The Alvord Desert is a desert located in Harney County, in southeastern Oregon in the Western United States. It is roughly southeast of Steens Mountain. The Alvord Desert is a 12-by-7-mile dry lake bed and averages 7 inches of rain a year.
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The Alvord Desert, located near the southeastern corner of Oregon, rivals the splendor and solitude of many of the better known desert playa landscapes in Nevada or California and is an under-appreciated jewel of the state of Oregon. With the Steens Mountain looming to the west, the alkali flat of the Alvord Desert is not only one of the largest in Oregon, but it is the most remote and sensationally wild. The flat stretches 6 miles wide and 11 miles long during the dry season after the runoff from the Steens has abide and the sun has scorched the playa to a truly dry and barren land. During the wet months, the playa is a shallow alkali lake posing a much contrasted scene from the more desirable desert landscape. Yet, year-round Mann Lake which is located below the east-face of the Steens Mountain is a desert oasis attracting anglers with its abundance of Lahonton cutthroat trout which have adapted to survive in the alkaline desert waters. Truly a destination for recreation, the Alvord Desert is popular for camping, hiking, land sailing, glider flying, recreational driving, photography, and wildlife viewing.
Most notable in the Alvord Desert playa is the ever-looming magnificence of the Steens Mountain. The Steens Mountain stretches along Harney County with its peak towering above the Alvord Desert. The summit is certainly impressive at 9,733 feet, but considering the valley floor of the Alvord Desert is already at 4,200 feet, the entire area is considered high desert. The length of the Steens Mountain is impressive and running 50 miles, it is often confused as a series of mountains. Yet, the majestic Steens is a single mountain and is the largest-fault block mountain in the northern Great Basin. Many animals make home on the Steens Mountain and surrounding valley. Bighorn sheep can be spotted on the rocky escarpments, along with pronghorn antelope, elk, mule deer, mountain lions, and golden eagles. There is no finer place in Oregon to view Steens Mountain than from the Alvord Desert. With its famous notch in the east ridge of Kiger Gorge, the basalt craggy peaks tower above the Alvord Desert with impressive prominence and grandeur.
The Alvord Desert is home to the Alvord Hot Springs which is privately owned, but open year-round for public use as a no-fee hot springs. The Alvord Hot Springs is a geothermal spring with a source temperature of 174 degrees, but thanks to a system of cooling pipes, it bubbles to the surface at a comfortable 112 degrees. This is a very rugged hot springs a few yards from the gravel East Steens Road. The concrete soaking pool has a partially covered seating area with much of the pool open to enjoy the views of the Alvord Desert. While not glamorous, this view of the Alvord Desert makes this hot springs exceptionally remarkable for a place to soak in this remote and...
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One of those places that you want to visit with an ancient cracked earth (playa) lakebed with dark skies in a very remote area of Oregon.
The vast expanse is twelve miles long at the base of the Steens Mountains and a great place to camp under the stars.
You can access the desert at Frog Springs or at the private Alvord Hot Springs.
The wide open spaces are perfect for driving your car, motorcycle, ATV, and windsurfing board across the playa during the dry season.
The quiet remote area has several thermal springs at Borax Lake to the south and Mickey and Alvord Hot Springs.
The Alvord Hot Springs are the only you can soak in with a day pass or overnight stay that allows access to the private road to the desert.
Located 105 miles from Burns on Oregon Route 78 and on Folly Farm Road, which becomes a dirt road, Fields- Denio Road.
One of the most beautiful unique places in Oregon with a vast moonlike cracked earth lakebed surrounded by towering mountains, hot springs,...
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I get so excited when I have elopement photography couples who want to elope on the Alvord Desert or in the Steens. The sights are otherworldly, and driving on the playa is a wild feeling.
The Alvord is unmatched when it comes to getting away from crowds, enjoying crystal clear starry skies, hearing coyotes off in the distance, and enjoying a soak in a hot spring.
It's accessible through a few different roads, some free (that require a little more vehicle clearance) or paid (Alvord Hot Springs has a road that sedans can easily access). Be cautious of the area around the hot springs! It's a $1500 tow bill just to get you unstuck from the wet ground due to the...
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