Get Lost!
Adventure Tours in the Owyhee Desert
by
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Eastern Oregon, Southwest Idaho and Northern Nevada represent some of the most remote riding possibilities in all of the lower contiguous United States. Comprised of mainly high altitude desert, or steppes, this area of interest is one of the largest tracts of unimproved land in the lower 48. Bordered by the Snake River Plain to the east, the Jarbidge Mountains to the south, and the Owyhee River canyons to the west. This area is host to dry arid sagebrush, jagged granite spires, dark canyons, volcanic lava beds, juniper forests, and a stillness that has led many to call it "The Big Quiet". Not for the faint of heart, this land has had settlers and immigrant historical implications for hundreds of years. Their marks are still here for all to see.
Dual sport motorcycles, adventure riding, or whatever tag you put on it has opened up a whole new array of access to this wild and lonely land. With only fuel availability restricting the range of discovery, the average rider can enjoy this vast land and all it has to offer. The area is crisscrossed with old roads and trails. From maintained gravel roads at the high end of use, to faint double tracks that are whispers of a direction at the seldom-used end. Terrain includes spectacular vistas, flat "tables", deep shadowed canyons, and tree lined mountaintops. Wildlife abounds, with deer, antelope, and coyotes howling in the starlit night skies. Constantly changing, the area offers a fantastic choice for the rider to enjoy, and explore. With the burgeoning group of dual sport riders, bikes, equipment, and technical mapping info, the adventure rider now has at his fingertips this entire region to enjoy. Chapter 5 Desert Riding With over 6 ½ million, that’s right 6 ½ MILLION acres to explore, this land we call the Owyhee is huge. Over 2 million acres comprise the rivers and canyon complexes of the Owyhee, Bruneau, and Jarbidge alone. This is truly big country. As Sal Fish said about the land that makes up the longest point to point desert off road race in the world, the Baja 1000, "…it’s not for wussies!" The same can be said for the Owyhee and all its vastness. I remember a nice evening ride up to Spanish Charley. It was warm and calm, we were dressed in typical summer riding pants and jerseys. We watched the lightning flashes to the west and were amazed at the colors of the sky. Minutes later the sky exploded around us and the rain and hail came down. We rode crazily for a rock outcropping, slipping and sliding on the instantly muddy trail, abandoned our bikes, and ran for cover, squeezing together under what shelter we could find. We emerged 20 minutes later, cold, shivering, soaked, and acutely aware that we would be negotiating many rough spots in the dark before we made it back to the car that night. A rider must be entirely self-sufficient, totally self supported and willing to deal with the setbacks that are sure to come. This is adventure riding in the simplest, the truest form. Flat tires, mechanical difficulties, or becoming lost are simple items at the local trailhead. They are small issues with the car just over the hill in the parking lot. However, 120 miles from the nearest asphalt is not the time to learn how to change a flat tire with your new trail tire irons that you have never used before. Would you like to find out that the Phillips screwdriver you have as an attachment to your fancy tool won’t reach your carburetor bowl screws 90 miles out when your gas begins to leak? You must learn to think outside the box. The rules are not written, and those that are, well, they usually aren’t followed. The responsibility lies with you, the rider, and no one else. YOU MUST NEVER FORGET THIS! Granted, you will be found, but how many days later and in what condition is anyone’s guess. I can’t say it any plainer; people die out here! Route description: ß 43°37'48" N, 117°03'38" W Follow south on well-maintained gravel road. à 43°33'28" N, 117°06'37" W access to Camp Kettle Cr., Three Fingers Rock & Owyhee Reservoir ß 43°27'13" N, 117°07'13" W Succor Cr. Bridge. Eastern access to Jump Cr. areas. ß 43°25'51" N, 117°07'08" W Succor Cr. ford. à 43°23'36" N, 117°07'45" W Western access to Negro Rock, Horse Trap Spring, McIntyre Ridge à 43°19'15" N, 117°06'56" W Western access to Steamboat Ridge, Leslie Gulch Mainly good gravel roads, Succor Creek Canyon boasts some of the most colorful and stunning spires, cliff faces and jagged rocks in the area. Fossil beds, opals, and thunder eggs are native to the area. The road is also a main access point to many side trails. A state park with camping and outhouse facilities is also available at the bridge. (Note, the bridge is closed to full size vehicles, but bikes are still able to cross it) After leaving the Rockville area, the road winds back east to Hwy 95 and the asphalt.
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About the Book
The Owyhee Desert is a vast expanse covering much of Southwest Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Nevada. It represents a wild frontier for dual sport riding and touring. The area is famous for its rough but spectacular terrain, and its vivid history. Now, finally, a guidebook to what many have referred to as the most remote piece of real estate outside of Alaska. A guidebook that combines over 30 specific ride destinations with trail info, turn-by-turn GPS coordinates, mapping information, local history, bike set up, and an overview of over 6 million acres. Get Lost! will provide the adventure rider with a multitude of rides and information specific to this amazing area. From beginner to expert, this guide covers all the bases. Loaded with local history and anecdotes, the Owyhee Desert is famous for its western culture and Wild West lifestyle. Visit scenic Ghost Towns, remote rivers, dark canyons, wide-open steppes, hundred-year-old ranches and homesteads. See for yourself the challenges early immigrants and settlers faced and experienced. Smell the sage and hear the big quiet. Not much has changed since then. Lonely roads are waiting for you to explore. The time is now. Never has so much information been available in one easy to use guide. So saddle up your iron steed, pick a wild and lonely destination, and hit the trail. What are you waiting for? Go on, Get Lost! in the Owyhee Desert.
About the Author
Steve Silva has been wandering around the Owhyee Desert for over 30 years. His travels have led him in search of hunting grounds for game, for birds, for rivers to run, rocks to climb, canyons to explore, and trails to travel. With over 35 years of outdoor experience and backcountry expertise, this grand vista has continued to lure him into its lonely and remote places. From the early days of driving four wheel drive vehicles, to todays fuel and time efficient dual sport motorcycles, the access has been changing, but the landscape has not. This land is not for everyone, but for the true "desert rat", it is a place to renew and refresh the spirit. This guidebook fulfills a niche that has been lacking for many years. Enjoy this lonley and vast land, as you leave only tracks, take only pictures and travel throughout the great and magnificent Owyhee Desert.