Alvord Desert

Based on reviews I was expecting a band of naked hippies dancing and chanting around a bonfire. What I found was a quiet and peaceful retreat with stellar star-gazing. Stayed three nights. First there was only one other soul in sight. Over the weekend, a few trickled in and out. All was silent every evening. I only give it 4 stars because there’s not much to do in the area and your trip here will be very deliberate. 30 miles on gravel from the north, but easily navigable in any vehicle. It’s not on the way to anything. 30 minutes to nearest gas, food and conveniences at field station. Great Verizon service with data.

I have been coming here for about 15 years. In the last 4 it seems to have been discovered by instagram “influencers”. Raves are common and pseudo burning man crap has happened out there. “Art” installations have been left there.

First, the fine for a unpermitted public event is a minimum of $12000. There have been raves out there that can be heard from 20 miles away. This isn’t the place for it. You keep this crap up and BLM might just give up on this gem and turn it into a lithium mine. Second, over the years we have cleaned up messes from “leave no trace” groups trying to turn this into a alternate burningman venue. Door installations have been left on the playa that were held up with 2x12s and nails. When the wind blows that crap over, there are nails in the playa. And the doors create driving hazards. Also idiots come out there and burn pallets on the playa and walk away thinking it is just ash. Forgetting 2 things, burning anything on the playa surface is illegal, and pallets are held together with nails.

Fires can only happen in raised fire pits out there and at times are totally banned. Propane fire pits are best. Know the rules before you go out. Fireworks are illegal at all times, it is a desert, and people live here. Don’t be that idiot.

You may think there is nothing there, but you would be wrong. There is a ton of biodiversity out there from scorpions to coyotes, horses, and antelopes. We have found birds nest on the playa surface. During spring and early summer it is part of the pacific flyway for migratory bird. Don’t drive like a maniac out there.

It is a flat silt lakebed. Unlike a salt flat where you can drive on it wet, this will eat your vehicle. The costs for getting something towed off the playa can vary from $500 to well over $1000. Which brings me to the problem of mud. The lake bed is about 80 square miles and the surface varies only by a few inches. When it gets water on it, the wind can come up and move a lake across the surface more than a mile. Do not camp close to water. You can wake up stuck.

DO NOT go out there unprepared. E rated (10 ply tire equivalent) are highly recommended. Most passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks have C rated tires (3 ply equivalent). Eastern Oregon shale which all the gravel roads are made of can destroy tires. Have a good spare and tire repair kit. Bring lots of water. Basically bring everything you need to survive. It can be brutal.

Speaking of brutal, the wind. It can go from 0 to 40 as fast as a Tesla. It blows Dow the face of Steens Mountain and can also be quite cold. I was there yesterday 6/19/22, it snowed on top of Steens Mountain. Tents can suck there. Shade shelters can suck there. Know what you are doing. Major dust storms are common there. We have seen entire camps abandoned and had to clean them up. Many of the dust storms are facilitated by idiots doing donuts out there, don’t be one of those jerks. The playa surface is fragile.

Finally, DO NOT screw this place up. It is beautiful and will make you feel insignificant. Clean up your mess, clean up other peoples messes. If you see garbage pick it up and pack it out.

The Alvord Playa is a Wilderness Study Area. It has been enjoyed by a relative few for decades. It’s remote, can be dangerous abs requires thoughtful prep and reverence. In the past few years many many people have discovered this place and it’s created so much damage to the Playa.
1). Don’t speed on Playa. Especially when clay is soft.
2). Campfires 🔥 STRONGLY discouraged. Bring a propane type fire, etc.
3). Pack it out. All of it. There is a toilet at edge of Playa at Frog Springs entrance.
4). Loud music, lights and large gatherings are disruptive to the many scientists and others who visit to appreciate dark skies for astronomy and deep sky viewing. There is a delicate ecology here and wildlife. If you want Burning Man, Black Rock is 80 miles South. Nevada welcomes you.
5). Do not burn pallets or anything! Nobody wants a flat from nails on Playa.
6). There are often fatalities on Playa from drunk driving /speeding on Playa, especially at night.
7). Fields Station is amazing. Milkshakes are the best. It’s tough to run a store in the middle of nowhere. Patience should be mandatory. Also they have a few motel room, RV Spots and Jake always has good advice about exploring and hunting.
8). People live along Fields-Denio Road. Please drive slowly - the dust is miserable when cars speed by non-stop.
9). Bring water - at least 5 gallons for BLM camping requirements. Bring all supplies. Help is at least 3 hours away (Burns).
10). Most cell providers have no service here.

We stayed here two nights and loved it! We drove in from the north and paid $10 to access through the Alvord Hot Springs private road but totally didn’t have to. Could have driven about .25 miles further south and gotten in for free.

Once on the Playa, we drove all the way across to the east side where there were some dunes and brushes to hide out in. Friday night the joy riding went quiet pretty early and the rest of the weekend was totally chill. Seemed that most people camp at the southwest end of the lake.

It’s a unique experience and I’d do it again, no place like it. Just have plenty of gas and water with you, and avoid the mud.

Stayed here 8 days and liked it a lot. Lots of Sun, a Lake bed so it's flat. A bit of wind and 1 night of rain but
that pretty much dried up the next day so no problem leaving. Access roads off of gravel washboard road could be a bit tricky, but made it in & out without a problem. Great place to walk or bike. Great sunsets!!!
Would stay again!