When you think of Oregon, you probably think of lush, green locations like those near Crater Lake (link), Columbia River Gorge, Silver Falls State Park (link), Portland (link), or something rocky along the Oregon coast, but there are some starkly beautiful landscapes in Southeastern Oregon that are worth checking out.
#1 – Succor Creek State Natural Area
This deep, rocky canyon is a remote haven well known to rock hounds, searching for thundereggs – the spherical geodes that contain agates and other beautiful minerals. In fact, limited souvenir collecting by rock hounds is permitted in the park.
If cracking open rocks isn’t of interest to you, it is also a green oasis where birders will find a plethora of species. You might also spot bighorn sheep or mule deer.
There is primitive camping (no water, electricity, toilets, rangers, TV or cell phone services) in the area and the rough, 15-mile road in and out is a fun mountain biking road with lots of unique rock formations. There are also a few nice walks.
#2 – Leslie Gulch
About 15.5 million years ago a series of violent volcanic explosions deposited rhyolite ash and rock fragments into areas known today as the Mahogany Mountain Caldera and the Three Fingers Caldera. Leslie Gulch lies within the Mahogany Mountain Caldera and its steep slopes, honeycombed walls and fanciful spires were formed after years of wind, water, and ice erosion. Leslie Gulch is just one of the interesting features in the Owyhee Canyonlands in the area.
We enjoyed driving through this 8-mile protected area, but loved hiking it the next day even more! It’s important to note that weather can be a factor here as the area is prone to flash flooding. These floods and sometimes ice can tear up the road so RVers need to be aware that low clearance vehicles can be problematic and because the road is winding and narrow there are few opportunities to turn around.
#3 – Alvord Desert
The washboard road on the way to the Alvord Desert seemed endless so when we finally arrived I was less than impressed, but looking back on the experience I have to admit it is a highly unusual and alluring location. Sometimes its desolation is serene and when the clouds roll in, foreboding.
At 4,000 feet in elevation, it is separated rom the Pacific Ocean by the Coast Range and the Cascade Mountains. These mountains along with the Steens Mountain (nearest the area), create a rain shadow effect over this Southeastern Oregon dry lakebed / desert. Doug took a glider trip to this area in his late teens and it left a lasting impression on him. It is a unique and starkly beautiful place. Camping is allowed on the dry lakebed.
If you look up any history on the area, its most known for hosting speed trials and racking events due to its flat surface. Kitty O’Neil set the woman’s land speed record here at 512mph in 1976. The record was beaten by Jessi Combs in 2019 who was travelling at 522mph. She died while making back and forth runs to beat O’Neil’s record.
One thing that surprised me about the extraordinarily dry area is that there is a lot of geothermal activity surrounding it. Alvord Hot Springs is along the western edge, Mickey Hot Springs is north, and there are an assortment of bubbling mud, pools, and the occasional geyser. To the east are a string of about 40 unnamed natural hot springs along the 25-mile Alvord Fault.
When we left the Alvord Desert we headed slightly north and west. A stop in Burns for lunch afforded a look at this old pressed tin roof. The unsettled weather followed us as we made our way to the Chickhominy Reservoir for an overnight stay.
These three off-the-beaten-path locations in Southeastern Oregon were fun to explore. You can see a different side of Oregon by heading east and these three stops are worth at a visit next time you’re passing through.
