Scenic Drives
How about a relaxing drive through some gorgeous country? Visit these wildflower viewing routes described below for Ochoco National Forest. Also, check out the Oregon Scenic Byways page for official Byway routes.
Big Summit Prairie
Forest: Ochoco National Forest
District: Lookout Mountain Ranger District
Description: Big Summit Prairie occupies several thousand acres of the middle portion of the Ochoco Mountains, in Central Oregon. The Prairie is largely privately owned, but most of the perimeter is National Forest, and easily accessed by public roads. Driving around the prairie, with periodic stops, is the most popular way of viewing the area’s wildflowers.
Viewing: The first wildflowers generally begin blooming in April, with grass widow, wild parsley, and shooting stars among the favorites. As spring progresses, Wyethia (mule-ears) and camas come into bloom and provide showy displays of the season, generally in May through June. On dry, rocky flats, May also features bitterroot, with their large white to pink flowers. In June and July, other flowers become prominent, including Missouri iris, larkspur, paintbrush, checkermallow, and arrow-leaf balsamroot. One notable plant is Peck’s mariposa lily, a tulip-like plant with lavender petals. This plant is found only in the Ochoco Mountains. Spring is also an excellent time for wildlife viewing, as neo-tropical birds return, and big game animals such as elk, mule deer, and antelope become more visible as they migrate back to their summer range on the Forest. The Prairie is also home to several pairs of sandhill cranes that generally migrate back in April to nest, and remain through the summer.
Directions: To get to Big Summit Prairie, take Hwy 26 East from Prineville, Oregon, approximately 18 miles and turn right onto County Rd 123. Continue another 8 miles to Ochoco Ranger Station, then just past the station, turn right at the “Y” on FS Road 42. Continue on the 42 to Big Summit Prairie. A brochure, “Wildflowers of Big Summit Prairie” is available at the Ochoco National Forest office in Prineville. It includes a description of suggested stops for those driving the loop around the prairie. A National Forest map is also recommended to those not familiar with the area.
Ownership and Management: USDA Forest Service, Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District.
Closest Town: Prineville, Oregon.
Paulina District Driving Scabland Tour
Forest: Ochoco National Forest
District: Paulina Ranger District
Description: The Paulina District Driving Scabland Tour is an all-day driving tour through a diverse variety of habitats featuring a wide array of wildflowers.
Viewing and Directions: Starting in Prineville, Oregon, proceed west on Highway 26 past the town of Mitchell. In T12S, R23E, S14, you will come to and turn right onto FS Rd. 12. In about 6 miles, you enter the Ochoco National Forest and will go past Barnhouse Campground. The road keeps climbing to higher elevations, where you will view open scabland habitats. At the junction of Forest Service Roads 12 and 30, there are moist meadows with arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamhoriza sagittata), mule-ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis), and a variety of other wildflowers.
Stay on FS Rd. 12. Eventually, you will start dropping down in elevation and will reach an intersection we call “6 corners” (T14S, R24E, S29) so named because all the main roads come together. At 6 corners you have two options:
Option #1 (recommended): On a good wildflower year, you will see a stunning array of wildflowers as you cross through a diverse variety of habitats, as well as gorgeous view of the Snow Mountains. This option takes you through a mosaic of dry pine, juniper forests, scablands, and moist meadows.
Driving directions for Option 1: From 6 corners, go straight (south) onto FS Rd. 42. When you leave the Ochoco National Forest, you will be on Beaver Creek Highway; keep heading south. Turn right onto the Post-Paulina Highway (also called Paulina-Izee Highway; in T16S, R24E, S20/21), which is County Road 113, which then turns into County Road 112 and then becomes State Highway 380. This will take you back into Prineville.
- Option #2: At six corners, turn right onto FS Rd. 42 (heading west). In about 8 miles, you will come across a low gradient riparian area with mariposa lilies (Calochortus spp.). Keep driving on FS Rd. 42. Eventually will come to a “T” in the road – continue on FS 42 Rd. to the west. You will travel along the North Fork Crooked River, which leads you to Big Summit Prairie, another featured Wildflower Viewing Site on the Celebrating Wildflowers website. After viewing wildflowers at Big Summit Prairie, continue heading west on Rd. 42. At the junction with Highway 26, turn right and head back into Prineville.
Safety First: Drive carefully, looking out for livestock and wildlife.
Ownership and Management: USDA Forest Service, Ochoco National Forest, Paulina Ranger District.
Closest Town: Prineville, Oregon.
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