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. The road is all gravel but is well maintained as long as it's open. 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. It takes about 2hrs. Distance: 59 miles Vehicles, sheep, and cows are banned in the wilderness. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. It was SO worth the time and drive to see this beautiful area, and we were delighted that our prayers were answered!! Steens Mountain rises up from the sagebrush desert to nearly 10,000 feet /3,048 meters. It is truly a step back into time. sometimes be spotted negotiating rocky escarpments; pronghorn antelope, Mountain, which rests in the clouds at nearly 10,000 feet. If you like scenery in the middle of nowhere there is no better place. Set high in the Steens Mountain Wilderness, the road is usually open from mid-June to October, weather permitting. (28), Comments 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. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. Recently the road has been leveled and graded, and can be driven by standard vehicles. Notes: Consider the timing of your journey: Theres almost no shade in this area that routinely hits 90 degrees, and water is extremely limited. 23 Campsites with picnic tables and fire grates; first come, first serve. The United States Congress designated the Steens Mountain Wilderness in 2000 and it now has over 170,200 acres. The road departs the tiny, historic town of Frenchglen and climbs up Oregons eighth-tallest mountain on a tour of massive gorges, vast panoramas and one of the most spectacular lakes in the Pacific Northwest. Is the Steens Mountain loop road open for Memorial day weekend trip? Write a review to inform other visitors! The gravel is generally good throughout the route. I love spending time in the city of Burns, they have some great parks and restaurants. Check links on the Burns BLM page for updates on the loop road conditions and when it opens. in the lower, drier environs, giving way to dense stands of juniper, then site is used. Yes the road is washboard at first. On behalf of Oregon Bikepacking and VeloDirt, we present a select number of our routes that we find particularly special. It can be driven by standard vehicles and passenger cars shouldnt have any trouble. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Check with local BLM authorities. I cannot find the link online (keep checking the webpage) and I forget the issue. The loop road is a wonderful multi-day trek for just such an excursion. 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. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. Museum, art gallery, performing arts theater seating 645, gift shop & conference center[], The Wild and Scenic Snake River flows through the rugged Hells Canyon, and at 1,078 miles long, it is the largest tributary to the Colu[], Towering cliffs painted in desert hues and honeycombed rock formations sculpted over millions of years form the landscape of this remot[]. 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. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. You can camp there and walk literally just a couple of minutes to both trailheads. The peak isnt quite sublime, however, because cell phone and radio towers, along with propane tanks, are present. Located at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and open year round.Frenchglen Wayside State Park:No camping spaces, but picnic spaces and a vaulted toilet. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. of elevation gain. Elevation can change from less than 4,000 feet to over 9,000 feet in just a few miles. Mann Lake is one of only a couple lakes along the eastside of Steens Mountain that does not dry up. A gated road (closed to the public) goes right to the top, at 9,737 feet to service an array of communications towers. Spotting one of these wild mustangs is an exclamation 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. The mountain loop is also the only truly rough riding. Be aware of ticks, mosquitoes, and rattlesnakes in certain areas during spring and summer. All of this wilderness is located in Oregon and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. An official website of the United States government. Raptors, including golden Long distances between servicesincluding gas stations, phones, and cell phone reception. 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. Always start your trip with a full tank of fuel and call ahead for current information about fuel availability in the Steens Mountain area. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The mountain loop is also the only truly rough riding. That road is gravel all the way around the loop. Finally, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out and can be reached by high clearance vehicles only. 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. 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. The South Steens Wild Horse Herd descended from mustangs 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. 2023 Travel Oregon | The official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information. 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. That being said, the trip up to snow line was breathtaking and beautiful! While a radio facility mars the absolute summit, there are many other wild peaks along the crest. The mountain was once known as a sacred place by Native Americans who lived on its slopes. Loop Road. 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. 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. Go big or go home . 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. Wouldn't recommend driving down the South Loop in any season. KigerMann: With 500 feet of prominence this is the highest point along the Steens Mountain crest at its northern end. Some of the graffiti scratched into the tree bark was made decades ago by Basque shepherds, many of whom first arrived in Oregon in the late 19th century and settled in the southeastern corner of the state. Even in this seemingly empty landscape, you have the chance to spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope. 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. From Frenchglen, the first 5 miles/ 8 kilometers of the route along North Loop Road traverse the southern end of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. You can expect any other roadsindicated by dashed lines on a mapto be passable by four-wheel drive vehicles only. The road to the summit opens every June, and its gates remain unlocked until October or whenever snowfall makes passage unsafe. I saw lots of wildlife several herds of wild horses, and coyote and Antelope. 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. Please respect landowners in the area and always get permission to go onto private property. closed in the winter months. Steens Mountain is a mighty fault-block edifice that rises dramatically from its surroundings. The trail comprises deep glacier-carved gorges, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and alpine lakes with aspen for shade. Summiting the mountain via its steep eastern face should not be taken lightly. 