Jump to content

File:Three Forks Recreation Site (35325361771).jpg

Page contents not supported in other languages.
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Original file (5,472 × 3,648 pixels, file size: 14.25 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

Summary

Description

Sunset view of the Owyhee Wild and Scenic River from the canyon of the Three Forks Recreation Site, June 8, 2017, by Greg Shine, BLM.

One of the most remote locations in Oregon, the Three Forks Recreation Site offers camping, fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities in the canyonland confluence of the North Fork Owyhee, Middle Fork Owyhee, and Owyhee Rivers.

Getting there is a challenge, but it’s worth the effort. [Note: high-clearance four-wheel drive is highly recommended.]

From U.S. 95 near Danner, Oregon, approximately 16 miles west of Jordan Valley, Oregon, look for a sign marking the Soldier Creek Loop Road, Owyhee Canyon Overlook, and Three Forks. Turn south onto this dirt road and follow it for 36 miles until you reach the rim of the canyon.

This road – the Soldier Creek Loop Road – can be impassable when wet or muddy, so plan accordingly. It is designated a BLM Watchable Wildlife road, and is enjoyed by a variety of users – including outdoor enthusiasts, birders, ranchers, upland bird and big game hunters, rafters and campers. Cattle graze on the open range here, too, so be prepared for the occasional cow-in-the-road experience.

Along the way, plan a stop at the Owyhee Canyon Overlook (22 miles from the highway turn-off) for breathtaking views of the Owyhee Wild and Scenic River far below.

The last two miles to the site drop quickly into the Three Forks canyon. It is best to stop at the canyon rim and assess the road conditions before attempting the descent with your vehicle, as it’s rocky, steep, and not regularly maintained. Visitors are encouraged to park their cars at the rim and hike down to the site, should driving conditions be too treacherous.

Once in the canyon, the recreation site features five designated campsites, a boat launch, vehicle parking, and vault restrooms.

The site is named Three Forks for the three sections of rivers – the Owyhee, the North Fork Owyhee, and the Middle Fork Owyhee – that converge in the area.

Pronghorn antelope can be found on the rangeland above the canyon, and the canyon interior is particularly important as mule deer winter range habitat. Elk also use this area in the winter and California Bighorn sheep are year-round residents within the Owyhee River corridor.

Remnants of a historic military road can still be seen today, zig-zagging up the canyon’s west face, and old wagon and ranching roads near the recreation site allow for hiking and walking in the area.

For more information, contact: Vale District Office 100 Oregon Street Vale, OR 97918 Phone: 541-473-3144 Fax: 541-473-6213

E-mail: BLM_OR_VL_Mail@blm.gov
Date
Source Three Forks Recreation Site
Author Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington from Portland, America

Licensing

w:en:Creative Commons
attribution
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
You are free:
  • to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
  • to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
  • attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
This image was originally posted to Flickr by BLMOregon at https://flickr.com/photos/50169152@N06/35325361771. It was reviewed on 12 May 2018 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

12 May 2018

Public domain This image is a work of a Bureau of Land Management* employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain in the United States.
*or predecessor organization

Captions

Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents

Items portrayed in this file

depicts

7 June 2017

image/jpeg

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current16:26, 12 May 2018Thumbnail for version as of 16:26, 12 May 20185,472 × 3,648 (14.25 MB)OceanAtollTransferred from Flickr via #flickr2commons

The following page uses this file:

Metadata