Free Campgrounds - Steens Mountain

Free camping and campgrounds
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
STEENS MOUNTAINS
FRENCHGLEN, OREGON
LATITUDE: N xx°xx.xxx
LONGITUDE: W xx°xx.xxx
Dispersed and Primitive Camping

From the Summit Parking Area

Named after Major Enoch Steen who was
sent by the US Army to protect early settlers
in the area from Indian attacks in 1880. His
party named many prominent topographic
features, including Steens Mountain where
they were reported to be pursuing a band
of Indians. Most of the military posts were
abandoned in 1869

Kiger Gorge Viewpoint

Buena Vista
(Steens Mountain in the distance)

Wild Horse Lake

East Rim View

Designated as the Steens Mountain Recreation
Lands since 1972 and administered by BLM,
primarily for it's recreational values. This area
covers apx. 200,000 acres of BLM, state and
private lands. Steens Mountain is one of the
most unique areas in the world.

Near Little Blitzen looking east over Alvord Desert

Golden Eagles flying overhead...
The Steens Mountains have incredible
views you need to see, we need to return
and take some more photos.

Steens Mountain Loop Road near summit

East Rim Viewpoint

Steens Mountain Loop

Big Indian Canyon

Little Blitzen Gorge

The established campgrounds and
recreation sites require a fee. Most
people prefer dispersed campsites.

Dispersed camping area. Stay on road to the
left and there is a campsite with a picnic table.

Dispersed camping area...
Could be private property, but is unmarked.

Dispersed camping area...

Dispersed camp...

Dispersed camp... lake bed.

Protect Desert Vegetation
Bring Cooking Fuel With You.
Don't Cut Any Trees

100's of signatures carved into the trees...

Signatures are carved into most of the
trees. Kind of a tradition.

Wind Turbine Map

Feb. 2010
Industrial Development of Steens Mountain:
Building a wind farm of one of Oregon's most
scenic wilderness areas.

PAGE SPRINGS RECREATION SITE
Campground with picnic tables, metal fire-
rings, outhouse, and drinking water.
$8.00

Fish Lake Recreation Site

FISH LAKE RECREATION SITE
Campground with picnic tables, metal fire-
rings, outhouse, and drinking water.
$8.00

JACKMAN PARK RECREATION AREA
Campground with picnic tables, metal fire-
rings, outhouse, and drinking water.
$6.00

SOUTH STEENS CAMPGROUND
No information at this time...

Steens Mountain Loop Road
(Southern half of the Loop)

South Loop Road

Above image is on the South Loop Road
It gets rougher this direction, but there are
some good views.

Kiger Gorge Viewpoint

General Information
Steens Mountain is a 30-mile long fault block
mountain that rises to an altitude of 9,773 feet.
Pressure under the earth's surface thrust the
block upward some 15 million years ago. The
tilting of the block resulted in a steep eastern
face (one vertical mile above the Alvord Desert),
and a more gentle sloop on the western side of
the mountains...

Kiger Gorge Viewpoint

About Kiger Gorge... carved out by glaciers.

East Steens Road and Alvord Desert
Views of Steens Mountain covered with snow
March 26, 2009

View of Steen Mountains
East Steens Road east from Mann Lake
March 26, 2009

Moderate summers and brisk, cold winters,
the climate of the Steens is semi-arid. Snow
begins to fall in the higher elevations by late
October. Heavy snow-pack in the mountains
limits access often with the snows of October
and lasting until July.

PHOTO HERE
Thunder and Lightning

Summer can bring spectacular and
severe lighting storms. Lightning is
often accompanied by wind, rain, hail
or snow. It is recommended to retreat
to lower elevations for protective cover
when a storm approaches.

Butterfly near Fish Lake

DIRECTIONS:
From Burns, Oregon
Take Hwy.78 (apx. 2 miles towards Crane)
Turn right on Hwy.205 to Frenchglen
Turn left on Steens Mountain Loop
Steens Mountain Loop is 66 miles in length

Steens Mountain North Loop

ROAD CONDITIONS:
Rugged vehicles recommended
The south loop is more rough
We have drove a passenger vehicle around
the complete loop. Much easier access from
the north. The road climbs gradually from
an elevation of 4000' at the foot of the mountain
to an elevation of 9,600' at the Eastern Rim.

