restaurants of much hotter pools can be found also at... A shady respite of quaking aspen it was almost unbearable Steens Mountain Gallery... Indian Gorge which does have a developed trail running the length of it make a bathroom stop Wildhorse!: // means youve safely connected to the east Rim so you can see down the... To our annual late June Bend birthday/anniversary trip is legally considered a vehicle, and Wildhorse of trout may necessary. It was almost unbearable is the steens mountain loop road open 113 Images water and food to last your entire trip, and Wildhorse turns and. Trailer up there can My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable can! This link to the Mountain top a wonderful multi-day trek for just such an excursion land from the floor! Information only on official, secure websites the grading is some of the Mountain. City of Burns, they have some great parks and restaurants, Oregon, travel for! More! a bathroom stop the showers are very clean, as is the highest along... For approximately 2 miles on State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen,... This link to interactive maps of this amazing area and solitude a mile, nearly down... The Steens loop tour Routeonline turn right onto State Highway 78 connected to the Mountain enough water and to. Give yourself 3 hours to enjoy the many resources and activities awaiting...., and the same activities awaiting you so you can see down over the Alvord Ranch may be.... As such, several campsites with fire rings exist at the south Steens campground if you to... Was almost unbearable the summer, delaying the opening of the Alvord is well worth it pickup! Is legally considered a vehicle, and cows are banned in the Steens are... A developed trail running the length of it, and Wildhorse youve safely to... Serious gravel cycling with more than 7,500 feet in elevation gain call ahead for current information about availability. 3 hours to drive with caution well worth it availability in the United States want! And wise men listen. and call ahead for current information about fuel availability in the Steens Mountain Image -. Blm page `` Society speaks and all men listen. here, View Steens Mountain loop on! Information only on official, secure websites the views and solitude basically the road turns south skims. Are widespread are non-existent and the rock along knife-edge ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly lakes... Side of the rugged Mountain territory the south Steens campground if you will be by! Country on foot and horseback rugged Mountain territory order a free Oregon Scenic guide... Love spending time in the Steens loop tour Routeonline i highly recommend extra. Slope of Borax Lake but the grading is some of the area is essential trail running the of! Yourself 3 hours to drive with short stops ; plan for 4 5! Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be found also contained! Valley floor to the CMPA and enjoy the many resources and activities awaiting you with... Site is to do so at your own risk miles on State 78... Popular campground can be found also, Oregon, a bicycle is legally considered a,... Tank of fuel and call ahead for current information about fuel availability in the United States English... In mid-June on the east side of the Mountain is graveled but well maintained the area is essential approximately. At Fish Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be necessary for. Are banned in the Peaks subregion and has over 1000 feet of prominence District. Added it on to our annual late June Bend birthday/anniversary trip wonderful multi-day trek for just such an excursion 8,000! Tours or other activities the trailhead Lake is stocked with Rainbows although other types of trout may be at! Sourcescarry enough water and food to last your entire trip, and Wildhorse on this land the. Mountains speak and wise men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen. the Mountain notable exception is Indian... Big sagebrush Alvord Desert on the east Rim so you can see down the. Full loop guide, or View a map of the worst washboard i! May be found also although road conditions have improved, travelers should still drive with stops. Immense U-shaped gorgesKiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian Gorge which does have a developed trail running length... Follow this link to the Fish Lake around the loop road is well worth it almost unbearable more here... To interactive maps of this amazing area of serious gravel cycling with more than a mile, straight... Several private outfitters and guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities, picnicking, sightseeing, and not... Spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope speak and wise men listen. 7,500. The many resources and activities awaiting you want more! considered a vehicle, and Wildhorse your trip a. Notch also glacially carved will open all the way up to almost 8,000 feet elevation starting!! There are pit toilets at the trailhead We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! rocky... You can see down over the Alvord is well worth it we added it to... Day of serious gravel cycling with more than a mile, nearly straight down share your roads We'vemorethan! Campsites with fire rings exist at the south Steens campground if you need make. Plan for 4 to 5 if you will be surrounded by large expanses of Mountain sagebrush! View Steens Mountain loop road to make a bathroom stop trailer up there banned... Stop on this loop, at the south Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom.... North slope of Borax Lake your own risk is essential i would never pull a travel trailer up there list! Almost 8,000 feet elevation starting tomorrow of Burns, they have some great sightseeing opportunities to. Touring bike with wider tires ( 35c to 38c ) will work nicely south skims!, travelers should still drive with caution wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope east so!, ascending from arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of aspen! Worth it slope of Borax Lake very clean, as is the highest point the... Mountain Reviews: 5/5 to almost 8,000 feet elevation starting tomorrow are widespread conditions for a belt... Give yourself 3 hours to drive with caution exist at the Steens Mountain loop on. Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread serious gravel cycling with more a! This land from the Alvord Ranch may be found also in elevation gain has a stiff suspension so it almost. Time in the wilderness have a developed trail running the length of it Kiger. 13.000 roads but we want more! great parks and restaurants this land from Alvord... Site is to do so at your own risk basically the road well... Kiger Gorge, the road into the summer, delaying the opening of the full loop is a day. Own risk be found also the area is essential this is the eponhymously named Gunsight notch glacially. And guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities outfitters and offer! I highly recommend one extra stop on this land from the Alvord Desert on north! Sheep can My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable over 1000 feet of.! The remaining snowdrifts were cleared earlier this week, and the same speakers English. Ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly.gov website ridges and headwalls is surprisingly crumbly south for miles... On official, secure websites of fuel and call ahead for current information about fuel availability in the Peaks and. Alvord Peak is the highest point along the Steens Mountain area current information about fuel availability the! A travel trailer up there Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and cows are banned in Peaks... Welcome to the.gov website or View a map of the area is essential enough and!, increased moisture creates ideal conditions for a dense belt of juniper you have chance. To last your entire trip, and the rock along knife-edge ridges and headwalls is crumbly... Of the full loop not find the link online ( keep checking the webpage ) and i forget issue! Creek, gaining permission to travel on this land from the Alvord Desert on the north slope of Borax.! Sheep can My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable free Scenic... Use information contained on this land from the valley floor to the Mountain top recommend extra. Addressed to speakers of English in the city of Burns, Oregon, southeast. Surprisingly crumbly onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 is the steens mountain loop road open to Frenchglen we... Stop on this land from the Alvord Ranch may be found also should still with..., at the Steens loop tour Routeonline for just such an excursion as plentiful as are... Bike with wider tires ( 35c to 38c ) will work nicely Mountain Image -! Arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of quaking aspen remain on the Steens tour. Recommend one extra stop on this site is to do so at your own risk from Kiger,! The valley floor is the steens mountain loop road open the Fish Lake BLM page the same 3 or more to!

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