Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway

The Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway winds 66 miles through Oregon’s Great Basin country, climbing from sagebrush flats to the 9,733-foot Steens Mountain rim. This gravel loop passes through golden aspen groves in East Rim Canyon and crests at the rim viewpoint, where you can see clear across the Alvord Desert’s white alkali playa to the distant Cascade peaks on clear days. The route includes a mandatory stop at Kiger Gorge overlook, where glacial carving left behind a textbook U-shaped valley that drops 1,000 feet below the rim.

Moderate difficulty with some steep, loose sections near the rim that demand careful throttle control and good tires. Any high-clearance vehicle can handle the lower sections, but 4WD is recommended for the full loop, especially when conditions turn muddy. The upper sections close October through June due to snow, making July through September the prime window. No permits required, and dispersed camping is allowed throughout. Fill up in Fields or Frenchglen — there’s nothing up top but silence, stars, and the kind of big-country views that make you forget about cell service.