Description
The Alvord Desert in southeastern Oregon is a massive dry lake bed stretching for miles along the east side of Steens Mountain, and it’s one of the most unique riding destinations in the Northwest. When dry, the playa becomes a huge, flat open expanse where you can ride for miles with Steens Mountain towering above you to the west. Getting there from Idaho usually involves long stretches of empty highway and remote gravel roads, often combined with stops at Fields Station, Alvord Hot Springs, and the Steens Mountain Loop Road. Weather can change conditions quickly — when wet the playa becomes impassable mud — but when it’s dry, it’s an unforgettable place and a bucket-list destination for many adventure riders.
More Information
- Alvord Hot Springs: https://alvordhotsprings.com/
- Steens Mountain Loop Road: https://www.blm.gov/visit/steens-mountain-loop-road
- Fields Station (fuel, food): https://fieldsstation.com/
- Willow Creek Hot Springs: https://soakoregon.com/willow-creek-hot-springs/
This is one of the most remote-feeling places you can ride to in Oregon without being truly off the grid.
Coordinates: 42.507525, -118.530423
Elevation: 4050 ft
Difficulty: 1
What to Expect:
Check In
Use the form below to check in. Check-ins must include a photo of you or your bike at the challenge site with the 2026 bandanna. All participants must be registered IAMC Challenge Members. Leave a description of your ride and share road conditions — snow, water, obstacles, and tips for future riders are all appreciated.
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The stated difficulty is an estimate. Rating your experience helps future riders stay safe. You alone are responsible for the safety of your ride.
5 Check-Ins
This was a truly trippy place. I've never done the dry lake bed thing before, but I will be going back to this place. The surface looks like loose sand from a distance (like the East Rim Overlook) but it's pretty hard as the photo suggests. A fun must-do kind of a place. The gravel road to it is fast and graded.....nice road for sure.
The most fun you can have with your Adv pants on! We happened to arrive as an overlander group was also exploring the playa. Bumped into them at Fields Station and Mickey Hot Springs. Managed to get the drone caught in a Dust Devil and it was not happy. Also managed to get up to 'not very legal' speeds. Glad it was dry after the recent storms.
The surface of the Alvort Desert is different than anything I’ve experienced before. It looks like it could be slick, but I had good traction and could make fast wide. Turns. It was fun.
