Bird watchers and wildlife photographers will find Mann Lake worth the detour. Situated on the east side of Steens Mountain, this free BLM site gives campers direct access to a small lake that draws consistent waterfowl activity, with coyotes audible at night and, depending on the season, open-range cattle wandering through camp. The area sits within places to camp around BLM Land — Burns Andrews Field Office, where remote high-desert camping is the norm rather than the exception.
Around ten sites are scattered across the area, most with metal or rock fire rings, a few without any shade until the sun drops behind the mountains to the west. One site has a picnic table. Sites are level with dirt surfaces, which can turn muddy and slippery after rain, so the access road off Fields-Folly Farm Road warrants caution in wet conditions. One vault toilet is on-site. No cell service is available. Nearby options for campers who want more tree cover or different terrain include Jackman Park Campground and Fish Lake Campground to the southwest.
As Fred S. notes, the lake is "full of waterfowl," which makes this a practical base for anyone with binoculars or a long lens. The site also functions as a reasonable fallback when the Alvord Desert playa is wet and impassable. Come prepared with bug protection in early summer, when insects are notably heavy compared to other sites in the region.
Description
Overview: Located below the east face of Steens Mountain, Mann Lake attracts anglers as much for its remote, rugged splendor as for its abundant Lahontan cutthroat trout. These trout are supremely adapted to survive alkaline desert waters and without them fisheries like Mann Lake could not exist. The lake was named for an early rancher and has satisfied fishers for over forty years. Anglers converge as early as March and into October. Shallow throughout its 200 acres, the lake features extensive weed beds and great shorelines for wading. Know Before You Go: Aside from two vault restrooms, Mann Lake offers no amenities. Bring your own shade, shelter and water and tie everything down. Swift winds are common, and weather conditions are often unpredictable. Two, eight-inch minimum length trout per day limit; artificial flies and lures only. Point of Interest: Aside from fishing, visitors enjoy camping, hiking, viewing wildlife such as pronghorn antelope, quail and chukar, and rock hounding for thunder eggs and agates in the area. Mann Lake Brochure
Fee Info
No Fees.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsMann Lake Recreation Site is located in Oregon near Diamond
Public CampgroundDirections
From Burns, take State Highway 78 southeast for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen, Oregon. Just past Frenchglen, turn left onto the Steens Mountain Loop Road. Travel approximately 19 miles on the Loop Road before turning right into Jackman Park Campground. Jackman Park is located just 2 miles past Fish Lake Campground.
Coordinates
42.77753071 N
118.4386984 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/18/26- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/18/26
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 8 min from Boise, ID
- 3 hrs 45 min from Bend, OR
- 4 hrs 52 min from Twin Falls, ID
- 6 hrs 13 min from Medford, OR
