Been to the STEENS?

[Russ in California]

Been to the STEENS? Going 7-23-06

Trying to put together a little solo trip up into the Oregon desert. Been through Lakeview, Lake Abert and on to Burns and Idaho but that was a through trip. This trip will look something like: Lava Beds Ntl Monument, Lake Abert, Hart Mnt Ntl Wildlife Refuge and the Steens. The bulk of the time will be around the Steens.
Question: has anyone been up around the Steens that could shed some insight on the 'must see' things and any 4wheeling to be had?
This'll be a hot dry trip but the seclutions and no telephones will be well worth it.
thanks,

 

[articulate]

Trying to put together a little solo trip up into the Oregon desert. Been through Lakeview, Lake Abert and on to Burns and Idaho but that was a through trip. This trip will look something like: Lava Beds Ntl Monument, Lake Abert, Hart Mnt Ntl Wildlife Refuge and the Steens. The bulk of the time will be around the Steens.
Question: has anyone been up around the Steens that could shed some insight on the 'must see' things and any 4wheeling to be had?
This'll be a hot dry trip but the seclutions and no telephones will be well worth it.
thanks,

Wow, I'm surprised you haven't gotten any responses. Eveidently no one is familiar with the Steens. Care to share a map or some other details for us anyway?

Be well,
Mark

 

[Russ in California]

The Steens are in Oregon's 'Outback' in the south east corner of the state. Upper edge of the Great Basin. It's a big hunk of mountain that slopes gently from north to south up to over 9,000' then drops right off to the Alvord Desert. This area also happens to be the least light poluted area in the whole US.
To the west is Hart Mnt Ntnl Wildlife area which I know nothing about except for some pics I've seen.
I'll try to round up a map to post.

 

[Russ in California]

Me again. Well, the Steen are looming. Leaving Sunday morn.
Dual battery installed, rear cargo deck and fridge installed. Now to pack. Boy this has been a while coming and I'm ready for holiday.
Lava Beds, Lake Abert, Hart Mountain and the Steens. AND if I really want to scratch the tar out of dark green 80 I can do the McGrew trail at the end of the week. We'll see.
So, onward and upward I go.

 

[Scott Brady]

Have an awesome time! I look forward to the pictures and stories :lurk:

 

[datrupr]

Have a great trip, can't wait to hear about it when you get back.

 

[HenryJ]

Darn! I missed this thread. I would have wanted to join the expedition.

My Grandfather has made the journey. I have pictures in my baby book from the fifties and sixties. My father has made the trip in , perhaps the last decade.

It is on my list of must do, but haven't yet.

I hope to benefit from you experiences and perhaps even follow in your tracks. Looking forward to the report :victory:

 

[flywgn]

Russ,

Yes, we've been to Steens Mountain area many times. We enjoy fly-fishing the Donner and Blitzen River (Thunder and Lightning) in the Frenchglen area. There's a nice campground (Page Springs) just south of Frenchglen.

Don't miss the 'loop' road up Steens Mtn. The views from the top down into the Alvord Desert are awesome. South Steens CG is also on this loop.

As you come north through the Hart Mtn Refuge you'll have many opportunities to take alternate dirt tracks, and all these that I mention are mostly dirt. Of course, the links are macadam. After you pass the Hdqtrs of Hart (5 or 6 miles, I think) on the road to Frenchglen, there's a nice side route that bends SE up towards Bealy's (sp???) Butte, then you can catch a track that will go NE and hook up with the Frenchglen-Fields road.

The Alvord Desert will offer a lot of birding. Mann Lk, while holding some nice fish, is a cacophonous melling of sounds...worth an overnight.

The Malheur Wildlife Refuge has a nice visitors' center and several roads through the refuge.

SE Oregon has a plethora of backroad travel. If you have the opportunity, stop at the BLM office in Lakeview where you can get good maps of that corner of the state.

You'll have a great time. That's wonderful country.

Allen

 

[Russ in California]

Russ,
Yes, we've been to Steens Mountain area many times.
SE Oregon has a plethora of backroad travel. If you have the opportunity, stop at the BLM office in Lakeview where you can get good maps of that corner of the state.
You'll have a great time. That's wonderful country.
Allen

Ah yes, maps. I have maps. Been amassing for a while. Delorme N. California, Delorme Oregon, Harney and Lake county maps, BLM Burns S. Dist map and BL private land update map. The S. Dist map is huge 36x48 with descripsitons and features described on the back and a huge pano pic of the Steens that's got to be 45x16. A nice snowed on pic. It's nice to get all the good tips. Thanks. Looks like it'll be a bit on the toasty side for this coastal fogboy.

 

[HenryJ]

The Benchmark Roads and Recreation Atlas' have been a good resource in my experience. They are made in Medford, Oregon.

Sundays forecast here is 104º we have had 100º+ temps for over a week now and no end in sight.

I am available if assistance , or rescue is needed. I am not sure but I may be one of the closer members?

PM if you need my cell number as an emergency contact.

 

[Russ in California]

Day and a half or so to go...

 

[HenryJ]

Ahh... the anticipation :wings:

BTW - Add a date to your thread title

EDIT: Fire restrictions are in place for Malheur and Harney counties. I do not know the status of others. No fires within 1.5 miles of the Snake River corridor. No open camp fires permitted. Cooking stoves are permitted. Smoking only inside vehicles. For off highway travel you are required to carry a shovel with a minimum length of 26" and a blade width no less than 8".

Record heat is forecast for the northwest. Sundays temperature here is forecast to be 111º Temperatures in excess of 105º will ne the norm for the next week. Stay hydrated. Low humidity makes it a bit more bearable, but that is still very hot weather.

 

[Mike S]

Steens

I have been through that country a number of times. There is a lot of BLM but the front of the Steens on the Alvord desert side has sosme private ranches. There are a couple of campgrounds in this area, and a hot springs right near the road (look for the hippies camping).

Fabulous site for finding lithics (stone points), but you may NOT keep any ypu find on public ground. Also, trip the the opposite side for a loop tour. The Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge is a beautiful, undeveloped area with lots of wildlife an dmigratory birds.

This is one of my favorite areas.

M