Join us while we explore the Alvord Desert, we’ll make our way to this beautiful 12×6 mile dried up lake bed to camp for a couple days this Memorial Day Weekend. Then we venture onward to explore Stonehouse Rd and Burnt Rd plateau before dropping back down for our final night at Ten Cent Lake, before rolling home. I may have mispoke in regards to extra fuel at the April meeting, I now recommend everyone plan to pack extra fuel, as I’ve charted over 130 miles from the lakebed to Burns, not to mention half of those miles will most likely be in 4 Lo (using more fuel).

Itinerary;

Fri May 23rd

Initial group leaving at 7 am from Trios Hospital Parking Lot @ 7:00 am (secondary group leaving Fri PM/Sat AM?)
Traveling to Pendleton via I-82/84, fueling and proceeding South on Hwy 395 to John Day (fuel) Continuing S on Hwy 395 to Burns (fuel/Lunch).

Leaving Burns we now continue South on Hwy 205 to Fields (fuel/snacks, before heading out on the lakebed to set-up camp.

Camp Coordinates (approximation)
42.56823, -118.40781

Sat May 24th

Lazy Day – Explore the lakebed and surrounding area, return to camp to meet up with those who couldn’t leave earlier. Camp fire and story telling.

Sun May 25th

Long Day Adventuring, Roll-out by 0800. Now we venture North, but first we must go east then north off the lakebed. Connecting up to Hwy 201 (gravel) to explore Stonehouse Road up into Virginia Valley, that connects to Burnt Flat Road up on the plateau, before descending back down to Ten Cent Lake for camp. Should be an easy/moderate day of only 63 miles, half gravel, half mountain goat. The mountain goat part (31 miles) will take up most of our day.

Stonehouse Road: 3 Miles/1 hr – Trail Rating 4

This trail leads from the valley below and provides access to the Steens Mountains. It’s a beautiful drive through a valley as it ascends the mountain. There is a spring that bubbles its way along as a creek. There are several water crossings and moss walls where the water seeps out. It’s fascinating to stop and watch. The trail is pretty rocky, with some off-camber sections and long steep loose hill climbs. There is one bar of LTE that fades in and out.

Stonehouse Road to Virginia Valley: 17 Miles/ 4 hrs – Trail Rating 3

This remote section of two tracks through the Northern Steens takes you past several old settlement cabins and along a section of the lesser traveled optional Oregon BDR route loop. The trail is beautiful and the two track is overgrown at points. The only difficult sections are possible through the low points of the trail. The trail goes through several sections of private ranching land, but crossing the property is allowed. At the end of the trail, you travel over a pass that could be snowed over in Spring and ends at a county-maintained gravel road. Expect to see motorcycle groups completing the BDR on weekends.

Burnt Flat Road: 11 Miles/ 2.5 hrs – Trail Rating 3

Mon May 26th

Fairly early start for home, Leave by 0900, first stop Burns (fuel 72 mi), and basically reverse of the trip down, John Day, Pendleton, Kennewick.

Hope to be home around 4 pm!

Need more info, check out the videos below!