Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

OREGON  113

k Steens Mountain Tour Tips for Drivers

Scenery does not get much more rugged and grand Tour length: 58 miles (93.5km).
than it does here on this 9,700-ft (2,960-m) mountain. Starting point: North Loop Road
Steens Mountain is a fault-block, formed when land on in Frenchglen.
When to go: The entire Steens
two sides of a geological fault rose and fell to different Loop Road is closed from
levels. As a result, the west slope of this mountain rises November to June due to snow
gradually from sagebrush country through stands of cover, though snow squalls and
aspen, juniper, and mountain mahogany, while the lightning storms can occur in
any season.
east face drops precipitously for more than a mile Getting around: This dirt and
(1.5 km). Pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and wild horses gravel road is steep in parts.
roam craggy gorges and alpine tundra carpeted with It is not suitable for vehicles
wildflowers, and eagles and falcons soar overhead. with low clearance.
Stopping-off points: Many
The Steens Mountain National Back Country Byway scenic overlooks, picnic spots,
traverses this remarkable landscape. and some campgrounds are
located on the route. Frenchglen
has lodging and restaurants.

1 Donner und Blitzen River
An army officer named this rushing torrent
“Thunder and Lightning” while attempting
to cross it during a thunderstorm in 1864.
Bend
Frenchglen

NORTH LOOP ROAD
3 Kiger Gorge
2 Lily Lake Massive glaciers
Many Steens lakes have bulldozed four
filled with sediment and immense gorges
plants and become on the mountain;
alpine meadows. Lovely Kiger Gorge plunges
marsh-fringed Lily Lake Donnerund Blitzen River half a mile (0.8 km).
is also slowly in the
process of silting up.
SOUTH LOOP ROAD

5 Wildhorse Lake
Glaciers carved
terraces out of the
walls of the deep
gorge that encircles
this sparkling lake.

4 East Rim Viewpoint Key
This perch is a full mile (1.6 km) Tour route
above the alkali flats of the Alvord
Desert; sitting in the rain shadow
of the mountain, this desolate
desert receives a mere 6 inches 0 kilometers 8
(15 cm) of rain a year. 0 miles 6

For keys to symbols see back flap

US_PNW_112-113_TourMap.indd 113 04/07/16 12:38 pm