Steens Mountain Loop Road — Frenchglen to the East Rim via Kiger Gorge
A mile of drop-off to the Alvord Desert.
Steens Mountain is a massive fault-block ridge that rises about a mile above the Alvord Desert, and the loop road takes you up and over it. Start at Frenchglen, a tiny ranching town with one old hotel, and head up through juniper and sagebrush to Fish Lake. Higher up you reach the Kiger Gorge overlook, a U-shaped valley the glaciers carved out. The East Rim viewpoint is the payoff. You look down about 5,500 feet to the white playa of the Alvord Desert, with Nevada beyond it. The road follows the rim to Wildhorse Lake, and the summit road tops out near 9,700 feet.
The surface is gravel, usually graded and passable in a regular high-clearance vehicle. Washboard and loose rocks are common, and the high sections can have thunderstorms and wind. The loop is normally open from about July to October, depending on snow. Check conditions with BLM before you go. Fuel and water are limited, so fill up in Burns or Fields. Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land, and the campgrounds near Fish Lake and Jackman Park fill on weekends. You get high-desert scale, wildflowers in July, and a long look at some of Oregon’s emptiest country. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 52 mi / 83.7 km |
| Duration | 5-7 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9733 ft |
| Best season | July-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD or 4WD |
| Nearest town | Frenchglen, Oregon |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management, Burns District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Burns District Office |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Subaru or crossover handle the Steens Mountain Loop Road?
Usually, yes, if it has decent ground clearance and good tires. The surface is gravel with washboard and occasional rocky patches, and the BLM lists high-clearance 2WD as the minimum. Low-clearance sedans can make it in dry conditions but risk sidewall damage and oil pan strikes.
When does the Steens Mountain Loop Road open, and is it passable in winter?
The upper loop is typically snowed in and closed from roughly November through June or July, depending on snowpack. Best access is July through October, but early snow can shut it down in September, so check with the BLM Burns District before you go.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to drive the loop or camp along it?
No permit or fee is required for driving the loop or for dispersed camping on BLM land. Developed campgrounds like Fish Lake and Jackman Park charge a nightly fee. Standard BLM stay limits apply, generally 14 days.
What's the hardest part of the drive, and how exposed is the East Rim?
The trail is rated easy, so the challenge is more about nerves than technical driving. The East Rim Viewpoint sits near the edge of a fault scarp that drops about a mile to the Alvord Desert, and the road near the rim is narrow in spots with washboard and loose gravel. Stay well back from the edge, especially in wind.
Is there cell service or fuel on the loop, and what should I bring?
There's no cell service on the loop, so download maps offline before you leave. Frenchglen has very limited services, so fill your tank beforehand and carry extra water, a full-size spare, and a tire plug kit. The drive takes 5 to 7 hours, and weather at 9,700 feet can change fast even in summer.
Trail track
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