Snowslogger - Dec 5, 2023 9:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2008
Standard Road Road Route
Nice road trip. Did a little fishing on the way and had breakfast at the Frenchglen hotel. Walked the last quarter mile to the highest point, then around to the Alvord Desert (again got a flat tire there), and the long drive back to Portland.
ericnoel - Jul 6, 2020 8:23 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2020
Steens
Pretty area. I thought this would be more desert and dead and maybe my timing right after snowmelt helped but it was green and had a bit of a sub-alpine feel. The E face is impressive.
huskertriguy - Sep 1, 2019 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
Drive Up
Continuing on my spare tire from the Malheur CoHP and Fields, I looked at my map and realized Steens Mountain was not too far off the beaten path, given the distance I was already looking at to drive on my spare. And all trip reports indicated easy gravel roads here, so I figured why the hell not.
I made it all the way up the roads fine. There were plenty of other vehicles on the road and the roads are in excellent condition besides. There are also great-looking campgrounds on the way in and out. This is a place worth spending more time to be sure.
Several vehicles were parked at the summit lot but most visitors must have taken the Whitehorse Lake Trail from here as I had the summit to myself.
Incredible views greeted me in every direction, even in spite of the towers at the summit. I wandered around the area looking for a benchmark and a register until I figured I was out of luck. Then as I started to walk down, I found the register in a cairn between the road and the first tower. On a hunch I walked the grassy stretch from the towers (which seem to me to be the higher area) to the rocky bump above the parking lot. Here I found not one, not two, but three benchmarks within close proximity of one another. Those who placed these may or may not have had the summit accurately measured, but they were thorough with the benchmarks.
My drive back to pavement was uneventful. As was the slow 45-mph drive to Burns. I even stopped at Malheur NWR to poke around where some ranchers had taken it hostage a couple years back.
Once in Burns, the manager at Les Schwab told me he my tire could not be repaired, and he did not have any in my size, so it would be $950 to replace them all (not including labor).
At this point I finally remembered we had insured our tires for specifically this purpose. A call to the Subaru dealership in Bend and we were hooked up! It was just another slow 45 mph to get there. Subaru closed before I got there, but they left my tire out for me to pick up, and I hastened to a tire center where they put my tire on for me -- NO CHARGE.
Tremendously generous people made my day a whole lot better, even knowing I would be arriving home much later than planned.
Harvest - Aug 16, 2017 3:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2017
SE Face Route
SE Face. Approach from Alvord Hot Springs up Wild Horse Canyon to Wild Horse Lake.
boisedoc - Aug 22, 2016 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2016
interesting mountain
I ended up just driving up this thing. very interesting but also very out of the way. the gorges are very impressive
There was bad weather for weeks in WA so Heather and I drove through OR, CA, NV, UT, and ID. We climbed 37 peaks in 19 days and Steens was one of only two peaks we could drive nearly to the top. We really liked this peak for the views despite not having to hike it. We hiked up Strawberry in a rainstorm later that afternoon. trip report
Tracy - Sep 26, 2015 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2015
via standard route
This was the second of three Oregon county highpoints for the day - all of which were 90 to 95 percent jeeping with the last stretch being hiked.
surgent - May 12, 2015 11:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2004
Easy hike, fun drive
Drove from Frenchglen to both potential HP areas. Drive was easy, hikes were easy. Drove down the south half of the loop in a tiny passenger car. The road was too rough for the car but we were committed to it, and somehow eased our way down to pavement. Got shakes later on in Fields.
Redwic - Sep 5, 2013 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2013
In The Dark
The drive from Granite Peak (NV) to Steens Mountain was a long, boring one. Gas prices in northern Nevada were ridiculous. This was an easy CoHP to get, though. Lightning lit up the eastern Oregon sky during the night.
mountainhare - Jan 9, 2013 6:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2011
Via Bicycle
I took my bicycle and (mostly) rode from Jackman Park to the summit gate, then walked from there. The jewels of this mountain are the gorges... those were unreal sights.
joseyinnet - Oct 9, 2012 12:16 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2012
Quick drive
Headed through Frenchglen, so figured I might as well do the hour and a half detour up to the top. Pretty cold at the top and couldn't see much due to the smoke, but a nice mountain nonetheless.
Paul McClellan - Sep 20, 2012 12:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2012
More Construction
A short walk from the Wildhorse Lake TH parking. I saw 11 large propane tanks installed, and more foundation construction underway. Would be interested to learn what is operating up there.
Nick Turtura - Jun 4, 2012 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2011
Drive up
Why not. Kids in the car 6hrs there 6hrs back 6min on top.
Troy B - Sep 25, 2010 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2010
Sunset on Steens Mtn
Watched the sunset and the moon rise from the summit. The end of a very long but amazing day.
Drunkcaballo - Oct 15, 2008 12:05 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2006
Summer 2006
Date is Approximate. Rode my mountain bike until I hit a snowfield to the summit and got off and went from there.
cmc56789 - Jul 7, 2008 3:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Harney Highpoint
Drove most of the way with Jen and Dosha for this one while staying at Malheur Field Station to escape the Fourth of July madness back in the big city. Great views from the ridgetop viewpoints. It was nice to see some familiar SP names in the log at the top. We were treated to the sight of three coyote pups on the return towards Frenchglen
cjwhat - Aug 4, 2007 10:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2007
Dirt road route
Hiked the 1/2 mile dirt road in a party of four. Route in good condition.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 15, 2007 9:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2007
Drive Up!
This is a great area. This is the second time to the summit for me. My wife accompanied me this time.