Map of Steens Mountain

MILEAGE CHART:
Distance from Frenchglen
Fish Lake 18 miles
Fields 52 miles
Denio 73 miles

Showers at Narrows
Good Sam Park / The Narrows Store
Hwy.205 and Sod House Road
50¢ for 2 minutes
Very clean... also a laundry.
(Burns 26 miles / Frenchglen 35 miles)

PHOTO HERE
Crystal Crane Hot Springs
LATITUDE: N 43°26.460
LONGITUDE: W 118°38.411

Showers at Crystal Crane Hot Springs
Hwy.78 between Mileposts 25 - 26
Showers $2.00

Showers at Steens Mountain Resort

Views of Steens Mountains
East Steens Road towards Mann Lake

Steens Mountain
East Steens Road near Mann Lake

Views of Steens Mountains
Harney County Road 203
(Jct. of Hwy.78 / MP 87)
McDermitt 34 Miles
Burns Jct. 21 Miles

Harney County Road 205
Views of Steens Mountains
LATITUDE: N 42°13.076
LONGITUDE: 118°20.434

Mann Lake

ALVORD DESERT / MANN LAKE
LATITUDE: N 42°46.653
LONGITUDE: W 118°26.331
Steens Mountain overlooks the Alvord
Desert and Mann Lake.

PHOTO HERE
Riddle Brothers Ranch

RIDDLE BROTHERS RANCH
National Historic District
From Steens Mountain South Loop
near South Steens Campground, turn
on Cold Springs Road...

Hwy.205 near Mud Lake / Malheur Reservoir

Hwy.205 near milepost 39

Sod House Ranch

Road to Sod House Ranch

Sod House Ranch is on Sod House Road
Between Narrows and Malheur NWR
Interesting history...

Mud Lake from Hwy.205

Malheur Reservoir

Malheur Reservoir Fire Tower

Malheur Reservoir Wildlife

Slime on Mud Lake

Hwy.205 and Steens Mountain Loop at Frenchglen

Diamond Craters view of Steens Mountain

Diamond Craters

Diamond Craters Loop and National
Back Country Byway. Outstanding
Natural Area of 17,000 acres. Diverse
volcanic features...

Sign for Kiger Mustang Management Area

The Kiger Mustangs are thought to be
one of the purest herds of Spanish mustangs.
4x4 vehicles recommended.

Peter French Round Barn

Peter French Round Barn, circa 1880s
was built to train ranch horses during
winter months. Visitor center and
museum opened in 2004.

HIGHWAY 78
OREGON SCENIC BYWAY and
HIGH DESERT DISCOVERY TRAIL

Burns Gravel Pond
LATITUDE: N 43°35.124
LONGITUDE: 119°00.560
Vaulted Toilets, Benches, Picnic and Fishing Area
Hwy.78 two miles south from Burns, OR

Buena Vista

Bureau of Land Management
28910 Highway 20 West
Hines, OR 97738
541-573-4400

Also see: BLACK ROCK DESERT
Also see: CHIMNEY DAM RESERVOIR
Also see: OCHOCO NF / BUCK SPRINGS
Also see: LAKE OWYHEE
Also see: MANN LAKE
Also see: NORTH FORK
Also see: ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR
Also see: PINE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY
Also see: PRINEVILLE / NORTH SHORE
Also see: PRINEVILLE / SALT CREEK
Also see: SUCCOR CREEK
Also see: WINDY GAP

Google Custom Map by Ian

OREGON FREE CAMPGROUND MAP
Google custom map by Ian with most of the
free campgrounds in Oregon.

East Fort Rock Trail System

EAST FORT ROCK OHV TRAIL SYSTEM:
Hwy.20 towards Bend, OR
Camping is permitted at all the trailheads
and staging areas, as well as any existing
dispersed camps.
CAMP II TRAILHEAD
ROAD 25 STAGING AREA
CHINA HAT CAMPGROUND
ROAD 2510 STAGING AREA
SOUTH LAVA TRAILHEAD
SAND SPRINGS CAMPGROUND

Canyon walls littered with Boulders
(Hwy.205 near milepost 43)

Prineville Reservoir
Viewed from Roberts Bay East #1 Campground

ROBERTS BAY RECREATION AREA
LATITUDE: N 44°06.810
LONGITUDE: W 120°42.020
Salt Creek Road for 8 miles

Crooked River
Viewed from Still Water Campground

LOWER CROOKED RIVER
LATITUDE: N 44°09.755
LONGITUDE: W 120°49.833

Pine Mountain Observatory

PINE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY
Listed under Free Campgrounds

Wild Horses at Black Rock Desert

Robbers Roost
Crowley Road south from Hepner

Veterans Memorial in Winnemucca, NV

We have camped here a couple times

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Free campgrounds and camping
OREGON CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
STEENS MOUNTAINS