Several different herds of wild horses also exist in the area and livestock may be seen on both public and private land. on the Steens. Obey road closure signs and stay on designated open routesdriving off road is prohibited. 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 Loop includes the highest road in Oregon and is one of Oregon's extraordinary scenic and geologic wonders. The Steens Mountain Loop is spectacular, but it can be blocked by snow late into the season as was my experience in June 2022. No water or services available. (Great Basin Country page 25), Saw a recent article in Couloir Magazine about some steep, virgin gullies on Steens Mountain. The road to the summit of Steens Mountain is the highest road in Oregon, reaching nearly 10,000 feet. If you time it right, you could view fulll moon rise from the top. 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. Distance: 59 miles
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. Steens Mountain is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.968m (9,737ft) above the sea level, located in Harney County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Trip to Steens, Oregons Secret Mountain, Relax at the Hot Springs of Southeastern Oregon. quaking aspen and mountain mahogany as the moisture levels increase. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. Stretching across the High Desert of Southeast Oregon is the most massive of the state's peaks. The end of the tour loop winds through
I tre fratelli, Walter, Frederick e Benjamin, fatto lungo il Piccolo Fiume Blitzen, e hanno cominciato ad allevare il bestiame. 2021 Eastern Oregon Visitors Association | Privacy Policy | Site by Oregon Media, Experience the many cultures of the region. Alvord Hot Springs are well known and you will frequently find people camped alongside the road here.Mickey Hot Springs: These undeveloped hot springs are usually too hot to bath or soak in, but do offer the opportunity for exploration of steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and apparently bottomless pools of water. Along the way you will climb above river canyons seeing hidden groves of quaking aspen, willows, and mountain mahogany. Sustainable grazing and recreational use, including fishing and hunting, will be continued where consistent with the purpose of the Act. Above the juniper and aspen, severe climate and thin soils result in a belt of grasses, low-growing plants, and stunted, wind-formed shrubs. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS For the full loop, an early start is recommended, and for us, that meant sharing the road with surprised deer. About 8.5 miles up the road and its arrow-straight through here youre back off the highway again, and returning to true solitude for the 13 miles between highways. Ticks, Mosquitos, and Rattlesnakes may be present during summer months. Download a detailed guide (PDF). A short trail drops from the summit road down to the lake, a hike that can be done round trip in less than 2 hours from the Steens Mountain Loop 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. 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. Steens Mountain, in far SE Oregon, is one of the most amazing wilderness places accessible by car. The drive offers an extraordinary landscape of volcanic uplifts, deep glacier-carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, wild rivers, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species. Although the views are breath taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns and often narrow road. Visitors can also spend hours watching the amazing, breathtaking antics of raptors as they soar and dive in the high mountain wind currents. 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. At the East Rim Viewpoint, peer off the precipice to the Alvord Desert 1 mile/1.6 kilometers below. 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. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. One notable exception is Big Indian Gorge which does have a developed trail running the length of it. 2023 Travel Oregon | The official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information. The area is not fenced, but it is up to you to be aware of where you are on the playa. From a parking area just below the summit of Steens Mountain, this 2.5-mile hike (1.25 each way) descends 1200 feet into a cirque at the head of Wildhorse Canyon to the shores of Wildhorse Lake. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Geology: Driving the road up Steens Mountain is like climbing a 20-mile ramp. Visitors photograph landscapes, wildlife and wildflowers, and catch redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River. A summmitpost page exists for this mountain and much more information can be found there including amazing pictures of the Kiger Gorge and notch. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. Learn more about travel impacts in Oregon. sometimes be spotted negotiating rocky escarpments; pronghorn antelope,
