Page Springs Campground — Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Page Springs sits right where the Donner und Blitzen River spills out of Steens Mountain country into the high desert basin below. It’s a legitimate oasis — big cottonwoods, running water nearby, and a real campground layout with designated sites, fire rings, and vault toilets. Birders swarm it in spring, but overlanders running the southern ORBDR segment use it as a basecamp for Steens summit runs and as a shakedown before pushing toward Frenchglen and beyond. It gets busy on summer weekends; weeknights are mellow.

Access is paved to Frenchglen, then a short gravel spur south. The campground handles most rigs without drama. Water is available on-site but confirm it’s running before you count on it — seasonal variations apply. Fire restrictions follow BLM Burns District guidelines, which can shift fast in dry years. Elevation keeps nights cool even in July.

Cottonwood oasis at the foot of Steens.