6.4 hr
Overview
Big Indian Gorge is arguably the most accessible of the classically carved glacial valleys on Steens Mountain . As far as Big Indian Cottonwoods Camp , the trail follows an easy gradient on an old jeep road used to supply stockmen who spent their springs and summers surrounded by the stunning landscape. (The road is returning to sagebrush in its upper reaches, so you won’t really notice you are on it.) If you hike as far as the camp, you will be getting magnificent views of the gorge headwall with its multiple waterfalls. And if you spend a couple of nights at the camp, you can take a day to hike to the upper end of the gorge to view the alpine cascades close up. Others backpack the gorge as the first stage of a loop that ascends to the summit of Steens Mountain and then returns along the Little Blitzen Gorge . Spring is the time to see the waterfalls and also the wildflower displays in the meadows along the trail, but there are three creek crossings which may involve fords, so be prepared to take your boots off and do some wading (see Tips for Crossing Streams )! By mid-summer, you may not need to ford the creeks, but it will be very hot, so the next best time to visit is early fall. At all times of year, wear long pants as woody sagebrush overhangs the trail and will gouge your flesh if it’s not well protected.
Trail Stats
20.9 km
453 m
1966 m
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Photos
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