Birch Creek Ranch

Hiking in Oregon

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 51 miles / 83 km
Duration: Full day

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Overview: This is a great day trip for a family.

Jordan Craters is a 27 square-mile olivine basalt lava flow that is estimated to be between 4,000 and 9,000 years old. They estimated the age by the degree of lichen growth on the rocks. There is also an 18- acre flow within the field that is estimated to be less than 100 years old.

There is one area of Jordan Craters that has vehicle access and this is Coffee Pot Crater. This crater is about two-thirds of a square mile and its considered to be a well-preserved, steep-sided crater.

The Birch Creek Ranch name encompasses two different ranches, Birch Creek Ranch and Morrison Ranch. Between the two ranches there is a total of 26 buildings or structures that are watched over by a caretaker and his wife. Some of these buildings helped this property be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Birch Creek Historic Ranch serves as the primary take-out for floaters on the lower section (downstream of Rome, Oregon) of the Owyhee Wild and Scenic River.

Camping, fishing, photography, geocaching, and wildlife viewing are all pleasurable pastimes in this historic setting. There are several stock trails, suitable for hiking, leading to the canyon rim.

A five-unit campground with fire rings and picnic tables is located along the river. There is no potable water and no fee.

Tips: The Jordan Craters Road intersects US Hwy 95 about 8 miles north of Jordan Valley, Oregon (POI #1). The round trip mileage for this guide is about 63 miles. The round trip mileage from the Cow Creek Bridge (POI #2) is about 52 miles.

The elevations during the trip will range from 4770' on the Jordan Craters Road to 2723' along the Owyhee River.

This area is remote. There are no telephones and concessions such as snacks and soft drinks are not available. Bring drinking water and any thing else you might need with you. Cell phone service is intermittent.

Drive a high clearance vehicle or, better yet, a 4-wheel drive, and don't attempt this trip when the road is wet or snow-covered.

Be prepared for ticks and be on the lookout for rattlesnakes. The weather is unpredictable and you may encounter extreme conditions.

For further information contact the Vale BLM District at 541-473-6208 or visit the Vale District Web site at www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale.

Points of Interest

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US 95 and Jordan Craters Road

Jordan Craters/Bennett Drive Road is a crowned graveled road. It is recommended for high clearance vehicles.

This intersection is 8 miles north of Jordan Valley, Oregon.

It is 26.3 miles and 1 hour and 26 minutes to the Jordan Craters from here.

From Jordan Craters to the Campground(POI #10) it is an additional 9.6 miles and 37 minutes.

From the Campground to here it is 30.1 miles and 1 hour and 40 minutes.

You are likely to see antelope, deer, eagles, cows, and ranch horses on the route to the craters and ranches.

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Cow Creek Bridge

Just after crossing the Cow Creek Bridge there is space for parking and unloading ATV's.

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Ranch Horses

We have seen ranch horses in this area several times.

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Warning Sign

It is a rough road from here. There are large mud puddles in the road if it has recently rained. There are some pull outs with scenic views on the east side of the road.

We have seen deer in the sage brush here.

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Jordan Craters

There are 27 square miles of lava flow here. There are impromptu trails into the lava bed, but caution is advised. Some of the lava is fragile and the potential exists for cave-ins. It is also sharp and hard on hands and foot ware.

Be careful around the crater edges. There are overhangs and the lava can be fragile.

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Birch Creek Grade & Viewpoint

The descent into the Owyhee River Canyon starts here. The sign says it all.

The road is closed and the gate here is locked from November 30 to February 15 every year.

Be alert on the switchbacks as you are likely to meet trucks towing river raft trailers.

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The ranch caretaker lives here. Drive slow and help keep the dust down.

From here the road parallels the Owyhee River with many interesting rock formations along the canyon walls.

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Water Wheel

The water wheel was used to irrigate the haying area on the ranch.

There is a junkyard on the canyon side of the road near here with several examples of old ranch machinery.

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Morrison (Pinnacle) Ranch

The raft take out point is located here, also the restroom.

There are a number of interesting old buildings and corrals here. The video shows some of the structures and a lot of canyon scenery.

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Campground

There are five sites with picnic tables and fire rings along the Owyhee River.

There is no potable water and no fee.

There are several stock trails, suitable for hiking, leading to the canyon rim from the river road.