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Website Updates
Western Oregon Plan Decisions Released.
Oregon State Office
Bureau of Land Management 333 S.W. 1st. Avenue Portland, OR 97204 503-808-6002 |
ActivitiesCamping
There are five designated campgrounds in the Burns District – Chickahominy Reservoir near Riley, and Fish Lake, Jackman Park, South Steens, and Page Springs on Steens Mountain. Camping is also allowed at Mann Lake on the east side of Steens Mountain and at Warm Springs Reservoir near Juntura, but these areas do not have specific sites or use fees. Fees are charged at designated campgrounds from April through October and range from $6-$8 per vehicle per night. All fees collected are returned to the site for improvements, facility maintenance, and visitor services. No firewood collecting is allowed in developed campgrounds. Pets must be kept on a leash in the campground at all times. Additional regulations are posted at campgrounds. There are also several developed campgrounds on the Malheur National Forest to the north and east of Burns. Facilities include Yellowjacket Lake, Delintment Lake and Idlewild Campgrounds and Falls and Emigrant Recreation Sites. Primitive camping is permitted on all public land across the Burns District. Remember, however, most off-road travel is prohibited (please don’t trek your RV or camp trailer across the landscape!), and we encourage use of existing primitive campsites if at all possible! For specific information about developed campgrounds on BLM-administered land within the Burns District, visit our Recreation Sites web page. Hiking
Hiking is popular in most all areas of the Burns District, but most notably within the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area. There are several trails suitable for horseback riding and on-foot travels, and thousands of wide open acres available for cross-country adventures. Descriptions of the developed trails on Steens Mountain can be found online at the Burns District Recreation Sites web page. Other popular hikes include:
Additionally, there are many developed and well-liked trails within the Burns District boundary in the Emigrant Creek Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. For a description of these trails and access information, visit the Malheur National Forest trails web site. Birding
Hundreds of migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway use Harney County as a rest and refueling stop. Birds can be seen in town, just outside of town, abundantly on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and in several other locations across the high desert landscape. Over 320 species of birds and 58 mammal species have been observed on the Refuge. In spring many migratory birds nest on the refuge while others stop over on their way to northern nesting areas, making it one of the most popular birding sites in the west. The Silvies River Flood Plain near Burns provides excellent birding opportunities in March, April, and sometimes into May. Usually the best birding areas include the meadows along Hotchkiss and Greenhouse Lanes and Potter Swamp Road near Burns. The Double-O Unit of Malheur Refuge is another good birding spot. Depending on water conditions, good viewing may also be found along Highway 20 between Burns and Buchanan. Over 200 pairs of greater sandhill cranes nest on the refuge each year. In September large groups of cranes begin congregating in the grainfields on the refuge. The Blitzen Valley is the best place to see local trumpeter swans and to view greater sandhill cranes. Malheur Refuge also hosts an array of raptors. Swainson's and red-tailed hawk sare present and bald eagles and rough-legged hawks begin arriving in mid-October. Watch for raptors on power poles and in open fields and stay alert for the occasional Merlin or peregrine falcon. Hundreds of other species can be seen throughout Harney County, mainly March through September. Some include: tundra swans, northern pintails and white-fronted, snow, Ross' and Canada geese, Sage grouse, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, western grebes, long-billed curlews, American avocets, warblers, vireos, tanagers, buntings, least and western sandpipers, both species of yellowlegs, solitary, pectoral and Baird's sandpipers, marbled godwit, ruddy turnstone, American redstart, indigo bunting, eastern vagrant, rough-legged hawks, and golden and bald eagles. Visit the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for more information on birding in Harney County. Fishing
Fishing opportunities in the Burns District are plentiful in all directions. The primary angling opportunities in the Steens Mountain area are for wild redband trout in the Donner und Blitzen River system. The major access points (trails) are Page Springs Campground, South Steens Campground, and the crossing on the Steens Mountain South Loop Road. Special angling restrictions apply to the Donner und Blitzen River system; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations should be consulted. Additional angling opportunities on or near Steens Mountain include Fish Lake, Wildhorse Lake, and Mann Lake. Fish Lake is accessible at Fish Lake Campground along the Steens Mountain Loop Road and is annually stocked by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife with rainbow trout. A residual population of brook trout is also present from historic stocking. Wildhorse Lake is accessible by a trail starting at the Wildhorse Lake Overlook, which is just off the Steens Mountain Loop Road near the summit. Wildhorse Lake provides angling for Lahontan cutthroat trout. The hike to the lake requires walking down (and back up) approximately 1 mile of steep trail. Mann Lake is accessible off the East Steens Road and attracts anglers as much for its remote, rugged splendor as for its abundant Lahontan cutthroat trout. These trout are supremely adapted to survive alkaline desert waters and without them fisheries like Mann Lake could not exist. Chickahominy Reservoir near Riley, Oregon – another angling favorite – is known for its large rainbow trout. The reservoir was first stocked in 1967 and is still stocked once or twice yearly with fingerlings and legal-size fish. The water level fluctuates with the amount of spring runoff, occasionally affecting the availability of fisheries. In most years, Chickahominy provides outstanding fishing opportunities. The main season of use is April to November, but ice fishing is popular in the late-winter months as well. Other popular fishing sites include:
