BLM Sites For Astronomy Oregon

Steens Mountain Astronomy Oregon
Steens Mountain

Posted By: Mike R November 28, 2024

This article will examine which BLM sites in Oregon are good choices for astronomy in some form. There are 203 sites BLM managed sites in Oregon, which is more than in Washington but slightly fewer sites than in Idaho.

Please be aware there are sites like the Lower Deschutes River Back Country Byway, which can fall into multiple recreation opportunities and categories such as cars, floating, and camping.

Please do your appropriate research about conditions, expected weather, and such before going. We are not responsible that things will be good for you, but rather that these are options that we would definitely consider. Public access is closed for Valley of the Giants Outstanding Natural Area.

There are several unique areas that fall into a general other category that are designated and managed for specific purposes.

There are 7 automotive related BLM sites in Oregon. There may be potential opportunities for doing some sort of astrophotography along the sides of these roads using a camera. And if there could be sites in these areas that work for small telescopes.

  1. Lower Crooked River Back Country Byway
  2. China Ditch Automobile Loop
  3. South Fork John Day River Back Country Byway
  4. Cow Creek Back Country Byway
  5. Galice-Hellgate Back Country Byway
  6. Lower Crooked River Back Country Byway
  7. Nestucca River Recreation Area

At the time of writing due to wildfire damage, so please check back later to see if they fit your need.

  1. ELKHORN VALLEY RECREATION SITE
  2. Millpond Recreation Site
  3. MILLPOND PAVILION
  4. ROCK CREEK PAVILION
  5. Rock Creek Recreation Site

There are 24 Day Use Area only sites, which will NOT work for astronomy. Interesting fact: there are nearly as many day use sites in Oregon as total BLM sites in Washington (28).

  1. Susan Creek Falls Trail and Day-Use Area
  2. Swiftwater Day-Use Area
  3. Old Miner’s Meadow Group Use Area
  4. FISHERMENS BEND
  5. Upper Lone Pine Day-Use Area
  6. John Day River Day Use Permits
  7. Oakbrook Day Use Area
  8. Nena Day Use Area
  9. Greenwood Day-Use Area
  10. Hyatt Lake Recreation Area
  11. Klamath Hills Recreation Area
  12. Wood River Wetland
  13. Huntington Wagon Road
  14. Black Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern
  15. Bastendorff Beach
  16. Provolt Recreation Site
  17. Missouri Bend Recreation Site
  18. Mill Creek Recreation Site
  19. Rainie Falls Overlook
  20. Table Rocks Area of Critical Environmental Concern
  21. Shotgun Creek Recreation Site
  22. North Bank Habitat Management Area
  23. South Fork Walla Walla River ACEC
  24. New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern

There are 2 Hot Springs sites that are on BLM managed land.

  1. Mickey Hot Springs
  2. Snively Hot Springs Recreation Site

There are 24 sites that are water related, whether they be boating specific, only accessible by water access, or have other additional activities depends on the specific location.

  1. John Day Wild and Scenic River
  2. Donnelly Service Creek River Access Park
  3. Buckhollow Boat Ramp
  4. Dogwood Picnic Area — right next to the river
  5. Silver Creek Boat Landing
  6. Rogue River Wild Section
  7. Chickahominy Recreation Site
  8. Lower Deschutes River Boater Pass
  9. Sandy Wild and Scenic River
  10. Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River
  11. Elkhorn Creek Wild and Scenic River
  12. Powder Wild and Scenic River
  13. North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River
  14. South Fork Clackamas Wild and Scenic River
  15. Lower Deschutes River Back Country Byway
  16. North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River
  17. Wallowa & Grande Ronde Wild and Scenic Rivers
  18. Kiger Creek Wild and Scenic River
  19. Middle Deschutes Wild and Scenic River
  20. Owyhee Wild & Scenic River
  21. Salmon Wild and Scenic River
  22. Clackamas Wild and Scenic River
  23. Rogue Wild & Scenic River
  24. Hult Dam & Reservoir

There are 37 trails that BLM manages in Oregon.

  1. Baker Cypress Trail
  2. Lower Table Rock-Oak Savannah Trail
  3. Old Growth Ridge National Recreation Trail
  4. East Applegate Ridge Trail
  5. Enchanted Forest/Felton Trail
  6. Carpenter Bypass Trail System
  7. Row River Trail
  8. The Doerner Fir Trail
  9. Sterling Mine Ditch Trail
  10. Cathedral Hills Trail System
  11. Rogue River National Recreation Trail
  12. Jack-Ash Trail
  13. Pacific Crest Trail
  14. Steelhead Falls Trail
  15. Mountain of the Rogue Trail System
  16. Rainie Falls Trail
  17. Trout Creek Trail
  18. Mule Creek Trail
  19. Grizzly Peak Trail
  20. Dry River Canyon Trail
  21. Maston Trail System
  22. Chimney Rock Trail
  23. Threemile Creek Trail
  24. Buck Prairie Nordic Trail System
  25. Blue Ridge Trail System
  26. Cascade View Trail System
  27. Eight Dollar Mountain Botanical Wayside
  28. Sterling Mine Ditch Trail/ACEC
  29. Crack-In-The-Ground
  30. The North Spit
  31. WILDWOOD RECREATION no SITE
  32. North Fork Crooked Wild and Scenic River
  33. McKenzie River Corridor
  34. Wolf Creek Recreation Area
  35. West Eugene Wetlands
  36. Lower Lake Creek Falls
  37. Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside

There are 38 campgrounds, which is greater than the total number of BLM managed sites in the entirety of the state of Washington!

