Hike 124 - Pike Creek

Distance: 6.6 miles out and back

Elevation Gain: 1,600 feet

Trailhead elevation: 4,134 feet

Trail high Point: 5,622 feet

Season: May – October

Best: May – October (avoid midsummer heat)

Pass: none needed

On the traditional lands of: the Nüümü (Northern Paiute) people

Directions:

• From downtown Burns, drive east on OR 78 for 64.4 miles to a junction with Folly Farm Road. Turn right.

• This road soon becomes Fields-Denio Road as it follows the precipitous eastern face of Steens Mountain.

• Drive 38.7 miles of pavement and excellent gravel to the Pike Creek Trailhead on the right side of the road.

• If you’re driving here from Fields, drive north on OR 205 for 1.4 miles to a Y-junction with the East Steens Road. Continue straight to turn onto East Steens Road. Drive north for 11.2 miles of pavement and another 10 miles of gravel to Alvord Hot Springs. Check your odometer here. Continue 2 more miles to the Pike Creek Trailhead on the left.

• Drivetime from Burns: 1 hour and 50 minutes

Hike: This spectacular hike into canyon of Pike Creek has an argument for being the best hike in Southeast Oregon, and one of the best hikes in the state of Oregon. You follow an abandoned mining road into a colorful canyon of striated rock formations and May and June wildflowers. The snow-streaked summit cliffs of Steens Mountain tower above you, while Pike Creek and birdsong fill the air. This hike is high desert perfection.

Begin by crossing the gate at the trailhead. Follow this now-closed road uphill for 0.6 mile to the hike’s former trailhead, now blocked off by boulders. From here, cross Pike Creek and begin hiking uphill into the canyon. You may pass a few cows along the way but soon you’ll be climbing into Pike Creek’s narrow gorge. In May, masses of fragrant yellow lupine line the trail, spurring hikers along with their intoxicating aroma. As you hike through this canyon, keep your eyes and ears open for rattlesnakes on warm days. The trail drops to cross Pike Creek again, then commences climbing away from the creek at an irregular grade, sometimes quite steeply. Fantastic displays of balsamroot, blue and yellow lupine, red paintbrush, and wild cucumber help hikers take a break, and the steep walls of Steens Mountain’s summit crags tower above you. Look behind you for amazing views through Pike Creek’s narrow gorge to the Alvord Desert’s playa, where you will almost certainly see campers and trucks far out into the sands of this desert mecca.

At 2.5 miles from the trailhead, the forks of Pike Creek come into sight ahead of you. The way there is a rollercoaster of short ups and downs along a bench above the creek. Reach the forks at 3.3 miles, where a large rock tower splits Pike Creek in two. This is an incredibly peaceful place to stop, in a lush desert canyon beneath the towering walls of Steens Canyon. Backpackers will be disappointed to learn that there are few, if any campsites in this beautiful spot. The trail does continue beyond this point but becomes faint and brushy and does not lead to any better views. Instead, most hikers will be content to stop here. Return the way you came.

If you’re looking to explore the Alvord Desert after your hike, all you need is to find a place to pull off the road and walk onto the playa. You can even drive across it, but make sure it hasn’t rained recently. You can even camp on the playa, as many people do.

If you’re driving back through Fields, make sure you stop at Fields Station to top off your gas tank. While you’re there, you should order one of their famous milkshakes. They sell dozens of the massive shakes every day, with a wide variety of flavors. They are not to be missed!