Come explore some of the most remote stretches of the American West - Owyhee Canyonlands. It’s a region of the state that’s far from Oregon's signature moss-covered forests and verdant valleys.
The Canyonlands encompass 2 million acres of sagebrush hills, rivers and canyons. The geology varies, from towering red pinnacles at Leslie Gulch, to fresh lava flows at Jordan Crater. It’s a vast, untamed stretch of land, ready to be explored by the adventurous.
Three must-visit places:
Honeycombs – Come ready to boulder amid large spires, steep canyons and rocks fields surrounded by cottonwoods and juniper. The area’s rocky formations were formed by volcanic tuff, and invite intrepid hikers to spend hours – or days - wandering through dizzying formations.
Chalk Basin – Get ready for a colorful hike through the basin, where black volcanic basalt layers mix with red and cream sediment to make gorgeous rock art formations.
Leslie Gluch – Enjoy this hike through otherworldly rock formations and rare plant species – some of which only grow in this area. It’s a rocky space with mostly uphill-downhill trails, but worth it if you can catch a glimpse of the bighorn sheep roaming the land. Another wonderful hike is the Juniper Gulch Trail. Learn more here: https://www.shareoregon.com/en/listings/124863-hiking-juniper-gulch-trail
Before heading to the Owyhee Canyonlands, be ready for a true backcountry trip – there are only scattered campgrounds, no cell services, and some trails don’t have fresh water. But also be ready to enjoy some of the most pollution-free skies in the country.
More information here: http://wildowyhee.org/
Rick
9 years agoWOW--spectacular canyon country that rivals anything in Utah or other parts of the West that are much more crowded. Thanks for sharing, Nastacia--gotta love Eastern Oregon!