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… Learn more about Skull Creek to Horton Mill Connector
Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Triple Spring Obsidian Mine
The Triple Springs Obsidian Mine is at the end of this short, steep, and rocky trail in an interesting high-desert environment. The trail follows a draw up to the mines and is littered with obsidian,… Learn more about Triple Spring Obsidian Mine
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
5
Moderate
Best Time
Su / Fa
Burnt Basin
This is a fantastic trail just outside of Burns, OR. It travels through many types of high-desert terrain: rimrocks, canyons, rivers, creeks, forests and plains. There are two large, fun water crossings on this trail,… Learn more about Burnt Basin
Total Miles
16.8
Tech Rating
5
Moderate
Best Time
Su
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… Learn more about Recovery Ridge
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Gravel Ridge
This is an excellent, little known high-desert trail near the small town of Burns. This trail is primarily made up of two track and rugged rock. There are seasonal water crossings, narrow roads and steep… Learn more about Gravel Ridge
Total Miles
5.2
Tech Rating
5
Moderate
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… Learn more about 37 Spring Trail
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
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… Learn more about Lost Creek
Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
3
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… Learn more about Bald Butte Lookout
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
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… Learn more about Myrtle Park Ice Cave
Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Shadow of Calamity
This trail is a great access to the south side of Calamity Butte through Ponderosa and mixed conifer forest. There are beautiful aspen glades in several places along this route. The trail is mostly natural… Learn more about Shadow of Calamity
Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
4
Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su
Calamity Butte Lookout
This trail leads to Calamity Butte Lookout, which is a very old lookout but still used when needed. The trail starts going through beautiful ponderosa forests, and near the top are mountain mahogany and a… Learn more about Calamity Butte Lookout
Total Miles
9.1
Tech Rating
4
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… Learn more about Miller Canyon
Total Miles
8.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa
Diamond Craters Auto Tour Route
This dirt road takes you through the basaltic lava flows and cinder cones formed sometime in the last 25,000 years. There are many side roads out to specific craters and it looks like there are… Learn more about Diamond Craters Auto Tour Route
Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Snow Mountain Lookout
This route accesses the Snow Mountain Fire Lookout. The road is easily driven by any vehicle with reasonable clearance and careful driving. There are large deep ruts as well as rocks. The summit is often… Learn more about Snow Mountain Lookout
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
4
Moderate
Best Time
Su
Moon Hill to Dust Bowl Road
This track takes you up to Moon Hill as the high point and creates a loop that is open year-round. (Some of the Steens Mountains are behind a locked gate some of the year) The… Learn more about Moon Hill to Dust Bowl Road
Total Miles
37.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Kiger Mustang Viewing Area Road
This route takes you deep into the Steens Mountains to a nice viewing area. The road is easy when dry and extremely difficult when wet as evidenced by the large ruts from people getting stuck… Learn more about Kiger Mustang Viewing Area Road
Total Miles
20.5
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… Learn more about Riddle Mountain
Total Miles
7.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
Malheur Ford
This is a longer, more adventurous, alternative to the section on NF-16 that passes through Crane Prairie. Along the route you'll encounter a water crossing, numerous wild camping sites, and incredible views of the Malheur… Learn more about Malheur Ford
Total Miles
29.2
Tech Rating
4
Moderate
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa
South Fork Road
This trail follows the South Fork of the John Day River and crosses a very remote area. It's a great area for camping and hiking. Destinations include Blacks Canyon, Izee Falls, and several historical sites,… Learn more about South Fork Road
Total Miles
28.1
Tech Rating
4
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… Learn more about Virginia valley cinder pile
Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
Mustang Tank Trail
This bumpy out and back leads through lush sagebrush fields and past lovely established Juniper Trees. There are plenty of flat spots one could camp, but no established fire rings were noticed. As the trail… Learn more about Mustang Tank Trail
Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Steens Resort ODT
This rocky out and back starts at the Steens Mountain Resort and is a continuation of Oregon Desert Trails. The resort is a great spot to grab a hot shower, camp or base with an… Learn more about Steens Resort ODT
Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
5
Moderate
Best Time
Fa / Su
East Fish Creek Road
This route is a bumpy out-and-back that ends abruptly. It begins in rolling hills with fields of sagebrush. There are three cattle gates you need to open and close behind once you pass through; some… Learn more about East Fish Creek Road
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
Murderers Creek Ranch
This trail goes through the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area to the abandoned Murderers Creek Ranch. The trail follows Murderers Creek, and there are many opportunities to wade in the creek or go for a… Learn more about Murderers Creek Ranch
Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
4
Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Virginia Valley to Stone House Road (Oregon BDR)
This remote section of two tracks through the Northern Steens takes you past several old settlement cabins and along a section of the lesser traveled optional Oregon BDR route loop. The trail is beautiful and… Learn more about Virginia Valley to Stone House Road (Oregon BDR)
Total Miles
16
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
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… Learn more about Burnt Flat Road
Total Miles
10.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su
Island Reservoir Run
This mostly easy run takes the adventurer from the highway into the wilderness and eventually ends at the island reservoir. Be sure to close any cattle gates you come across in case they are already… Learn more about Island Reservoir Run
Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
4
Moderate
Best Time
Su / Fa
Island Reservoir Cutover
This relatively easy connector trail takes the adventurer from the graded gravel main route back toward the Island Reservoir Trail. There will be plenty of dispersed camping spots near the southern end with fire rings… Learn more about Island Reservoir Cutover
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Fraiser Spring and Cabin
This bumpy little out and back leads off the main gravel to the Fraiser properties. The cabin is in pretty terrible shape but is fun to look at. There are a few old corrals and… Learn more about Fraiser Spring and Cabin
Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Gravel Pit Camp Road
Welcome to my gravel pit! It's loaded with many flat, private, and level spots to camp--a fair amount of existing fire rings and enormous piles of gravel that serve as great wind blocks. If you… Learn more about Gravel Pit Camp Road
Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
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