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Steens Mountain Wilderness

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Steens Mountain Wilderness

The Steens Mountain Wilderness is a popular recreational destination in southeastern Oregon. This desert land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a federal agency. The BLM manages these areas to preserve the beauty, history, natural resources, and productivity of public lands for present and future generations.

The Steens Mountain Wilderness area covers over 170,000 acres, with elevations ranging between 4,200 and 9,800 feet. The Donner ünd Blitzen River passes through parts of the area, and you can also find many lakes within the BLM land. Steens Mountain is popularly known for being the biggest fault block within the United States. The mountain is characterized by an inclined western face and a sheer eastern face. Common activities here include picnicking, sightseeing, camping, and exploring the wilderness on horseback and foot. When searching for "BLM camping near me in Oregon," consider the Steens Mountain Wilderness.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Big Indian Gorge

Big Indian Gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons within the Steens Mountain wilderness. This dog-friendly trail starts 1.9 miles below the wide-open sky on an old road. It's mainly used for camping, hiking, backpacking, and nature trips. Travelers can best use this trail from June to October.

Length: 16.9 miles

Intensity: Difficult

Pike Creek Canyon

This out-and-back route is situated near Fields, OR and offers a chance to view wildlife. Dogs are allowed on this hiking trail, but you need to keep them on a leash at all times.

Length: 5.59 miles

Intensity: Difficult

Wildhorse Lake Trail

Located below the Steens Mountain summit near Frenchglen, this hike scrambles down a winding trail into a big basin full of wildflowers. Although the moderately trafficked trail is rough and remote, it's well-defined and pretty easy to follow.

Length: 2.48 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Kiger Gorge Overlook

This lightly trafficked trail is located near Frenchglen. It's mainly used for hiking and is ideal for all skill levels.

Length: 0.2 mile

Intensity: Easy

Fishing

Fishing is incredibly popular at the Donner ünd Blitzen River and in several lakes such as Fish Lake. You'll find a variety of trout at this BLM site, with red band trout being the most prominent. The fishing experience may be hit or miss at times, but if you're not getting some bites, you can head upstream, where you can find several remote fishing spots.

Wildlife Viewing

The trees and rich vegetation along the rivers and lakes within the Steens Mountain Wilderness provide a good habitat for many types of wild animals. Travelers with a keen eye can watch for coyotes, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, deer, and Rocky Mountain elk. Bird-watchers can also spot a variety of avian species including hawks, eagles, and sage grouse.

Picnicking

Steens Mountain Wilderness has several picnic areas where you can relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Each campsite in South Steens Campground offers a grill and picnic table. You can also head to Page Springs Campground, where you'll find a well-covered picnic site available for day use.

Hunting

Visitors can pursue various hunting opportunities throughout the fall. The Steens Mountain area is part of Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Unit 69, and hunting enthusiasts commonly seek deer and elk in the wilderness area. Management allows tags during hunting, but always keep an eye out for equestrians and hikers that might be passing by.

Snowshoeing and Skiing

Once snow covers Steens Mountain, visitors can find many cross-country and snowshoeing opportunities throughout the site. The available trails provide many hours of exploration and fun on the snow-covered mountain. However, it's wise to watch out for wildlife tracks since some wild animals are also winter residents.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

There are several Bureau of Land Management campgrounds within Steens Mountain Wilderness where RV camping enthusiasts can park their trailers and motorhomes. One of them is South Steens Campground, offering 36 campsites for RV and tent use and 15 additional campsites for equestrians. While there are no hookups at this Bureau of Land Management campground, you'll find grills, picnic tables, vault toilets, and drinking water. Page Springs Campground also offers 36 campsites and is popular among anglers and hikers. This campground doesn't offer hookups and showers, but you'll find a well-covered picnic site, drinking water, restrooms, and vault toilets.

Free Camping

Steens Mountain Wilderness area offers an excellent camping site for primitive campers exploring the BLM land. However, visitors should only camp in designated and pre-used sites on durable surfaces like sand, dry grass, compacted dirt, or rocks. Also, you want to ensure that you're at least 200 feet away from trails and water. This Bureau of Land Management free camping area allows travelers to stay at a single site for a maximum of 14 days, after which they need to move to a different site.

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Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Steens Mountain Wilderness BLM trip

Steens Mountain Wilderness Area is located in a very remote area of southeastern Oregon. Visitors need to come prepared for the journey with a map for easy route planning and navigation. Gas stations are few and far between, and phone service is intermittent near the BLM site. The roads in this wilderness area can be challenging for recreational vehicles due to the bumps and steep elevation changes. Therefore, if you plan on taking an RV, remember to proceed slowly. Also, exercise caution on the road and be ready to stop for any wild animals that may be crossing or blocking the way. Remember to check road conditions and water availability on the local BLM website before your road trip to avoid any surprises.

The Steens Mountain Protection Area comprises both private and public lands. Respect landowners, and always ask for permission before driving through private property. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

The BLM requires all visitors to clean up after themselves to help maintain all the natural resources within the Steens Mountain Wilderness. Inspect the rest areas and your campsite for spilled food or trash and pack everything out. Observe wild animals from a safe distance, and do not feed, approach, or follow them. Keep your campfires small and under control at all times. Do not touch or interfere with historical or cultural artifacts on the site. Lastly, respect other travelers and allow them to have rewarding experiences by being courteous and accommodating to everyone on the trail.

Steens Mountain Wilderness Location

To reach the BLM site, take State Hwy 78 southeast for around 2 miles from Burns. From there, turn right onto Hwy 205, and drive south for approximately 60 miles to Frenchglen. Turn left past Frenchglen onto Steens Mountain Road.

Ready to visit the Steens Mountain Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.