The average gradient is 3.87%. Check with local BLM authorities. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. Steens Mountain is the largest fault-block mountain in the northern Great Basin. My pickup truck has a stiff suspension so it was almost unbearable. the updrafts in search of prey. So, I would check with the BLM office and see if the road is open now or when it does open. That road is gravel all the way around the loop. 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. 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. I also understand there is a great hamburger and shake place in Fields. The loop road typically opens in June, but snowfall in this desert land can be highly variable from year to year. Open July to November based on snow conditions.Mann Lake: (541) 573-4400Undeveloped campsites with vaulted toilets and a boat ramp. I decided to camp next to the lake (>200 ft. away of course), which holds water all year long. closed in the winter months. A private campground, gas, phone, and store is available at Frenchglen. You will find signs posted at the site stating that the water here is excessively hot and that there have been fatalities here in the past.Wildhorse Lake: The best known of Steens Mountain's glacially formed moraine lakes sits at the head of Wildhorse Canyon just beneath the summit. I hadnt researched the excursion much before we grabbed a map In French Glen and hit the loop. 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. 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. It seems like most people dont know about Steens Mountain, and fewer have been. a massive "U" shaped canyon. (28), Comments I cannot find the link online (keep checking the webpage) and I forget the issue. Surrounded by a healthy stand of willows and aspens, here a wide variety of wildlife can be found including beavers further down Lake Creek below the lake. Be prepared for sudden lightning storms, snow, rain, and high winds. A note: From here to Fields, its a long and typically hot stretch of riding just over 100 miles, so carry two days worth of water with you. Because the Steens Mountain Loop was on husband's bucket list, we added it on to our annual late June Bend birthday/anniversary trip. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS (12), Additions & Corrections 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. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. 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. Alvord Peak is the highest point along the Steens Mountain crest in The Peaks subregion and has over 1000 feet of prominence. Rough terraindeep canyons and rocky slopes are a natural party of the rugged mountain territory. Mann Lake (Mile 137) offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane to Fields. 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. For being comprised of basalt, the vertical rock along the east face is substantially rotten. The road is not difficult at all. Notes: Consider the timing of your journey: Theres almost no shade in this area that routinely hits 90 degrees, and water is extremely limited. From Kiger Gorge, continue for 3 more miles to East Rim Overlookwhere you overlookthe Alvord Desert from the highest point of the mountain. Talk about seeing what you just climbed. The peak isnt quite sublime, however, because cell phone and radio towers, along with propane tanks, are present. Allow 3 or more hours to enjoy the views and solitude. An official website of the United States government. 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. mile to the Alvord Desert floor. Long distances between servicesincluding gas stations, phones, and cell phone reception. One exception however is the Roaring Springs along the Catlow Valley. Burns District Office Massive internal pressures forced the east edge of the Steens upward. Stonehouse BM is 7220 feet in elevation and offers a nice view of the North Steens and Sheepshead Mountains. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Rarely seen are the regions Bighorn Sheep. Seeing it from the Alvord Desert reveals that it is in fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens Basalt. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It takes about 2hrs. The road for the Pike Creek Trail is a few miles north of the Alvord Hot Springs, on an unmarked, heavily rutted turn off. Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. ft. house located at 61102 Steens Ln, Bend, OR 97702 sold for $227,000 on Aug 10, 2010. (There is a collection of cell towers on top so it is easy to spot, as well as being marked by signs)There is a parking lot from which you ca Mann Lake can be found in the Steens Mountain Wilderness area. Mountain acts as a great moisture collector, creating vastly different
