| Wildflower Destinations > Southeastern Oregon |
Steens Mountain
Harney County, Oregon
Bureau of Land Management
Fees: none
Activity: drive + hiking
Elevation: 4193'-9733'
Current status (as of 10/14/24): not blooming
Notes: The entire Steens Mountain Loop Road (50+ miles) is full of roadside wildflowers that climb with elevation from May until September, although the highest parts of the road don't even open until June or July. (Pro tip: if you're there in the early season before the full road opens, the south leg of the loop has better scenery and a better chance of seeing wild horses.) For a relatively short hike to see even more flowers in peak season (July/August), you can't go wrong with Wildhorse Lake, which starts at 9500' and descends to 8430'. The area around Kiger Gorge Overlook is also worth exploring.
Peak wildflower bloom on Steens Mountain is typically from early July through the end of August, but there may be some flowers blooming from early June until the end of September.*
Typical year: 
Featured plants: Cirsium eatonii var. peckii, Castilleja pilosa var. steenensis, Potentilla versicolor
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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.
