Southeast Oregon
Wildflowers line the Pike Creek Trail (Hike 124) on the east side of Steens Mountain.
Many Oregonians have the impression that Southeast Oregon is all desert and nothing else. While you can certainly find plenty of desert in Southeast Oregon, you’ll also find rugged and remote mountains, sprawling forests of ponderosa pine and juniper, and some of the most spectacular red rock canyons this side of Utah. You could spend an entire lifetime and not see even a fraction of this spectacular corner of Oregon.
The greatest challenge in visiting southeast Oregon is the remote nature of the most scenic destinations. While Steens Mountain (Hikes 122-124) is a popular destination with campgrounds and outposts scattered all around the mountain, the rest of the hikes in this section require careful planning. Always make sure to check the weather forecast before you leave for your adventure, and be prepared to change plans if rain, snow, or thunderstorms threaten. Just as importantly, make sure that your gas tank is full and that your tires are fully inflated. Make sure that you have dealt with any and all car is- sues before you leave for this area. Many southeast Oregon residents bring one or more spare tires and a gas can or two when they explore the area. While this is not always necessary, it isn’t a bad idea for any of these hikes. For more tips to help you prepare for your adventures, see the introduction to this book.
The basic premise of this book is that all of these hikes can be completed in a day, and are accessible in almost any vehicle. It is for this reason that there are only nine hikes featured in this section on southeast Oregon. If you plan on exploring Hart Mountain (Hikes 120 and 121), the Alvord Desert (Hike 124), and the Owyhee Canyonlands (Hike 125) further, you should be prepared for rough roads that can only be navigated in completely dry conditions. For more information, consult a good map of the area, inquire locally, and be prepared for the adventure of a lifetime.
117. Strawberry Mountain
118. Malheur River Trail
119. North Fork Malheur River
120. DeGarmo Falls
121. Barnhardy Basin
122. Little Blitzen Gorge
123. Wildhorse Lake
125. Leslie Gulch