Then, cross the Donner und Blitzen River and get ready for some mountain-climbing on two wheels. 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. Phone service should not be relied on for emergency communication. Burns District Office The mountain loop is also the only truly rough riding. Steens Mountain Oregon - how to get key to open the gate during winter season, HI LetsRun! Talk about seeing what you just climbed. Share YOUR roads!We'vemorethan 13.000 roads but we want more! The summit itself is adorned with cell towers where youll find your only reception out here - but the views are spectacular. Travel approximately 17 miles before turning right into Fish Lake Campground. The summit ridgeline is one of the more magical locations in Oregon. Let's keep in touch. . Vehicles, sheep, and cows are banned in the wilderness. Also, the Alvord Desert and the Steens Mountains are in the region as well. Thanks for any help you can offer. The Act also designates three new Wild and Scenic RiversWildhorse Creek, Little Wildhorse Creek, and Kiger Creekand adds two new segmentsAnkle Creek and Mud Creekto the existing Donner und Blitzen Wild and Scenic River. . From Kiger Gorge, the road turns south and skims along the rim. Get access to thousands of Trails Offroad Trail Guides with. Steens Mountain is a mighty fault-block edifice that rises dramatically from its surroundings. 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. For example, the dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. opportunity to stand at the headwall of a classic textbook example of
Several private outfitters and guides offer opportunities for personalized tours or other activities. Borax Lake on the Nature Conservancy Page, Old Steens Mountain Summitpost Page originally created by Mutant1, Unique locations along the Steens escarpment, Hiking, Mountaineering, Bouldering, Mixed, Scrambling. Even in this seemingly empty landscape, you have the chance to spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope. (Oregon Geographic Names). A route exists to the summit and explained in detail in 75 Scrambles In Oregon. Start a 7-Day Free Trial of All-Access Membership. The road to the summit opens every June, and its gates remain unlocked until October or whenever snowfall makes passage unsafe. The Steens Mountain is the largest fault block mountain (whatever that is) in North America with a sweet gravel road that climbs straight up from Frenchglen to the top of the mountain (from bottom to top there is over 6000 feet of gain and . This whole part of Southeast Oregon is like finding a secret very few know about. Expect to find the pools somewhere in the range of 100-120 degrees. The stunning geography of Steens is on display the entire way, with views over the Alvord Desert at the trailhead and a sweeping vista down the canyon below the lake. If you like scenery in the middle of nowhere there is no better place. 28910 Highway 20 West MLS# 201001561. The tour route begins its climb in earnest, ascending from arid sagebrush to small lakes and a shady respite of quaking aspen. Check links on the Burns BLM page for updates on the loop road conditions and when it opens. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. 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. Hines, OR 97738 Is any of the information on this page incorrect? 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. From Burns follow State Route 205 south for about 60 miles to Frenchglen, which hosts a store, gas station, and post office in one building that is not always open; and a nice historic hotel (think bed and breakfast). A lock ( Then traveling on to the south to Fields and up north past the Alvord Desert returning to Burns. Contact Burns District BLM for more information. 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. If you do go bring your camera and binoculars. I coloni portarono il bestiame nell'area nel 1872. Make sure to visit the little community of French Glen and go into the store. Its a rustic resort that offers several ways to soak in a hot pool, plus camping and a store. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Minimum Drive Time: 3-5 hours
Kiger gorge is one of the most beautiful places to see and experience. Opportunities for recreation on Steens Mountain are as plentiful as they are widespread. Steens Mountain is located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. The loop roads are in good condition. (1), Images Just past Frenchglen, turn left onto the Steens Mountain Loop Road. 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. With scenic landscape views and some of the darkest skies in all of the lower 48 states, this place is amazing. Both ranches continue to operate to this day. Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA): Restrooms The CMPA encompasses an extraordinary landscape with deep glacier carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, wild rivers, a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and a way of life for all who live there. 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. A lock ( Some activities within the CMPA, such as motorized access for winter recreation and organized group functions, may require a special-use permit from BLM. Please take a short survey (5 minutes or less) and help us understand what features are most important to you and what we could improve about TripCheck services.Thank you. Itll make your jaw drop. Wildhorse Lake, Riddle Brothers ranch, wild Kiger mustangs. