Blue Mountain Backcountry Byway

The Blue Mountain Backcountry Byway cuts a 130-mile arc through some of Oregon’s most isolated high country, following old mining roads and cattle trails between Ukiah and Granite. You’ll climb through dense ponderosa forests into subalpine meadows dotted with century-old mining claims, crossing Dixie Pass at 5,279 feet where snow lingers into July. The route threads through the North Fork John Day Wilderness boundary, past the ghost town of Susanville and over Bridge Creek Summit, where busted mining equipment still rusts in the sagebrush.

This is a solid moderate route requiring high-clearance 4WD for creek crossings and rocky sections, especially the descent into Granite. Summer and early fall are prime — snow blocks higher elevations from October through June. Pack extra fuel, water, and repair gear; cell service vanishes for 80+ miles. The payoff is genuine solitude, world-class dispersed camping, and a taste of Oregon’s mining history most folks never see.