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You want a quiet forest base for exploring Steens Mountain's trails and wildlife with fall's mild days and clear skies.
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Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
51 campsites
Season
Mid-May through mid-...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
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Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
51 campsites
Season
Mid-May through mid-...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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28910 Hwy 20 West, Burns District Office, Hines, OR, 97738, USA
You want a quiet forest base for exploring Steens Mountain's trails and wildlife with fall's mild days and clear skies.
You need paved access or prefer campgrounds with active rule enforcement and easy navigation.
Context for the broader area surrounding South Steens Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record. View official page →
<h2>Overview:</h2>The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (CMPA) is approximately 500,000 acres of private and public land offering diverse scenic and recreation experiences. The CMPA encompasses deep glacier-carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, and a way of life for all who live there. The 52-mile Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway provides access to four campgrounds, numerous trails, the Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District, wild horse roaming areas, and opportunities for fishing and hunting. The views from Kiger Gorge, East Rim, Big Indian Gorge, Wildhorse, and Little Blitzen Gorge overlooks are not to miss!<h2>Know Before You Go:</h2><ul><li>There are long distances between services and amenities, such as fuel, drinking water, restrooms and cell phone reception.</li><li>Most roads in the area are rough and primitive, high clearance or 4x4 vehicles along with high quality tires are recommended.</li><li>The remote nature and vast landscape of the area may leave even the most experienced traveler confused or lost. Traveling with a current map of the area is essential.</li></ul><h2>Point of Interest:</h2>The Steens Mountain CMPA is a mixture of public and private lands and specially designated areas where particular regulations may apply. Obey road closure signs and stay on designated open routes (which are those shown on current BLM maps) driving off road is prohibited. Respect land owners and always get permission to go onto private property.<br><br><a href=" https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/BUR_steensmtncmpa_brochure.pdf"> Steens Mountain Cooperative Management & Protection Area Brochure</a>
From Burns, take State Highway 78 southeast for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. Just past Frenchglen, turn left onto the Steens Mountain Loop Road.
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Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of mild daytime temperatures, clear skies, and low crowds at South Steens — ideal for long hikes, wildlife viewing and horseback rides along the fault-block escarpment. Expect daytime highs in September typically 50–70°F and October highs around 40–60°F with crisp nights often dropping into the 20s–30s°F; these conditions make for comfortable hiking and excellent raptor and antelope watching as animals become more active preparing for winter. Trail visibility and Peak months: September, October, June, May Avoid: November, December, January, February
Fall delivers best conditions; September noted as particularly quiet with mild days and clear skies.
South Steens Campground provides 36 family campsites equipped with picnic tables and grills amid juniper and sagebrush. There are also 15 equestrian sites with tie posts and small corrals for recreational stock (horses, mules, llamas, goats, etc.), which are not allowed in the family portion but are welcome in the equestrian area. Vault toilets and potable drinking water are available on-site. Fire pits at campsites are noted to be updated and often exempt from certain burn bans. Trash facilities are available near the entrance.
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