Owyhee Uplands Back Country Byway

The Owyhee Uplands Back Country Byway is one of those roads you want to drive in the summer, with a full gas tank and extra food and water. The eastern end of the byway is at Grand View, the western end at Jordan Valley, Oregon, about 103 miles away, not "as the crow flies" but as this gravel road makes its way around the southern end of the Owyhee Mountains. In between there are lots of sights, lots of wildlife and some good camping but not much else.

Much of this countryside is made of volcanic rock that was deposited about 8 million years ago. Since then, the countryside has been eroded into some great canyons, big mountains and a few odd shapes... This is also high desert: barren, dry and easily made impassable by a bit of moisture. But if you're willing to dare it, this is some gorgeous countryside that you just might have all to yourself.

Starting from Grand View on the Snake River, you're going to be driving BLM gravel road the whole way. About 8 miles south of Grand View you'll come to the abandoned Turmes Ranch. Settled in the 1880's Turmes Ranch was once upon a time a traveler's way station, back when this area was being scoured by gold and silver prospectors.

Beyond Turmes Ranch, you'll be heading up Shoofly Canyon and into the real Owyhee Uplands. This is a large area of desert with steep red-rock walls rising above streambeds cut deep into the ground. The steep, stark Owyhee Mountains rise up to the north and in between are huge areas of scrub, sagebrush and wildflowers. A lot of folks think this area is what the West is supposed to look like, and if you're one of those, you're in for a treat. Passing by some fantastical rock shapes and over deep canyons you'll eventually come to the (primitive) North Fork Campground on the North Fork of the Owyhee River. This is about 31 miles south of the end of the byway at Jordan Valley, OR.

From the campground, the route runs close to the rim of the North Fork Canyon and offers some incredible views of the Owyhee Mountains rising in the background above that canyon dropping below. Apparently, this area sees lots of photographers pulled over on the side of the road, doing their thing.

Jordan Valley has limited services available but you will find pavement there (US Highway 95), and if you go right (north), it's about 50 miles back to "civilization." The only time you can drive the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway is from April into November, as long as it isn't raining and hasn't been for a while. The best seasons are early summer and fall.