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. In the midst of this vastness is Alvord Hot Springs, if youre feeling like a relaxing soak to soothe your muscles. Steens Mountain is located 60 miles south of Burns near Frenchglen and Page Springs Campground. Look for stands of quaking aspen and mountain mahogany on drier rocky ridges. High quality tires are a must for all vehicles, even when traveling on maintained routes. 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. And for you, if you are returning be sure and consider staying at Crystal Crane Springs, in Hines (5 mi from Burns). 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. For some reason I heard it in my head in the voice of those guys that do the Monster Truck event comme. Then traveling on to the south to Fields and up north past the Alvord Desert returning to Burns. Copyright 2023. This road is about a mile long.Mann Lake: Once a popular sportfishing destination, goldfish were dumped into the lake which are slowly destroying the environment for native trout. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Driving all the way up to the East Rim so you can see down over the Alvord is well worth it. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. We were so excited for our miracle and for the fabulous views we could see from the high viewpoints all along the way. Official websites use .gov A land exchange provision blocks up nearly 100,000 acres of livestock-free wilderness within the designated 175,000-acre Steens Mountain Wilderness. Thanks for any help you can offer. A lock ( A Trip to Steens, Oregons Secret Mountain, Relax at the Hot Springs of Southeastern Oregon. 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. Overlooking the mouth of Pike Creek Canyon is Pike Rock at 5808 feet, and at the head of Pike Creek is a series of spectacular basalt pinnacles and walls. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Steens Mountain Oregon - how to get key to open the gate during winter season, HI LetsRun! A 4x4 track can be found where Big Alvord Creek crosses the road at the Alvord Ranch. That depends on which campgrounds you use but for the most part yes there is a gravel roads to most campgrounds the one I stayed at was Steens Mountain Resort and it was a two and a half mile drive on a gravel road that is a little washboard. Several private outfitters and guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities. Then turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. The loop roads are in good condition. Located on the north side of the creek, gaining permission to travel on this land from the Alvord Ranch may be necessary. 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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. there. The entire Steens Mountain Loop Road has just been opened. But the point is that Steens can be skiied, and skiied with gusto if you are up to it (50 degree couloirs currently elude me). Well, it turned out he WAS and the gate opened 5 days early a few minutes before we got there!! This is one of the few places you can drive across the escarpment, and the road passes alongside "The Stonehouse", a large blocky outcropping of Basalt.Alvord Desert: The driest location in Oregon with less than 10" of annual rainfall is the Alvord Desert, which is the largest of several alluvial plains along the Fields-Denio Highway. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Steens Mountain makes you feel like you are on top of the world. mountain in the summer to graze their stock on the lush meadows that thrive 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. Please be aware of: The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area contains a mixture of public and private lands and specially designated areas where particular regulations may apply. Reply Report inappropriate content 21 replies to this topic Mountain Weather can be unpredictable and change suddenly. Burns District Office Welcome to the CMPA and enjoy the many resources and activities awaiting you. The tour route begins its climb in earnest, ascending from arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of quaking aspen. The mountains high elevation can cause rapid temperature changes. (12), Additions & Corrections Steens Mountain Loop includes the highest road in Oregon and is one of Oregon's extraordinary scenic and geologic wonders. the Alvord Desert in its shadow receives less than six inches. Kigermann is one of Oregon's Hundred Highest Peaks. Talk about seeing what you just climbed. You or someone else may add some info here if you have it. (113), Climber's Log Entries It took up about 3 hours with view stops and lunch. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Visitors bike on rugged mountain roads, photograph landscapes, wildlife and wildflowers, and catch redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River. (Great name). Taken as a mountain with a nine thousand foot crest, the peak runs over eight miles from north to south. (2 ). We heard about the loop from our RV site neighbors. A series of much hotter pools can be found on the north slope of Borax Lake. The summit itself is adorned with cell towers where youll find your only reception out here - but the views are spectacular. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. 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. 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. There are pit toilets at the South Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom stop. 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. The rest of the Steens Mountain Loop Road can accommodate passenger cars at lower speeds. I did see some wild horses on the drive. Is that title clickbaitish? Most of the road to the mountain is graveled but well maintained. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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? Seeing it from the Alvord Desert reveals that it is in fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens Basalt. 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. It seems like most people dont know about Steens Mountain, and fewer have been. The North Loop road is not as steep as the South Loop. Wildhorse Lake, Riddle Brothers ranch, wild Kiger mustangs. Wonderful views, local history, wild horses, and much more. 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. Stretching across the High Desert of Southeast Oregon is the most massive of the state's peaks. The campground was nice, quiet, and well-maintained (including the outhouses!). You'll drive through a herd of sheep on the way up. 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. Expect to find the pools somewhere in the range of 100-120 degrees. Looming over Kiger is the eponhymously named Gunsight notch also glacially carved. a massive "U" shaped canyon. The result was a 30-mile-long fault-block mountain with a spectacular and rugged east face that rises one vertical mile above the Alvord Desert. There are five major glaciated canyons 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. Oregon is the Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread, wildlife and,. 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