Alvord Desert Dispersed Camping

The Alvord Desert is a massive alkali playa that stretches for miles — Oregon’s answer to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. When dry, it’s hard-packed and smooth enough to drive on, offering primitive camping anywhere along the eastern edge with zero facilities but million-dollar views. The Steens Mountains rise abruptly 5,000 feet above the desert floor, creating one of the most dramatic backdrops in the state.

Access is via Fields-Denio Road on the east side. The playa can be impassable when wet — check conditions before heading out. No water, no shade, no services of any kind. Bring everything, pack out everything. Wind can be relentless.

Oregon's Black Rock Desert — endless playa camping