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

[segona]

love these amazing views !!
looks great . thank you for sharing with awesome pictures ^^

 

[Applejack]

Thanks for sharing. We're planning a trip back there in September. We spent 4 days in the Steens/Alvord area and it didn't seem like enough time.

 

[Rot Box]

:Wow1: Excellent writeup and thanks for sharing!

Funny I was just thinking about SE Oregon. I have been wanting to explore the Steens area for quite awhile now. Its great to see a trip report for this place as this place doesn't seem to get many visitors

 

[Martinjmpr]

Great pictures! That's a gorgeous area - I went to the Alvord Desert area with some ExPo folks last year and it was awesome. Hope to see it again.




Now, go put a shirt on! :sombrero:

 

[Nikson]

love these amazing views !!
looks great . thank you for sharing with awesome pictures ^^

No problems, after all we take them to share with others...

more of the trip to come...

 

[Nikson]

Thanks for sharing. We're planning a trip back there in September. We spent 4 days in the Steens/Alvord area and it didn't seem like enough time.

Same here. We did all that in 4 days, and I definitely wish that I brought few more cans of fuel & spend at least another 2-3 days in the Steens & Desert area.

Lots of cool spots to see, definitely unique area...

 

[Nikson]

:Wow1: Excellent writeup and thanks for sharing!

Funny I was just thinking about SE Oregon. I have been wanting to explore the Steens area for quite awhile now. Its great to see a trip report for this place as this place doesn't seem to get many visitors

We were also surprised by small amount of people in that area. Campgrounds were less then half full, not too many cars on the road.

In the way its better, since you dont want to get stuck driving behind someone on those dusty roads...

SE Oregon got lots of cool stuff. On my next trip I am hoping to include search for some THUNDER EGGS, I hear those are great find...

 

[Nikson]

Now, go put a shirt on! :sombrero:

I guess thats one of the ways to say that it was HOT for most of the trip...

 

[paulj]

What time of the year was this? Midsummer?

I drove through this area several years ago, toward the end of May. We camped at Page Springs, but could not drive the loop. There was still snow drifting at higher elevation, and BLM was in the process of evaluating conditions.

On the east side of the mountain we took a dip at Alvord hot springs, which is close to the main NS road. And bought the obligatory shake in Fields, along with high price gas.

Other hot springs on that trip were Harts Mtn (buggy) and Summer Lake. And the lookout was Hagar Mtn near Silver Lake.

 

[Nikson]

What time of the year was this? Midsummer?

I drove through this area several years ago, toward the end of May. We camped at Page Springs, but could not drive the loop. There was still snow drifting at higher elevation, and BLM was in the process of evaluating conditions.

On the east side of the mountain we took a dip at Alvord hot springs, which is close to the main NS road. And bought the obligatory shake in Fields, along with high price gas.

Other hot springs on that trip were Harts Mtn (buggy) and Summer Lake. And the lookout was Hagar Mtn near Silver Lake.

I believe I've mentioned in the beginning, this was end of August, 2009.

As we drove pass those springs (next to road) at night, we didnt really care for them much at that point. Daytime was obviously not an option with the heat as well.

As far as view points, there are a lot of places in that area to see. Definitely need more time, since planning just keeps you schedule "tight"...

 

[Martinjmpr]

I believe I've mentioned in the beginning, this was end of August, 2009.

As we drove pass those springs (next to road) at night, we didnt really care for them much at that point. Daytime was obviously not an option with the heat as well.

As far as view points, there are a lot of places in that area to see. Definitely need more time, since planning just keeps you schedule "tight"...

Just West of Denio in Nevada is the road that goes to Bog Hot Springs. Really misnamed, should be "warm springs." Great campsite there and the spring is warm enough to swim in but not excessively hot. I'd highly recommend it, even in Summertime.

 

[Scott Brady]

Great pictures. I explored the Steens for the first time in 2008. The glacier carved canyons are spectacular.

Looks like fun!

 

[Nikson]

Great pictures. I explored the Steens for the first time in 2008. The glacier carved canyons are spectacular.

Looks like fun!

Have to say that its definitely is "calling" me back...

Alvord Desert is a place of a speed record, not sure if many people know...

 

[Nikson]

Just West of Denio in Nevada is the road that goes to Bog Hot Springs. Really misnamed, should be "warm springs." Great campsite there and the spring is warm enough to swim in but not excessively hot. I'd highly recommend it, even in Summertime.

As always,

We learn something new every day...

Thanks, I will definitely consider it for next trip there...

 

[DaveM]

Love the Hart Mountain/ Steens area! My first trip up there was a few years back for grouse hunting. Return trip will be this summer for a 5ish day loop around Hart and Steens.

I've even made up a few of my own maps!

http://www.sonic.net/~dmed/MedeCart/Portfolio_B_files/HartNAR Full.jpg

http://www.sonic.net/~dmed/MedeCart/Portfolio_B_files/Steens Full.jpg