Oregon High Desert - Steens / Alvord Desert / Crane Mountain / Crater Lake

[Nikson]

With summer tight schedule, I've set aside 4 days for this trip. Planned out roughly 1000 miles distance in total with some sidetracks.

Living in Oregon and seeing a lot of the NW part, had an itch to see the high desert. What can be better then a great view from 10000 ft elevation off the top of the Steens, stars in the sky with no lights around.

Few of the main goals on the map were:

Steens Mountains
Mann Lake
Alvord Desert
Crater Lake National Park

Things on the way - on the go:

Riddle Brothers Ranch
Mickey Hotsprings
Historical Ranch Houses / Old Cabins (some abandoned)
Nevada/California/Oregon border crossing
Crane Mountain Peak

So, packed up with plenty of water, food, tools & other supplies, off we went.

(one thing to mention, if you can, take 2 Jerry Cans with you on such trip, never know when you need it).

Here is itinerary of the trip on Google Maps

DETROIT DAM

MT. WASHINGTON

ROAD HAZARD

ALMOST INTO STEENS

ENTERING STEENS

 

[slooowr6]

Thanks for sharing the trip info. The view looks amazing.
Would you mind share where you camp along the way? :sombrero:

 

[Nikson]

Steens

VIEW ONTO KIGER GORGE

CLOUDS WERE SOMETHING...

KIGER AGAIN...

NW OF STEENS

ALVORD DESERT (EAST OF STEENS)

MANN LAKE

WILDHORSE LAKE (ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN ELEVATION)

 

[Nikson]

Thanks for sharing the trip info. The view looks amazing.
Would you mind share where you camp along the way? :sombrero:

There are few campsites on the way (having an actual area map in hand helps).

Restrooms & water are available, as well as horse stables.

It all really depends where you want to spend the night. We ended up driving all the way until late evening and spent the night next to Mann Lake at the campsite.

 

[Nikson]

STEENS (continued)

ROAD TO "NO WHERE"

LUNCH AT RIDDLE BROTHERS RANCH HOUSE
(day site - free entry, usually attended by volunteers in the open season, very interesting place, bunch of "old" stuff to see, very well preserved)
Perfect spot for a day break, near by creek provides water for whatever use (we boiled & served our soup from it), and cooled off with a little "swim" in it.

 

[slooowr6]

Thanks!

 

[Nikson]

STEENS (continued)

overlooking Steens from SW

PERFECT SUNSET OVER HIGH DESERT

PLENTY OF WILDLIFE ON THE WAY (HEADING TO THE MANN LAKE)

"ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME!!!"

NIGHT SKY (MANN LAKE)

 

[Nikson]

Thanks!

no problem at all... We have found couple of spots along the way (not at camp sites) where you can stop for the night.

I just prefer to stop by some sort of water source, just one my "things"

 

[Nikson]

Mann lake

MORNING AT THE MANN LAKE
(one of the greatest trout fishing lakes)
Lots of wildlife around, lots of cat tracks, coyotes at night and variety of birds...

our CAMP

STEENS FROM THE EAST

ONE OF MY FAVORITE FOTOS

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fvtao3Sn-1E/S6hXPbB-IcI/AAAAAAAAAjI/******-xVih8dQ/s640/2009%20Steens%20%26%20Crater%20Lake%20trip%20274.jpg

LEFT - MANN LAKE / RIGHT - STEENS

 

[Nikson]

Mann lake / mickey hot springs

WILDERNESS BRINGs THE "WILD" IN US...

PERFECT ALTERNATIVE TO RTT (2 PERSON)

personally loved this thing, but will return due to poor construction. have had a chance to lay in a Cabella's one, and have to say that its just better (yet similarly priced). very comfortable, although have to ''ventilate", otherwise becomes really humid inside, and starts to condense. great being off the "ground", and leveled in no matter what terrain you are. padding is sufficient for a comfortable night's sleep.

MICKEY HOT SPRINGS

Considering that it was about 100F outside, taking a dip in the springs wasn't the idea from the beginning, but being in the area we had to see these.
Love going to Breitenbush & other springs in Oregon.

All I can say - HOT, HOT, HOT... and the "soft ground" feeling really made it just plain ol' scary to even be there. I am use to seeing springs with the actual "bottom" where you see / feel how deep the water is... Here, you have no idea... (yeah, I had to throw a rock in one just to see!)

SPOOOOOOKY...

STEAMY AT 100F

 

[Nikson]

Alvord desert

on to Alvord Desert...

Very, very, very cool place. If you go, take into consideration that it will be dusty, and not just dusty,,, like you never seen DUSTY... I've sort of had a feeling about this, so packed most of our gear (sleeping & other that needed to stay "dust-free" into containers & garbage bags).

Dust on the way / at the desert / on the gravel roads leading to & from are not just dirt & gravel... they contain a lot of silt. Silt will literally get into every possible place in your car, starting at air filter & A/C vents, and onto the foam padding in your seats.

If you drive slowly, it will follow you and get blown around by wind.
If you drive faster, it will some from every "crack" in your door sill.

Choose either, but don't fight it!!!

(having a compressor and air nozzle really helps after you get out onto pavement)

SILT is like water, just flows in front of the tires...

ah, the DESERT

anyone know where these track go???

Do we have a "WHEEL OFF GROUND?"

 

[Nikson]

Getting out of HELL

OFF to another "adventure" :ylsmoke:

after the day in desert, I started understanding certain "concepts" of life, such as value to water and appreciation for other "little" things in life like A/C & compressed air...

On our way to Nevada's North, out of FIELDS, Oregon...

These guys can be a "hazard" if you drive a bit too fast...

One of the PASSes on the way... About to get to Oregon again...

 

[RenoRacing]

Looks like a great little getaway! I've been to Fields and Denio a few times myself! There are some beautiful lakes just south of of there with some great fishing! Shared the gas pump with a small airplane last time I was in Denio... hahaha!

 

[Nikson]

California / nevada / oregon

Idea getting to a spot where 3 state borders meet had me going for some time...

So, OVERLAND NAVIGATOR came in very handy
(no, they are not paying me for advertising)

A bit of a walk around some hillside, and you can actually do it.

ROAD KILL ANYONE???

LOTS OF THESE ON THE WAY...

2nd night was at Dismal Creek Forest Camp.
The Cabin above, is probably within 30 min distance from the camp site.
Camp site was great, no one was there!!! Plenty of great spots so break your camp. A creek/little river flowing next to it.

Had to protect ourselves somehow...

Next morning we left for Crane Mountain Lookout, where use to stand a fire watch tower.

a bit of elevation gain

how many winters has this tree seen???

 

[Nikson]

Looks like a great little getaway! I've been to Fields and Denio a few times myself! There are some beautiful lakes just south of of there with some great fishing! Shared the gas pump with a small airplane last time I was in Denio... hahaha!

Yeah, it was one of those "once in a lifetime" as some might say. I am definitely considering coming back there again, but with extra fuel.