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Official

Established Camping

South Steens Campground

South Steens Campground, near Hines, Oregon, is a remote spot that offers a basic yet tidy camping experience surrounded by stunning natural beauty. With no frills like electric hookups or showers, it’s all about getting back to nature and enjoying the peace and quiet.

The campground features clean pit toilets and access to drinking water, making it a practical choice for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. Visitors rave about the solitude and the chance to see wild horses roaming nearby, with one camper noting, “Coyotes at night, pit toilets, solitude, plenty of trees.”

For adventure seekers, the area is a gateway to incredible hiking trails that lead to breathtaking gorges and canyons. Reviewers have highlighted the stunning fall colors and the impressive landscapes, with one saying, “Unreal beauty and so untouched.” Whether you're hiking, exploring, or just soaking in the views, South Steens Campground is a solid base for your outdoor adventures.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Steens Mountain Wilderness

Overview:

South Steens Campground is located in the heart of Steens Mountain. Visitors will find picnic tables and grills at 36 family campsites amid juniper and sage. The equestrian site, designed specifically for horse users, is directly adjacent to the family campground. Recreational stock (horses, mules, llamas, goats, etc.) are not allowed in the family portion of South Steens Campground, but are welcome and comfortable at 15 equestrian sites complete with tie posts and small corrals.

Know Before You Go:

The typical season of use at South Steens Campground is mid-May through mid-November.Vault restrooms and drinking water are available.The use of pelletized or certified weed-free hay is required on all BLM public lands in Oregon and Washington.

Point of Interest:

South Steens Family and Equestrian Campgrounds are close to the Historic Riddle Brothers Ranch, several hiking trails, and the Little Blitzen and Big Indian gorges. South Steens Campground Brochure

Fee Info

Camping Fees are $16/vehicle, per night, for a single car, truck, or RV and towed vehicle. Additional passenger vehicles $5/night. All sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations accepted. Please occupy site before proceeding to payment kiosk (near campground entrance) for payment. Traditional cash and check payment accepted at payment kiosk.

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Location

South Steens Campground is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Directions

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. Continue on State Highway 205 through the town of Frenchglen, and up 'P' Hill. Travel approximately 9 miles, then turn left on the Steens Mountain Loop Road south entrance. The turnoff to South Steens Campground is just over 18 miles from State Highway 205.

Address

Burns District Office 28910 Hwy 20 West
Hines, OR 97738

Coordinates

42.656738 N
118.728468 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol

Reviews

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10 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 4, 2024

Worth the washboarded drive

Syayed here on Oct 2. Paid $8 with senior pass. Nice campground. Level sites. Can accommodate all sorts of rigs, except big bus campers & long travel trailers. Trash service. Water. Clean vault toilets with tp. 2G T-Mobile service. Most sites are open with partial shade. No privacy between most sites. A few sites may accommodate hammock campers. Tent camping possible. Steens Mountain Loop Rd closed at the campground entrance.

SiteF10
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Fred S., October 4, 2024
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Fred S., October 4, 2024
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Fred S., October 4, 2024
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2022

A campsite with door to exploration

Basic campsites, but some are very private. Either sides of camp offer amazing longer hikes to gorges coming off the steens mountain range. Fall colors were amazing, and still some water from the little Indian and blitzen rivers. Coyotes at night, pit toilets, solitude, plenty of trees. Is hot and dry in summer, but the exploration around it is breathtaking. Long dusty road but worth it. Wild horses and scenic

Month of VisitSeptember
  • after first stream crossing little Indian gorge hike
    Play button icon
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Ash C., June 28, 2022
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Ash C., June 28, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Oct. 27, 2021

Basic but tidy

This was my first time at amazing Steens Mountain Wilderness. It was also my first time on a 50 mile washboard gravel road.  Since we stayed in October, the campground had plenty of sites to choose from.  We chose F2, a big pull through near the vault toilet and not far from the well. The campground was basic but very tidy and quiet during our stay. We especially enjoyed seeing herds of wild horses, the fall foliage on the quaking aspen, and the hiking trails.

SiteF2
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Tanya B., October 27, 2021
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Tanya B., October 27, 2021
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Tanya B., October 27, 2021
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2021

Great spot!

This is a small but great camp site. Bathrooms present on site. Each spot has a great picnic table and grill. It is a rocky area so have a pad if tent camping.

SiteSouth steens campground 17
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Conor B., July 8, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 24, 2021

Quiet and remote, a jump off to the unreal

Stayed a little bit up from the campsite in the wilderness. Beautiful approach to this area, the canyons are impressive. Remote and quiet, if that’s what you’re looking for. This will never get much traffic. And then, right next door you wake up the next morning to find an incredible natural wonderland. Huge canyons, old glacial relics, a radical canyon wall that drops off to a sand dunes desert...spend a day, spend days wondering around the canyons and summits of this mountain range. Unreal beauty and so untouched, so out of the way as to almost have it to yourself.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Christopher  B., June 24, 2021
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Christopher  B., June 24, 2021
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2020

Nice quiet place

I originally went to the South Steens family Campground to find a site and it was full. I went over to the equestrian campsites even though I didn't have any horses. It worked out just fine. The campsites are close together so there isn't much privacy. It is August and they are not allowing campfires. They have restrooms and a well house to get water from. The skies were clear and I was able to get a glimpse of the meteor shower. I've never seen stars like that it was really nice. This is a good base camp to go to Wildhorse Lake for a quick hike. It's 2 1/2 miles long but worth it. I would come back here.

  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Will B., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Will B., August 14, 2020
Reviewed Jun. 4, 2020

Great base camp for adventures around Steen's

We stayed here for 1 night during a long weekend escape to Steens. The campsites aren't very private as they sit amongst low sage bushes, and they're not particularly large; only enough space for 1 car and 1 tent. The facilities are clean. There are lots of great trailheads in the area. Other campers were quiet and respectful.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Bridget H., June 4, 2020
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Bridget H., June 4, 2020
Reviewed Apr. 29, 2020

Great area to ride horses in!!!

We go up to the South Steens Campground each year and stay in the Equestrian side of the campground. Normally we spend 7-10 days there and ride the gorges and down to the Riddle Brothers Ranch. This campground is great for horses. The solar well is great for water and having corals at each site is awesome! We high line some horses but there is still plenty of space for that as well. No campfires are allowed in the fall but what we do to stay warm outside is we have a small wood stove that works great to cook on as well. Just a little piece of advice is to always have you rain coat with you when you go riding in the Steens, the weather can change fast!

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Jacob F., April 29, 2020
  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Jacob F., April 29, 2020
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  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2017

Quiet Campground in Beautiful place

We headed to South Steens as a basecamp for some of the longer hikes. This campground is SUPER big, and we didn't have a problem getting a spot even though it was FCFS in the middle of the weekend. Clean picnic tables and sites. They have running water (So stock up before headed into the gorge! - next water is Jackman Park!) and clean pit toilets. Not a lot of shade so prep for that. All in all a nice BLM spot!

Site20
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Oct. 10, 2016

Fall steens trip

We spent 2 nights at the campground and did the Big Indian Gorge hike to the headwall (it was awesome!) Campground was clean and quiet, except for a few big RV's with generators.

  • Review photo of South Steens Campground by Jana M., October 10, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there cell phone reception at South Steens Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is available.