Hunting
Hunting in Oregon's High Desert is one of the most popular recreation activities the Burns District offers. Hunters from near and far gather annually for rifle, bow, and muzzleloader seasons for a variety of big game hunts including deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep. The Burns District has portions of the Malheur River, Buelah, Silvies, Wagontire, Juniper, Beatys Butte, Steens Mountain and Whitehorse Hunt Units and serves hundreds of hunters each year. Other species typically up for hunt at various times of the year include cougar, bear, bobcat, upland game birds such as pheasant, chukar, wild turkey, and mountain quail, and migratory game birds such as goose and duck. Hunters are also known to search for rarely sighted feral pigs in the area and take aim at abundant coyotes on occasion. Controlled hunts generally begin mid-August and last at least through November. For more information on hunting in the Burns District, visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on the internet. Auto Touring
The vast expanse of public land within the Burns District lends itself nicely to auto tours of all kinds. The Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway (also known as the Steens Mountain Loop Road) is a very popular route. The nearly 60 mile loop – which begins and ends in Frenchglen, Oregon – affords access to four developed campgrounds, Kiger Gorge, East Rim, Big Indian Gorge, Wildhorse and Little Blitzen Gorge overlooks, fishing at Fish Lake and along the Donner und Blitzen River, wildflower and wild horse viewing, and an abundance of other sightseeing or photography opportunities. We recommend high clearance or 4x4 vehicles for the steep and rocky portion of the Steens Byway near South Steens Campground. The rest of the Steens Mountain Loop Road can accommodate passenger cars at lower speeds. High quality tires are a must for all vehicles! The Diamond Loop Backcountry Byway is another favorite for touring visitors. This Byway offers a variety of wildlife, historical landmarks, and fascinating natural formations. Traveling the 69-mile byway takes you through a patchwork of high desert terrains – from the deep blues of mountain vistas and the dusky sage-covered hills to the red rimrock canyons and the grassy reaches of marshes and valleys. If you are a wildlife watcher, keep an eye out for wild horses, mule deer, or pronghorn antelope. Bring along your binoculars to spot the waterfowl, shorebirds, hawks, and eagles that traverse the Pacific Flyway through the area. Whether you are exploring a lava flow, stopping at small historic towns, or passing the ranches scattered throughout the valleys between the Steens and Riddle mountains, you will travel back country roads that lead to attractions right out of the “Old West.” There are two places to access the Diamond Loop Back Country Byway: near the town of Princeton on State Highway 78 (north), or at the junction of State Highway 205 and Diamond Lane (west). We recommend filling up with fuel and food in Burns or at the Narrows before venturing around the byway. Lastly, remember much of southeast Oregon is open range – be prepared to share the byway with cattle and wildlife! Check out these other popular tour routes as well:
Wild Horse Viewing
There are over 1,000 wild horses roaming within eight Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in the Burns District. These areas present unique opportunities for viewing wild horse herds and their habitat. You can find colorful bands of wild horses scattered throughout the Burns District's eight beautiful HMAs: Palomino Buttes, Warm Springs, Kiger, Riddle Mountain, South Steens, Heath Creek/Sheepshead, Alvord-Tule Springs, and Stinkingwater. more>> Once excess wild horses in Oregon/Washington are gathered from the range, they are brought to Oregon's Wild Horse Corral Facility for preparation for the BLM's Adopt-A-Horse Program. Located just 3 miles from the Burns District Office along U.S. Highway 20, the Corral Facility is home to a wide variety of wild horses throughout the year, and occasionally a few burros as well. The Burns District is responsible for coordinating wild horse gathers and adoption events, and also for providing overall guidance regarding the management of wild horses in Oregon. The Facility is open for viewing weekdays, 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. more>> The Kiger Wild Horse Viewing area near Diamond is a popular overlook for visitors to catch a glimpse of mustangs in their natural habitat. Remember – the horses aren't always visible from the viewing area. Please don't plan a "for sure" sighting! The South Steens wild horse herd is generally the most visible to driving visitors. Travel along the southern portion of the Steens Mountain Loop Road, between Highway 205 and South Steens Campground, often results in wild horse sightings without leaving the car! Rock Collecting
A wide variety of rocks, minerals, and semi-precious gemstones is available for collection on 16 million acres of lands managed by OR/WA BLM. Most BLM lands are open to rock collecting, and some areas, such as the Glass Buttes obsidian area within the Prineville District and a public sunstone area in the Lakeview District, have been specifically set aside for this purpose. Collectors should note that there are some restrictions and a BLM permit may be required, depending on the amount of material you collect, how you collect it, where or when you collect it, and whether the material will be used commercially. The Glass Buttes obsidian area is the most popular and most accessible for visitors in the Burns District. The area is very rugged, remote, and primitive. The best way to access the butte is by turning south, off Highway 20 west, onto the dirt road at milepost 77 which leads to the interior. |
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