The road ends a half-mile below the very top of Steens Mountain, but the view from the summit warrants taking the extra steps.

At the summit, travelers can retrace the route to Frenchglen or complete the other 26 miles of the Steens Mountain loop road and return to Highway 205, about 10 miles south of Frenchglen.

Since the gravel road is covered with snow much of the time between November and early July, summer or early fall is a good time to make the drive. In some years, mosquitoes can be a bother. And be aware that the weather on the mountain can change quickly.

Overnight accommodations are limited. There are four BLM campgrounds and a private RV park.

For more information about the Steens Mountain and to obtain fee schedules:
 

• Bureau of Land Management, 28910 Highway 20 W., Hines, OR 97738; phone (541) 573-4400. Information on public camping facilities and dates, seasonal access to the loop road to the summit, map.
   

• Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 36391 Sodhouse Lane, Princeton, OR 97721; phone (541) 493-2612. Information on migratory bird seasons, wildlife, brochures. Headquarters and museum are 32 miles south of Burns on Highway 205; open 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
   

• Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Field Station, 34848 Sodhouse Lane, Princeton, OR 97721; phone (541) 493-2629. Information about study programs March-September and year-round mobile-home or dormitory housing.
   

• Desert Trail Association, P.O. Box 34, Madras, OR 97741. Desert Trail Guide series of hiking maps.  (A good guidebook for both the Steens Mountains and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is "Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas" by William L. Sullivan, The Mountaineers.)
   

• Steens Mountain Resort, Frenchglen, OR 97736; phone (541) 493- 2415. Private campground with full water and sewer hookups, rest-rooms and shower facilities. Open year round. Reservations recommended. Open March to mid-November.
   

• Frenchglen Historic Hotel, 39184 Hwy. 205, Frenchglen, OR 97736; phone (541) 493-2825. Eight family-style rooms, shared bath. Ranch house dinner, breakfast and lunch made to order. Reservations recommended. Open March to the first of November.
   

• Drover's Inn, 39220 Hwy. 205,  Frenchglen, OR 97736; phone (541) 493-2204.  Four air-conditioned units, each with one queen bed and private bath.  Meals can be purchased at the nearby Frenchglen Hotel.
   

• Hotel Diamond, 49130 Main Street, Diamond, OR 97722; phone (541) 493-1898. Thirty miles northeast of Frenchglen (five miles east of Highway 205). Rooms with private baths and rooms with shared bath. Food & fuel available. Open March to mid-November.
   

• McCoy Creek Inn, HC 72, Box 11, Diamond, OR 97722; phone (541) 493-2131. Three-bedroom home with shared bath - use of hot tube and hiking trails included.
   

 ROAD CONDITIONS ON STEENS MOUNTAIN

The North Side:  Starts at the junction of Page Springs Campground and ends approximately at Lily Lake.

• Mostly a two-lane road.  Can easily pass oncoming traffic.  Road condition good most of the year.  Road generally deteriorates sometime after August.  A fairly gradual grade.  Some limitations in seeing distances, especially before curves or hills.  Road has numerous vehicles during summer, i.e., trucks, vans, cars and buses.  Vehicle speeds are normally between 35 and 50 mph.

High Elevation North Side:  Begins at Lily Lake an ends approximately at the Wild Horse Lake road junction.

• Considered a single-lane road.  Must slow down to pass on-coming traffic.  Fairly good road.  Some limitation for seeing distance before curves and hills.  Vehicle pull outs are limited.  Some areas are very steep with no road side barricades.  Lots of vehicular traffic including buses.  Vehicles usually drive a safe speed, although frequent stops occur.  Users are distracted; drivers must use caution in this area.

Upper South Side:  Begins at the Wild Horse Lake road junction and ends approximately just before the steep rocky portion of the Rooster Comb area.

• Single-lane road.  Very limited pull outs.  Top portion is very steep and has very limited sight distance.  Viewing area, along with road steepness and traffic can be a distraction.  Lower portion of road is dirt with small protruding rocks in road bed.  Also, slippery when wet.

Rooster Comb Area:  Begins at the top of the steep rocky area and ends just above South Steens Campground.

• Very steep and narrow road.  Very steep drop offs.  No road side barricades or railing.  Rocks on road with un-surfaced (dirt) roadway.  Protruding large rocks in road bed.  Slippery when wet.  Persons may feel fright at steepness.

South Side:  Begins at Highway 205 and ends at South Steens Campground.

• Two-lane road except for bridges.  Fairly gradual grades except for Black Canyon and Blitzen Crossing.  Very loose gravel which can pose a hazard, especially on grades and curves.  Road is in good condition after grading.  Awful to horrible during most of summer due to "wash boarding" (bumps).  Vehicle speeds are generally very fast.