Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Mount Vernon, Oregon

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Myrtle Park Ice Cave

This routes visits the unique Myrtle Park Ice Cave and ends at a scenic overlook. Deep in the forest, this is a remote and little known location, even to locals. In the late spring there…
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Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Jump Off Joe

This scenic nearly nineteen mile route climbs to an elevation of 6,436 feet above sea level. And, as you probably know that translates to incredible views. To the south a valley that cradles the middle…
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Total Miles
17.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

MRS RD 4550000

This route climbs to the North West from the Middle Fork of Oregon's John Day River. Along the way you'll encounter a handful of beautiful wild camp spots often used by local hunters. As the…
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Total Miles
13.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lost Creek

This trail goes through an old-growth ponderosa pine forest above the Silvies River, near the small town of Burns. Between the river and the road are some high rimrocks, which make up the cliffs and…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Grease Monkey James

This trail is near Penland Lake. Travel around the area with views through the blue mountains. Most of the trip is maintained forests service roads. There is the opportunity for some off-road trails and more…
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Total Miles
39.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

37 Spring Trail

This is a rugged but short trail that accesses 37 Spring. This area is a beautiful old growth Ponderosa Pine forest with park- like clearings with all of the solitude you need. The area is…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Summit Road NF2630

This route transports travelers from Highway 26 north of Prineville Oregon into the middle of the Ochoco National Forest. Along the way you'll find yourself navigating well-groomed forest service roads, fairly narrow and rocky road…
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Total Miles
45.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Skull Creek to Horton MIll Connector

This trail passes through many high-desert landscapes such as sagebrush, mountain mahogany slopes and ponderosa pine forests. The road surface is variable between decent gravel and deeply rutted 2-track, with some areas having recently been…
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Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cub Creek

This is a well-maintained snowmobile and ATV trail from the North Fork of the Burnt River to Sumpter, Oregon.
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Total Miles
22.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Recovery Ridge

This road travels mostly over bright red cinder cobbles through a large burned area from fires in 1990 and 2007. The area offers an interesting look at how Ponderosa pine forests recover after a large…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bald Butte Lookout

This trail is easy and short. It is the closest and most easily accessible fire lookout from the town of Burns. The trail is dirt, with no difficult obstacles beyond some very deep ruts and…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Paulina Valley Rd / 4200 / 4250 / 1200

Trail starts with a long dirt road through the farmland of Paulina Valley, then starts to climb into forest after a creek crossing. The trail can be rocky with some ruts, mud puddles in spring…
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Total Miles
55.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Miller Canyon

This trail is a unique way to access the Malheur National Forest near Riley, Oregon. The route follows Miller Canyon and has been used for around 100 years or more. There was a fire in…
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Total Miles
8.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Marble Creek Pass to Sumpter

This short and easy route connects the small town of Sumpter to Marble Creek Pass. The forest service roads that comprise this track are well maintained and easy to navigate. Along the way you'll meander…
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Total Miles
7.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Marble Creek Pass

Marble Creek Pass is in the Elkhorn Mountain range west of Baker City in eastern Oregon. Marble Creek Road out of Baker City becomes forest road NF6510 (Marble Creek Pass Rd). It's approximately 9 miles…
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Total Miles
15.8
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su

Mining Trail

This trail is an easy dirt road with a small amount of pavement. It has some good camping spots and goes by several old mining remains as well as an old abandoned house. Some are…
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Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Wild Cattle Trail

Beautiful, lightly trafficked area in the Ochocos full of wildlife and providing great views. There is plenty of dispersed camping and some fun creeks to play in. Great wildflowers. Be aware of free range cattle…
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Total Miles
18.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Riddle Mountain

Riddle Mountain Trail reaches the top of Mountain at the BLM fire lookout. The trail crosses public land for much of the route. Please treat the private land sections with care and leave every gate…
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Total Miles
7.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Virginia valley cinder pile

This is a 5-mile loop on state land. If the gates are closed, close them behind you, otherwise you can leave them open. The trail is rutted year-round in most places. It is muddy, with…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Burnt Flat Road

This trail ascends from the valley below into a network of trails in the Steens Mountains. The trail begins down in the lakebed area and the lower valley. Then it ascends a steep rocky shelf…
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Total Miles
10.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su

Mahan Reservoir Quail Creek

This trail is a perfect way to get up into the Steens Mountains from Alvord valley below. It starts as a well-maintained gravel trail and becomes a short shelf road with a few steep sections.…
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Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Wild Horse Tank Road

This bumpy little out-and-back passes by the wild horse tank on its way to a few great camping spots. They are level and have sweeping views of the valley and surrounding hills. If you're lucky,…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Back Way to the Lost Forest

Headed north off the Christmas Valley Highway to explore. The road goes through some very deep and muddy puddles, through sagebrush, and eventually the East border of the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes. There are many…
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Total Miles
23
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa / Wi

Lakebed Cutover

This bumpy little trail leads across the lower mountainside of the valley along the sides of the dry lake beds. There are quite a few nice offshoots for exploring and finding flat spots to camp.…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Long Green Mountain Lookout Loop

This trail is a mixture of sage brush, Juniper trees and rock outcroppings. The road is rocky and rutted in spots. It's a slow go through some of it. The trail took us by many…
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Total Miles
36.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Dry Creek Road

This occasionally rocky dirt road passes along the West side of the Owyhee Reservoir and accesses the small collection of boat-in homes at the Dry Creek Arm. It terminates at the dirt two tracks that…
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Total Miles
22.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Dry Buttes Reservoir

This rugged, rocky, and rutted dirt road spur climbs up into the Dry Buttes WSA and terminates at a seasonal reservoir. This is part of a long and very remote route that accesses the backcountry…
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Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa