Lakeview to Steens Mountain Back Country Byway Overview

Mountain Reflections in the Warner Wetlands (OR) [1]

The Lakeview to Steens Mountain Back Country Byway offers panoramic views of Oregon’s high Great Basin Desert. In the distance, snowcapped mountains hover over remote horizons, while mirages shimmer in the hot desert sun above dry lakebeds. Sagebrush grows so thick that it appears as a gray carpet blanketing rolling hills, broken by an occasional canyon or rim rock lava flow.

As you begin the 91-mile byway just north of Lakeview, drive east through forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir in Fremont National Forest. Soon, you’ll find yourself in the Warner Mountains, where you’ll sharply ascend to Warner Pass. Stop in the city of Plush during business hours to fill up and snag a few last-minute items at the general store. Race a pronghorn antelope as you travel through the Hart Mountain National Antelope refuge, and watch for mule deer, bighorn sheep, large birds of prey, and, of course, antelope herds. You’ll also find a variety of wildlife in Warner Valley wetlands, so be sure to have your camera ready!

Recreational opportunities abound along the byway, including camping, hiking, rock hounding, and hot springs. For an ideal travel experience, visit the byway in summer or autumn. Let your curiosity take you to Steens Mountains Back Country Byway, where a desert landscape dotted with pronghorn antelope herds and volcanic rock beds contrasts starkly with white powdered mountain peaks in the distance.