Unit 69 Steens Mtn
The mile-high Steens Mountain fault block over the Alvord Desert — a wilderness-backed unit of California bighorn, mule deer, and pronghorn.
Southeast Oregon — Steens/high desert · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,910
sq mi
Public land
69%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–9,700
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
The Steens Mountain Unit (69) is built around Steens Mountain, a 30-mile fault-block that rises to roughly 9,700 feet and drops in a sheer mile-high east face to the Alvord Desert, the driest, lowest ground in Oregon. The unit runs from Burns south through Frenchglen and the Blitzen Valley to the Andrews country, wrapping the mountain and its surrounding sage basins. Glacially carved gorges, aspen-lined creeks, alpine tundra up high, and vast sagebrush and playa flats below make it one of the most dramatic hunting landscapes in the state. At about 69% public — dominated by BLM including the 170,000-acre Steens Mountain Wilderness — it is prime California bighorn sheep country with quality mule deer in the gorges and rims and pronghorn on the flats.
Terrain
Enormous vertical relief: sagebrush basins and the Alvord playa near 4,000 feet rising to alpine tundra on the Steens summit near 9,700 feet. The mountain is deeply cut by U-shaped glacial gorges — Kiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, Wildhorse — with rimrock, talus, and a dramatic escarpment plunging to the desert on the east.
Cover: Sagebrush and bunchgrass basins low; western juniper, bitterbrush, and mountain mahogany on mid-slopes; aspen, willow, and mountain shrub along the gorge creeks; and low alpine tundra, cushion plants, and grass on the high plateau. Riparian aspen and creek ribbons in the gorges hold the key cover and water.
Landmarks: Steens Mountain summit and the East Rim escarpment · Kiger Gorge and Wildhorse Lake · Little Blitzen and Big Indian gorges · Alvord Desert (east base) · Frenchglen and the Blitzen Valley · Catlow Rim (southwest)
Access
About 69% public, dominated by Burns District BLM and the Steens Mountain Wilderness. The Steens Loop Road (backcountry byway) climbs the mountain and is the main access, typically open seasonally and often gated or snow-closed on the upper reaches into fall. Motorized and mechanized travel — including bikes — is prohibited inside the 170,000-acre Wilderness, so the high gorges and rims are foot/horseback only. Private ranches hold the productive Blitzen and Alvord valley bottoms; the adjacent Malheur NWR is not open to big-game hunting. High-clearance vehicle required and upper roads close early with snow.
Managers: BLM - Burns District (including Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area), BLM - Steens Mountain Wilderness (~170,000 acres), Private ranch land (Blitzen and Alvord valleys), Adjacent: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (west, non-hunt for big game)
Access points: State Hwy 205 (Burns-Frenchglen corridor, west) · Steens Mountain Loop Road (North and South Loop, backcountry byway) · Fields-Denio / East Steens Road (Alvord side, east) · Frenchglen as the gateway · BLM roads to gorge and rim trailheads (then foot/horse into Wilderness)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophySteens Mountain is one of Oregon's flagship California bighorn strongholds — the rimrock, gorges, and escarpment hold sheep that have anchored the state's transplant program. A rare, hard-to-draw once-in-a-lifetime-caliber tag with genuine trophy potential.
- →Glass the gorge rims, East Rim escarpment, and talus faces from long range at dawn and dusk
- →Focus on the steepest escape terrain near water in Kiger, Little Blitzen, and Big Indian gorges
- →Plan a multi-day, on-foot backcountry effort inside the Wilderness with a quality spotting scope
- →Judge rams patiently — this is a tag to savor and hunt thoroughly
Mule Deer
common qualitySteens holds quality mule deer that summer high in the aspen gorges and alpine fringe and move down the rims and sage as weather turns. The gorge-and-rim country and limited access can produce better-than-average bucks for hunters willing to climb and glass.
- →Glass aspen pockets, gorge heads, and rimrock benches high on the mountain early season
- →Work the gorge riparian stringers and mahogany slopes for bucks in cover
- →Hunt into the Wilderness on foot away from the loop-road pressure
- →Time later hunts to snow that pushes deer down off the high plateau onto the rims and sage
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn range the sagebrush basins and flats around the base of the mountain, including the Catlow and Alvord country. A solid open-country controlled-hunt opportunity on the lower ground.
- →Glass the wide sage basins from high points at long range
- →Spot a buck, then screen a stalk with swales and rimrock
- →Sit scarce water in hot, dry conditions
- →Judge horns carefully with a spotting scope before committing
Cougar
limited opportunityCougars follow the deer and sheep through the gorge and rim country at low desert-mountain density. Encounters are incidental and sign-based.
- →Carry a tag and watch snow, mud, and sandy washes for fresh tracks
- →Work the steep rimrock and gorge breaks that hold deer and sheep
- →Use a predator call in canyon cover
Pro tips
- →Understand the Wilderness rules — no motorized/mechanized travel in the 170,000-acre core; hunt it on foot or horseback
- →Track the Steens Loop Road status — the upper mountain gates and snows shut early in fall
- →Use elevation and weather: snow moves deer and sheep down off the high plateau onto huntable rims
- →Glass the gorge rims and escarpment from long range — the terrain rewards patient optics work
- →Respect the Blitzen/Alvord ranch bottoms and the non-hunt Malheur NWR to the west
Watch out for
- !Steens Mountain Wilderness (~170,000 acres) bans motorized and mechanized travel, including bikes — plan foot/horse access
- !The upper Steens Loop Road is seasonal and closes early with snow, cutting off high-country access
- !Extreme elevation range and alpine exposure — sudden snow, wind, and cold can be dangerous up high
- !Private ranch inholdings in the Blitzen and Alvord valleys; the adjacent Malheur NWR is not open to big-game hunting
- !Remote country with no cell coverage; wet clay roads and snow can strand a rig
Logistics
Frenchglen (a tiny historic hamlet with a hotel/store and seasonal fuel) is the gateway on the west; Burns/Hines is the nearest real service town roughly an hour-plus north; Fields anchors the remote Alvord side. Hwy 205 is the paved approach and the Steens Loop Road is the gravel byway up and over the mountain, seasonal and weather-dependent. Plan a self-sufficient camp — dispersed and BLM campgrounds on the mountain, plus the Frenchglen hotel. Carry all fuel, water, recovery gear, and warm-weather-to-winter clothing; cell coverage is essentially nonexistent and the upper mountain closes early with snow.
Nearest towns: Frenchglen, Burns, Hines, Fields, Andrews, Diamond
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:
Research sources: ODFW - Steens Mountain Unit 69 (official unit page: boundary, 69% public, Steens Wilderness ~170,000 ac) · BLM - Steens Mountain (Burns District) · ODFW - Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations
FAQ
- How big is Unit 69 in Oregon?
- Unit 69 (Steens Mtn) covers about 1,910 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 9,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 69?
- Approximately 69% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM - Burns District (including Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area), BLM - Steens Mountain Wilderness (~170,000 acres), Private ranch land (Blitzen and Alvord valleys), Adjacent: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (west, non-hunt for big game). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 69?
- Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 69 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.