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Following these suggestions will help you travel safely through the high desert of eastern Oregon and enjoy fragile places responsibly.
Read MoreDispersed camping is allowed throughout much of this region on the lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. There are also a handful of limited-service campgrounds.
Slocum Creek CampgroundApproximately 50 miles from Jordan Valley, Oregon
Pitch your tent here, amidst grassy hills and rocky spires, and you’ll be just a few miles away from the terrific hikes in Leslie Gulch. This free, no reservation campground has 12 established campsites for either RV or tent camping. All sites have picnic tables, and most have shade structures. Restrooms here are pit toilet, and you must bring all your own water. A nearby boat ramp provides access to the Owyhee Reservoir. Season: year round
Succor Creek State Natural AreaApproximately 23 miles from Adrian, Oregon or 50 miles from Nampa, Idaho
Located in a deep, rocky canyon, Succor Creek State Natural Area offers terrific wildlife watching. It also allows limited souvenir collecting by rock hounds. Reach this primitive camping (23 sites) and day-use area by taking a rough 15 mile dirt road that leads from Oregon 201. Prepare accordingly for this remote recreational experience. No water is available. There are no pay phones or cell phone services, and no staff or volunteers are stationed at this site. Season: year round
There are no lodging options within the Owyhee Canyonlands, but you can find lodging in surrounding communities including Nampa, Idaho. Boise is the closest major city.
Jordan Valley
Located next to the gas station and near Rockhouse Coffee, this motel offers clean, basic accommodations with ‘vintage’ style. It is the only lodging option in Jordan Valley. 801 Main St, Highway 95, Jordan Valley, OR 97910.
Call (541) 586-2244 for reservations.
Rome
This mom and pop spot offers up three very basic, ‘rustic’ cabins, four RV spaces, a small restaurant and a convenience store on-site. Rome Station may have gas but best to call ahead to be sure. Fishing and hunting licenses also available. The BLM Rome boat launch is nearby. 3605 Hwy 95 W. Rome, OR.
Call (541) 586-2295 for reservations and more information.
Jordan Valley
This facility is closed until further notice. Call (541) 586-2800 for the latest information.
In these remote communities, it is not uncommon for businesses to hold unusual hours. It is a good idea to call ahead so you’re not left staring at a closed sign with an empty stomach. Travel these parts with enough food and water to see yourself through, as you won’t stumble across a supermarket.
The shakes and tater tots at Rome Station (3605 Highway 95 W, Rome, Oregon, (541) 586-2294) are not to be missed.
You’ll find excellent coffee and the best coffee milkshakes in all of eastern Oregon at Rockhouse Coffee (909 Highway 95 W, Jordan Valley. Oregon, (541) 586-2326).
You can also stop by the JV Cafe, 701 Main Street, Jordan Valley, Oregon, (541) 586-2920) and The Mirage (605 N First Street, Adrian, Oregon, (541) 372-0150).
To see how we define hike difficulty, please see our Hike Difficulty Ratings.
Corie Harlan
If you love adventure and solitude, get ready to experience one of the best hikes in the Northern Owyhee Canyonlands. On the 8.5 mile Painted Canyon Loop (also known as […]
Read MoreSteve Vidito
Visit the Leslie Gulch Wilderness Study Area to hike through sandy washes to reach panoramic amphitheaters of stone and sage. Over 200 bighorn sheep live in Leslie Gulch, along with […]
Read MoreThe 27-square-mile ovaline lava flow of Jordan Craters is one of the most recent volcanic flows in Oregon. The origin of the flow is Coffeepot Crater, a deep cavity at […]
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The roughly 14-mile stretch of the Owyhee River below the dam is renown among fly-anglers for its brown trout. When you’re not casting a line, you can enjoy the red-rock canyon and the Owyhee’s riverside hot springs.
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To anyone who knows rafting, the Owyhee River is definitely on their bucket list. This trip takes you past geological wonders, hot springs, petroglyphs and more, all while providing a fun ride in the process.
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Upland bird hunting is popular in the Owyhee region, and the Owyhee Canyonlands is home to some of the best chukar hunting in the world. Long walks along ridges and rimrock within a mile of water are key to success.
These birds thrive in the rocky canyon country anywhere there is perennial water. Some popular places to start a hunt include Leslie Gulch, Dry Creek, and Three Forks.
Your best bet for traveling in the Owyhee Canyonlands is to purchase the Malheur River and/or Owyhee Country recreation maps.
In a recent editorial, The Bulletin asked a good question: “how much land does Oregon have that is appropriate for wilderness?” The answer is a lot. A heckuva lot. In […]
Read MoreSpeak up for Oregon’s high desert. Every one of us must be an advocate for the lands and wildlife we love or risk losing them forever.
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Visiting the Owyhee Canyonlands calls for preparation, awareness, and self-sufficiency. Top off your gas tank when leaving gateway communities like Nyssa or Jordan Valley and carry a spare gas can, […]
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Steens Mountain may look like a small range, but it is actually just one massive mountain. When you visit the largest fault-block mountain in North America, expect extremes. Snow falls […]
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This fascinating region offers the opportunity to see pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, greater sage-grouse and more. Visitors of all ages and abilities can find a recreational opportunity to pursue here. […]
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With rolling plains of sagebrush, dramatic river canyons and dense forests of old-growth juniper, the Central Oregon Backcountry provides visitors with a wide-ranging introduction to Oregon’s high desert. This wild […]
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See for yourself the rugged allure of the John Day River Basin, with its vast expanses of windswept high desert, endless mountains, and picturesque meandering rivers. Within a few hours […]
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