Steens Loop Tour Route

This 59-mile loop departs from Frenchglen to the top of Steens Mountain, resting in the clouds at nearly 10,000 feet. Ample opportunities will arise to view bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk. Golden eagles can be seen riding the updrafts in search of prey, and the end of the town will lead you through wild horse country.

• Distance:  59 miles.
• Starting Point:  Frenchglen

• Minimum Driving Time:  3-5 hours (The only gas station will be in Burns and Field).
• Best Time to Drive:  July through October- the road is closed in winter months.

1. Remarkable Rocks

Steens Mountain is an example of a fault-block mountain, formed when massive internal pressure forced the east edge upward along a fault line. Four distinct notches in the Mountain- including oft-photographed Kiger Gorge- were formed when glaciers punched through the ridgetops. You can see hundreds of miles from the rooftops, and view the massive, "U" shaped Kiger Gorge.

2. The Dry and the Moist

The upper west slope of Steens Mountain receives around 25 inches of precipitation, while the Alvord Desert receives less than six inches per year. Cattlemen, as well as Irish and Basque sheepherders, were once drawn o the upper mountain in the summer, to graze their stock on the lush meadows that thrive there.

3. Abundant Wildlife

Big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk can often be found on Steens Mountain. Golden eagles are often seen searching for prey in this area. The South Steens Wild Horse Herd descended from mustangs that escaped from early explorers, Indians, settlers, miners, and ranchers. The herd of nearly 300 animals is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to preserve their wild, free-roaming nature.