Snowslogger - Dec 5, 2023 9:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2008
Standard Road Road RouteNice road trip. Did a little fishing on the way and had breakfast at the Frenchglen hotel. Walked the last quarter mile to the highest point, then around to the Alvord Desert (again got a flat tire there), and the long drive back to Portland.
ericnoel - Jul 6, 2020 8:23 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2020
SteensPretty area. I thought this would be more desert and dead and maybe my timing right after snowmelt helped but it was green and had a bit of a sub-alpine feel. The E face is impressive.
Dundeel - Sep 15, 2019 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2019
High Desert MountainExcellent weather, great views.
huskertriguy - Sep 1, 2019 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
Drive UpContinuing on my spare tire from the Malheur CoHP and Fields, I looked at my map and realized Steens Mountain was not too far off the beaten path, given the distance I was already looking at to drive on my spare. And all trip reports indicated easy gravel roads here, so I figured why the hell not.
I made it all the way up the roads fine. There were plenty of other vehicles on the road and the roads are in excellent condition besides. There are also great-looking campgrounds on the way in and out. This is a place worth spending more time to be sure.
Several vehicles were parked at the summit lot but most visitors must have taken the Whitehorse Lake Trail from here as I had the summit to myself.
Incredible views greeted me in every direction, even in spite of the towers at the summit. I wandered around the area looking for a benchmark and a register until I figured I was out of luck. Then as I started to walk down, I found the register in a cairn between the road and the first tower. On a hunch I walked the grassy stretch from the towers (which seem to me to be the higher area) to the rocky bump above the parking lot. Here I found not one, not two, but three benchmarks within close proximity of one another. Those who placed these may or may not have had the summit accurately measured, but they were thorough with the benchmarks.
My drive back to pavement was uneventful. As was the slow 45-mph drive to Burns. I even stopped at Malheur NWR to poke around where some ranchers had taken it hostage a couple years back.
Once in Burns, the manager at Les Schwab told me he my tire could not be repaired, and he did not have any in my size, so it would be $950 to replace them all (not including labor).
At this point I finally remembered we had insured our tires for specifically this purpose. A call to the Subaru dealership in Bend and we were hooked up! It was just another slow 45 mph to get there. Subaru closed before I got there, but they left my tire out for me to pick up, and I hastened to a tire center where they put my tire on for me -- NO CHARGE.
Tremendously generous people made my day a whole lot better, even knowing I would be arriving home much later than planned.
Harvest - Aug 16, 2017 3:46 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2017
SE Face RouteSE Face. Approach from Alvord Hot Springs up Wild Horse Canyon to Wild Horse Lake.
boisedoc - Aug 22, 2016 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2016
interesting mountainI ended up just driving up this thing. very interesting but also very out of the way. the gorges are very impressive
gimpilator - Jul 18, 2016 8:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2016
37 peaks in 19 daysThere was bad weather for weeks in WA so Heather and I drove through OR, CA, NV, UT, and ID. We climbed 37 peaks in 19 days and Steens was one of only two peaks we could drive nearly to the top. We really liked this peak for the views despite not having to hike it. We hiked up Strawberry in a rainstorm later that afternoon. trip report
Tracy - Sep 26, 2015 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2015
via standard routeThis was the second of three Oregon county highpoints for the day - all of which were 90 to 95 percent jeeping with the last stretch being hiked.
surgent - May 12, 2015 11:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2004
Easy hike, fun driveDrove from Frenchglen to both potential HP areas. Drive was easy, hikes were easy. Drove down the south half of the loop in a tiny passenger car. The road was too rough for the car but we were committed to it, and somehow eased our way down to pavement. Got shakes later on in Fields.
Redwic - Sep 5, 2013 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2013
In The DarkThe drive from Granite Peak (NV) to Steens Mountain was a long, boring one. Gas prices in northern Nevada were ridiculous. This was an easy CoHP to get, though. Lightning lit up the eastern Oregon sky during the night.
mountainhare - Jan 9, 2013 6:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2011
Via BicycleI took my bicycle and (mostly) rode from Jackman Park to the summit gate, then walked from there. The jewels of this mountain are the gorges... those were unreal sights.
joseyinnet - Oct 9, 2012 12:16 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2012
Quick driveHeaded through Frenchglen, so figured I might as well do the hour and a half detour up to the top. Pretty cold at the top and couldn't see much due to the smoke, but a nice mountain nonetheless.
Paul McClellan - Sep 20, 2012 12:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2012
More ConstructionA short walk from the Wildhorse Lake TH parking. I saw 11 large propane tanks installed, and more foundation construction underway. Would be interested to learn what is operating up there.
Nick Turtura - Jun 4, 2012 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2011
Drive upWhy not. Kids in the car 6hrs there 6hrs back 6min on top.
Troy B - Sep 25, 2010 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2010
Sunset on Steens MtnWatched the sunset and the moon rise from the summit. The end of a very long but amazing day.
Drunkcaballo - Oct 15, 2008 12:05 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2006
Summer 2006Date is Approximate. Rode my mountain bike until I hit a snowfield to the summit and got off and went from there.
greglief - Sep 13, 2008 12:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2007
Easy summit to bag!Absolutely beautiful, especially Whitehorse Lake!
cmc56789 - Jul 7, 2008 3:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Harney HighpointDrove most of the way with Jen and Dosha for this one while staying at Malheur Field Station to escape the Fourth of July madness back in the big city. Great views from the ridgetop viewpoints. It was nice to see some familiar SP names in the log at the top. We were treated to the sight of three coyote pups on the return towards Frenchglen
cjwhat - Aug 4, 2007 10:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2007
Dirt road routeHiked the 1/2 mile dirt road in a party of four. Route in good condition.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 15, 2007 9:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2007
Drive Up!This is a great area. This is the second time to the summit for me. My wife accompanied me this time.