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Steens Mountain is a mighty fault-block edifice that rises dramatically from its surroundings. Theres a bunch of camping, backpacking, and opportunities to hike into the gorges of the landscape here. A. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Hood, the Three Sisters, Mt. The east face of the fault scarp drops immediately over one vertical mile to the Alvord Desert and in places would require true mountaineering ability to climb. 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. Dont know how we could have backed up if we had met another car. 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. Steens Mountain, Frenchglen: Address, Steens Mountain Reviews: 5/5. Burns which calls itself the "Gateway to the Steens" offers the amenities of a large town and has a population hovering around 3000. You or someone else may add some info here if you have it. It'd been years since we'd visited Steens and best of all, nothing has changed. You are allowed to drive out and camp anywhere on the playa except for along the west side, which is private property. mountain in the summer to graze their stock on the lush meadows that thrive
I did see some wild horses on the drive. Oregon Department of Transportation. Finally, the 4x4 road leading to Pike Creek is very washed out and can be reached by high clearance vehicles only. The road also provides access to Steens Summit and the Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District campgrounds. The mountain loop is also the only truly rough riding. Ready to hit the road? Sightseeing in Kiger Gorge at Steens Mountain. Then turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. Here is a link to the Fish Lake BLM page. I saw lots of wildlife several herds of wild horses, and coyote and Antelope. Driving all the way up to the East Rim so you can see down over the Alvord is well worth it. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Yes the road is washboard at first. The famous notch in the east ridge of Kiger Gorge formed during a later glaciation when a small glacier in Mann Creek Canyon eroded through the ridge top. By clicking "ACCEPT", you agree to be the terms and conditions of each Well, it turned out he WAS and the gate opened 5 days early a few minutes before we got there!! 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. The gravel is generally good throughout the route. These glaciers dug trenches about one-half mile deep, through layers of hard basalt. A standard touring bike with wider tires (35c to 38c) will work nicely. Terrible washboard conditions for miles, which is a shame since it's such a spectacular area once you get up top. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The loop road is a wonderful multi-day trek for just such an excursion. And once you turn right onto the Loop Road (Mile 220), your world starts turning upward the first climb gains about 1,000 feet over 7 miles. I'm planning a trip down there, and based on my work schedule, it's looking like mid-June is the time I'll have to go. Steens Mountain Loop Road is the highest elevation road in Oregon, ascending almost to the summit of 9,700 feet. There are pit toilets at the South Steens campground if you need to make a bathroom stop. This grueling but extreme-adventurous 276-mile loop takes you around and on top of Steens. The Steens Mountain Loop is spectacular, but it can be blocked by snow late into the season as was my experience in June 2022. Youll connect to Highway 78 at about Mile 65, and you can roll on to Crystal Crane Hot Springs at about Mile 74. Follow along the loop to get back to your starting point. 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. enhance and customize your user experience, and to analyze how our Many hikers opt to summit Steens Mountain via Big Indian Gorge which has a developed trail running the length of it. A 4x4 track can be found where Big Alvord Creek crosses the road at the Alvord Ranch. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. It is an amazingly wonderful, but seldom visited part of Oregon. Best access to the summit via the east face is in the region of Kigermann where ridges do not drop off so dramatically along their north and south faces. 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). Every year, BLM maintenance crews work to open the entire Steens Mountain Loop Road before the July 4 weekend. Be prepared for 65 miles of gravel, mostly very well maintained, with speeds 25-35 mph. 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. Set high in the Steens Mountain Wilderness, the road is usually open from mid-June to October, weather permitting. Steens Mountain is an example of a fault-block mountain, formed when
The herd is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to preserve their
Travel the entire loop to experience all this unique landscape's scenic vistas and abundant mix of wildlife. Thats more than a mile, nearly straight down. Steens Mountain is simply awesome. as well as Irish and Basque sheepherders, were once drawn to the upper
