• Quail Run TrippingGoing to Boring orTraveler
    A view from the gate to Riddle Brothers Ranch
    A view from the gate to Riddle Brothers RanchSouth entrance of Steens Mountain Loop RoadCrossing Indian CreekThe top of the mountain in the distance is Steens Mountain.Riddle Brothers House with a screen porchOut buildingsThe barnJill just finished her drawing of the barnThe drawingAspens in color in a valley east of the roadLes (left) and other people at East Rim OverlookThe U shaped valley from East Rim OverlookWe could see for a great distance, but the haze made capturing a good picture imposible.The U shaped valley from Kiger Gorge OverlookThe aspens in Jackman Recreation siteWe parked briefly in a camp siteJill sitting at the table and the firepit in the foregroundJill and Indy walking out of the campsite and Les followed with the Jeep

    Steens Mountain Loop Road

    September 26 in the United States 🌬 54 °F

    We headed south on Hwy 205, 45 miles to the South Entrance of Steens Mountain Loop Road. This is road is a maintained gravel road, over 50 miles in length, climbing over 5600 feet to the high point we visited (9,700 ft). Since we found the gravel road with washboard tended to slide the Jeep on corners, we put it in 4WD starting about a mile up the road from the south entrance on Hwy 205. Yesterday, the lady at BLM recommended we drive the loop road from south to north and we found that was a good suggection. Our first stop was the historic Riddle Brothers Ranch. On the way we saw several groups of vehicles and people at diffferent areas. At the gate to the historic rance, we found a sign the mentioned today is Public Lands Day. The public is invited out to do projects on public lands.
    At the historic ranch, Les shot a bunch of digital photos and 3 large formal photos while Jill did a great drawing of the barn. From the ranch, we continued up the road and climbed many miles up to Steens Mountain. We stopped at several views and finally East Rim Overlook. There were lot of people there taking picture and looking for a rare Finch. We took photos and left, as it was windy and cold at over 9700 feet. Next we stopped briefly at Kiger Gorge Overlook. Les got out and took a couple of photos. In these last two stops, we noticed the valleys below were U shaped, but it didn't click that this feature is evidence of glaciation. The interprtive sign at Kiger Gorge Overlood mention this information. On the way back to the main road, we stopped at a pull out and had a late lunch we had packed. Continuing back down the mountain, we stopped at Jackman Recreation site. This is a small, tight campground in the Aspens and boy they were colorful! We continued down the mountain to the north entrance and on back up Hwy 205 to our camp at the Narrows RV Park.
    This was a really great day. 50 miles of 4WD, awsome scenery, and a great historic ranch. We highly recommend visiting this road. 4WD is not required, but it helps greatly with the washboard which was present on the entire length of the road.    Read more