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Steens Mountain Wilderness

General Location Contacts Area Management Wilderness Laws Trip Planning Images
A large barren alpine bowl, a small lake on the far side lies surrounded by green grass.
Library image #776: Wildhorse Lake in the main unit of the Wilderness

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Steens Mountain Wilderness (map) in 2000 and it now has a total of 170,166 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Oregon and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Description

Steens Mountain located in Oregon's high desert is one of the crown jewels of the state's wildlands. It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in Oregon.

Of the Wilderness acres designated by the public law that created this area, 98,859 acres are "cow-free", meaning that no grazing will be permitted.

Planning to Visit the Steens Mountain Wilderness?

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Steens Mountain Wilderness.
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  3. Dispose of Waste Properly
  4. Leave What You Find
  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
  6. Respect Wildlife
  7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.