Steens Mountain Loop Road, Frenchglen, Oregon

Eine landschaftlich besonders schöne Straße im Südosten von Oregon. Die in Frenchglen beginnende Steens Mountain Loop Road (59 Meilen Gravelroad) ist Oregons höchstgelegene Straße.

Für Wohnmobile möchte ich die Loop Road aber nicht empfehlen - wir fuhren sie mit einem Truck Camper.

Steens Mountain makes you feel like you are on top of the world. At nearly 10,000ft in elevation and not being well known, the Steens will make you to feel like you’re in a truly remote place. It offers a great view of the sunset and if you stay at night will offer the one best stargazing in all of the U.S. as Steens Mountain claims the darkest skies in all of the lower 48 states. It takes about 2hrs. to travel the 50 miles out and back with ~5000ft. of elevation gain.

https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/recreation/steens-mtn.php

https://www.theoutbound.com/oregon/chillin/drive-the-steens-mountain-loop

http://www.oregon.com/recreation/steens-mountain

http://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/2478482-151/travel-steens-mountain...

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/travel/outdoors/2013/08/22/steens-...

Bis Frenchglen ist die OR 205 - der High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway - asphaltiert.

Ab Frenchglen beginnt der Steens Mountain Loop, der von der OR 205 beim Frenchglen Hotel abgeht und nach ca. 60 Meilen südlich von Frenchglen wieder auf die OR 205 trifft. 

Am Loop gibt es ein paar Stichstraßen zu Aussichtspunkten, wie den Kiger Gorge Overlook, etwa 2690 Meter hoch.

Campgrounds:

https://onda.org/where-we-work/steens/visitors-guide/where-to-stay-in-th...

Directions:

From Burns follow State Route 205 south for about 60 miles to Frenchglen. The Steens scenic loop road is found at the south end of town. This loop is Sixty-six miles long and the first half of the loop is gravel and pretty rough. Low clearance vehicles like Subarus and Hondas will do fine until September, or even into November if snow comes late in the year. Most of the good views that can be enjoyed from the first part of the loop are Fish Lake, The Kiger Gorge, and the Steens Mountain Summit

The second half of the loop road needs to be traveled using a vehicle with high clearance and four wheel drive. This last half travels down the sidewall of Big Indian Gorge along a feature called the Roosters Comb offering some nice views back towards the summit and gorgeous views of Big Indian Gorge, but much of the mountain can be seen and enjoyed without ever traveling this second half of the loop.