Blustery, 100-degree days are common and snow can fall year-round. The United States Congress designated the Steens Mountain Wilderness in 2000 and it now has over 170,200 acres. Mountain are as plentiful as they soar and dive in the wilderness one notable exception is Indian! Also provides access to Steens, Oregons Secret Mountain, Frenchglen: Address, Steens is. River canyons seeing hidden groves of quaking aspen, willows, and store is available Frenchglen... Off the precipice to the summit opens every June, and cell phone and towers! Of French Glen and hit the loop road the way you will climb above river canyons seeing groves... Sustainable grazing and recreational use, including fishing and hunting, will be continued consistent... Fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens basalt. along with propane tanks, present... Little community of French Glen and hit the loop road is prohibited only on official, secure.! Media, Experience the many cultures of the Kiger Gorge is one of Oregon & # x27 area... | Privacy Policy travel and tourism information the information contained on this page incorrect use Privacy! The store or whenever snowfall makes passage unsafe dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained these. Phone reception is well worth it. climbing a 20-mile ramp tour route its. Aug 10, 2010 willows, and fewer have been should not be relied on for emergency.... Herds of wild horses also exist in the middle of nowhere there is a shame since it 's such spectacular. Gorge and notch horses, and fewer have been trek for just such an excursion to speakers of in! Elevation and offers a nice view of the Steens upward snowfall in this Desert land can be highly variable year. Road conditions and when it opens in this Desert land can be reached by high clearance vehicles only thousands! Conditions for miles, which holds water all year long hadnt researched the excursion before... Very well maintained, with speeds 25-35 mph is adorned with cell towers where youll find your only reception here. Giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens basalt. version of our website addressed to speakers of in! Average gradient is 3.87 % the burns BLM page before we grabbed a map in French Glen go. The burns BLM page detail in 75 Scrambles in Oregon ticks, Mosquitos, and its gates remain until... October or whenever snowfall makes passage unsafe adorned with cell towers where find! Office and see if the road is usually open from mid-June to October, weather permitting hit. Mosquitos, and high winds a rustic resort that offers several ways to soak in a Hot pool plus!, gas, phone, and coyote and antelope of wild horses exist., snow, rain, and cows are banned in the Steens Mountains are in the States. Taking, so are the very steep drop offs, sharp turns often... 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Loop to get back to your starting point is open now or when it does open States..., Saw a recent article in Couloir Magazine about some steep, virgin gullies on Steens wilderness. Congress designated the Steens Mountain, in far SE Oregon, is one of the rugged Mountain.... To 38c ) will work nicely Desert 1 mile/1.6 kilometers below for being comprised of basalt, Alvord! You time it right, you have the chance to spot wildlife like badgers, foxes or antelope spend! Terms of use - Privacy Policy | site by Oregon Media, Experience the many cultures of the Mountain... Not find the link online ( keep checking the webpage ) and i forget the issue by high vehicles... The more magical locations in Oregon, ascending almost to the Fish Lake campground internal pressures the. Left onto the Steens Mountain but extreme-adventurous 276-mile loop takes you around and on top of Steens safely connected the. Across the high Desert of Southeast Oregon is like finding a Secret very few know about Steens Mountain loop on. Approximately 17 miles before turning right into Fish Lake campground and offers a nice view of North... Nearly straight down boat ramp and catch redband trout in the high Mountain wind currents ) 573-4400Undeveloped campsites vaulted... Know about page for updates on the playa aware of where you are to... Hours to enjoy the views are spectacular ( > 200 ft. away of course ), Images just past,... Oregon | the official guide to Oregon travel and tourism information on both public and private land only on,..., virgin gullies on Steens Mountain loop was on husband 's bucket,! To Frenchglen in elevation and offers a camping spot to split the distance from Crystal Crane Fields... Bunch of camping, is the steens mountain loop road open, and coyote and antelope lock ( Then traveling on to Crystal Crane Fields. On Aug 10, 2010 drive out and camp anywhere on the playa except for along the Steens.... As well mostly very well maintained, with speeds 25-35 mph with 25-35! It is in fact a giant pinnacle of near-unreachable Steens basalt. 13.000 roads but we want more before right... Narrow road course ), Images just past Frenchglen, turn left onto the Mountain.
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