Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

COHVOPS

Welcome! to the Prineville BLM's Millican/ODOT Pit Play Area

General Information

The Millican/ODOT Pit is located east of Millican on Highway 20 in an Oregon Department of Transportation gravel pit. The Millican/ODOT pit is considered the best play area in the state of Oregon. It provides challenges for riders at all levels of experience. The gravel mounds provide excellent jumping opportunities. There are flats around the perimeter of the pit.

The Millican/ODOT pit has ample parking space for vehicles towing trailers and camping. A kiosk keeps riders informed of regulations and closures as well as providing maps of nearby OHV trail systems. A chemical toilet is on site. The site also serves as a staging area for access to North Millican OHV Trail System and Millican Plateau OHV Trail System.

The play area is designed for Class I and Class III ATV's, which are quads, three-wheelers, and motorcycles less than 50" wide. It is not a play area for four-wheel drives. Oregon Department of Transportation hauls rock out of the pit occasionally, so please ride carefully and pay attention to traffic in and out of the pit.

The Millican/ODOT Pit is open all year but dry, dusty conditions may inhibit use during the late summer months. Likewise, snow in the winter may discourage riders winter riding.

This facility is being developed and maintained for your enjoyment through a cooperative effort by the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, Oregon ATV Fund, Central Oregon Motorcycle and ATV Club and many other volunteers.

How To Get There

From Bend: Follow Highway 20 east about 26 miles to Millican. Proceed east another mile to the pit on the north side of the Highway.

Know Before You Go. Call Ahead For Information.

For any questions relating to trails, closures, conduct, rules, regulations and/or concerns please contact...

• OHV Hotline -- 24 hour recorded information, (541) 383-4010
• OHV Specialist -- Prineville District BLM, 3050 NE Third, Prineville, OR  97754, (541) 416-6700
• Field Manager -- Prineville District BLM, 3050 NE Third, Prineville, OR  97754, (541) 416-6700

Maps, Signs, and Photos

• Play Area Map
• Millican/ODOT Pit Signing
• Millican/ODOT Pit Photos

Camping

Dispersed camping is allowed at the pit. Please be considerate of riders when camping, park in areas that do not impede riding. No water is available at the pit. An information kiosk with a map box is located at the entrance to the pit. A portable toilet is located on the site as well. There is no garbage collection so please PACK IT OUT!

Fire

Campfires are permitted, but please keep them small and don't leave them unattended. Please do not build campfires on the pavement. High winds and dry conditions can fuel a wildfire even at unlikely times of the year. Spark arrestors are required on your OHVs, chainsaws, and generators year round.

Later in the summer, there may be restrictions on campfires, smoking, BBQs, and off-road use, so please check at the Prineville District BLM office or watch for regulations posted at trailheads, staging areas and major access roads.

Safety

While the Millican/ODOT Pit is directly adjacent to Highway 20, there are limited facilities in the immediate area. Therefore, riders should be equipped to be self-sufficient. Riders should wear appropriate safety gear, carry a first aid kit and never ride alone. Most Forest Service personnel have radios and can give assistance. There is a cellular phone repeater on the east end of Pine Mountain and coverage is fair in the Pit.

The Millican/ODOT pit is an active pit used by the state highway department.  On occasion rock is hauled out of the pit, so please become aware of activities within the pit before riding. Also be aware of other riders as well as campers.  Riding fast is hazardous and not recommended.

Tips for Play Areas

• Ride defensively
• Know where the other riders are at all times
• Use spotters when jumping
• Never jump a hill without knowing what is on the other side
• Never ride impaired
• Never ride with a passenger
• Never ride alone
• Always stay on the right side of jump poles

Soils

While the soils at the Millican/ODOT Pit are pebbly and easily displaced, the play area was specifically designed to accommodate higher impact riding. Activities such as jumping, and spinning "cookies" are expected and even welcomed in areas such as the Millican/ODOT pit and other specially designated play areas. With this in mind, please reserve these high impact activities for play areas and Tread Lightly on trails, parking lots and gravel roads.

Plants

Plant life on the High Desert is sparse and fragile which makes its role in the ecosystem even more critical. Not only do plants dazzle us with delicate beauty, they also help stabilize the soil, provide needed nutrients, retain moisture, and provide food and shelter for all forms of wildlife. Some of the plants are listed as Sensitive Species and are mandated to be protected. You can help protect these plants and maintain a healthy ecosystem by staying on the designated trails and areas.

Noxious weeds are plants that are not natural residents of this ecosystem. Some are poisonous, spread rapidly, and can out-compete native plants for light and water. Seeds from noxious weeds can lodge in tires or tight places on your OHV and other vehicles and can easily be transported from place to place. The spread of these weeds can be reduced by thoroughly washing your equipment before leaving home.

Wildlife

There are many forms of wildlife in the Millican area. Please remember that this is their home seven days a week and that you are a visitor. You can avoid being an intruder by keeping your noise down and staying on the designated trails. When you encounter wildlife, slow down, watch and enjoy them, but keep moving.