Elephant Lake

Trail Overview

This trail follows the South Fork of the John Day River and crosses a very remote area. Its a great area for camping and hiking. Destinations include Blacks Canyon, Izee Falls, and several historical sites, as well as remote hunting access. The road generally opens in late spring and closes early in the fall. The road is smooth and gravel, however some areas are very rough and some of the longer, steeper slopes are impassible when wet. The road passes Izee Falls, which is a great spot to swim and wade in the heat of summer, but completely unapproachable in spring. The river gets very swollen in spring but water levels dwindle by late summer. There is no cell service, carry water always as temperatures in the high desert can get very hot and dry.

Difficulty

This is a wide, two-lane road with packed dirt.

Technical Rating