  1. Park Creek Campground
  2. Fawn Creek Campground
  3. Vincent Creek Campground
  4. Smith River Falls Campground
  5. Edson Creek Campground (OR)
  6. Alsea Falls Recreation Site (Campground)
  7. Eagleview Group Campground
  8. Susan Creek Campground
  9. Big Bend Campground
  10. Mecca Flat Campground
  11. Lone Pine Campground
  12. Elderberry Flat Campground
  13. Chimney Rock Campground
  14. Duncan Reservoir Campground
  15. Topsy Campground
  16. Green Mountain Campground
  17. Cobble Rock Campground
  18. Jackman Park Campground
  19. Castle Rock Campground
  20. Stillwater Campground
  21. Palisades Campground
  22. Post Pile Campground
  23. South Steens Campground
  24. Fish Lake Campground
  25. Poison Butte Campground
  26. Page Springs Campground
  27. Edson Creek Camping
  28. Trout Creek Campground
  29. Lone Pine Group Campground
  30. Rattlesnake Canyon Campground
  31. Long Bend Campground
  32. Muleshoe Campground
  33. Chukar Park Campground
  34. Slocum Creek Campground
  35. Lone Pine Campground
  36. Big Bend Campground
  37. Twin Springs Campground
  38. Devil’s Canyon Campground
  39. John Day River Overnight Permits
  40. East Shore Recreation Site
  41. Clay Creek Recreation Site

There are 10 OHV Areas.

  1. Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area
  2. Millican Valley OHV Trail System
  3. Virtue Flat Off-Highway Vehicle Area
  4. Barr North Staging Area
  5. Corral Off Highway Vehicle Staging Area
  6. Alfalfa Curves Off Highway Vehicle Staging Area
  7. Reservoir Road Off Highway Vehicle Play Area
  8. Snake River-Mormon Basin Back Country Byway
  9. Lost Forest/Dunes/Fossil ACEC
  10. The North Spit

The following site has limited access.

  1. Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District

The following spot can be a good opportunity if there are sites nearby.

  1. Surveyor Recreation Site part of the birding trail and could work if good nearby spots

And there are 38 Spots

  1. Steens Mountain Wilderness
  2. Lakeview
  3. Lake Abert and Abert Rim
  4. Leslie Gulch Area of Critical Environmental Concern
  5. John Day Crossing Historic Site
  6. Rogue River Ranch National Historic Site
  7. Christmas Valley Back Country Byway — near the road, but a good spot for some photography and small telescopes
  8. Historic Shirk Ranch — Open June to October. Be careful getting there
  9. Sutton Mountain and Pat’s Cabin Wilderness Study Areas — good for photography
  10. Pechuck Lookout
  11. Three Forks
  12. Gerber Recreation Area
  13. Redmond Caves Recreation Site — near an airport, so not the worst spot if one can only be in the area
  14. Jordan Craters Area of Environmental Concern
  15. Birch Creek Historic Ranch
  16. Priest Hole Recreation Site
  17. Macks Canyon Recreation Site
  18. Reynolds Pond Recreation Site
  19. Spring Recreation Site
  20. Wild Rogue Wilderness
  21. Quartzville Back Country Byway
  22. LOON LAKE RECREATION SITE — good spots in the area that aren’t covered with trees
  23. Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River
  24. Donner und Blitzen Wild and Scenic River
  25. Warner Wetlands — Potentially
  26. Wildhorse Creek Wild and Scenic River– must hike in
  27. Crooked Wild and Scenic River
  28. Molalla — has potential to be a good area
  29. Quartzville Creek Wild and Scenic River
  30. Table Rock Wilderness
  31. Oregon Badlands Wilderness
  32. Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway — assuming no cars are nearby. Since close to Painted Hills
  33. Hells Canyon Wilderness
  34. Spring Basin Wilderness
  35. Lower White River Wilderness
  36. Diamond Craters Outstanding Natural Area
  37. White Wild and Scenic River
  38. South Fork John Day Wild and Scenic River
  39. Soda Mountain Wilderness

What do you think? Did we miss anything? We have a list of great astronomy sites for the Pacific Northwest and other US states, so check those out too. Let us know in the comments below or via social media. We post articles regularly, on a weekly basis, so come back next week for more articles like this.

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