Itinerary for the OBC 2020 Exploragon Tour 3-7 September 2020

This itinerary should not be considered THE plan for the trip. We may all decide to go totally off the rails and get crazy.  This is something to start with though.

Because of where we will be headed and lack of complete certainty with regard to gas, we’ll be making a lot of gas stops.  Please do a favor and fill up at any opportunity.  We may have a 120 (or so) mile leg, but in general, we’re not in a rush and enough gas is better than not enough.  Once we get past Burns though, gas gets more scarce and more expensive.

The intent is to be at our campsite each day by mid-afternoon or so.  Leisurely motoring – that’s the ticket.  Since this is Labor Day weekend, we might have to be flexible with regard to camping spots.

Watch this page for updates and maps soon.

Day 1 – thursday 3 September

Depart from the Albertsons in Springfield on Hwy 126 at 9:00AM (ish).

Through Sisters (gas stop), Redmond,  Prineville to Painted Hills – probably via Mitchell to top off with gas.  Exploring around the Painted Hills is the order of the day.  We have to go and see Arizona in Mitchell and play music with him too.

Camping for day 1 is sort of narrowed down to 3 spots

  • Red Hill Trail in the south west corner of Painted Hills.  No facilities of any kind.  Fires: no
  • Service Creek Campground and Boat Launch.  On Hwy 207 on the John Day River north east of Painted Hills.  Vault toilet.  No fees.  Fires: no
  • Muleshoe Campground.  On Hwy 207 on the John Day River a little past Service Creek.  Vault toilet.  No fees. Fires: no

Personally, I like either Service Creek or Muleshoe since they have toilets.

Day 2 – friday 4 September

Depart from camp site around 9:00ish and follow Hwy 207/19 along the John Day River through Spray.  Take Hwy 19 south to Kimberly and pick up Hwy 402 to 395 south to 26 east and into John Day.  This will be highly leisurely.  Exploring our way from Painted Hills area to John Day is the order of the day.

If you are late departing and are unable to find us on day 1, be at the Lone Elk Market in Spray at 10:30 on friday 4 September.  We will pass by / stop there for late arrivals.  Kindly don’t expect to get there right at 10:30 and find us waiting.  Be early if you haven’t caught up.  Plan for success.

Camping for day 2 has a couple options

  • Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.  Showers, toilets, 31 RV sites that are 1st come/1st serve.  Will check on cost info.  Fires: yes
  • Grant County RV park.  Full facilities but a little costy. Fires: yes
  • John Day Airport.  Trying to reach the airport manager about this.  Probably no facilities available though.  Fires: no
  • Strawberry Creek Campground.  Hwy 26 to Prairie City then south on County Rd 60 which becomes NSSF 6001 to the end.  Looks nice.  $8 / night

If we get to Clyde Holliday State Rec Site early enough, there is a good chance of getting sites.  I expect that with the holiday weekend that they will fill quickly though.  I’m working to get more options, but would welcome recommendations.  Strawberry Creek Campground looks right pretty.

Day 3 – saturday 5 September

Depart from John Day and top off the tanks around 9:00ish and head south on 395.

If you have not yet met up with us, then wait at the Station 62 Coffee House south of John Day and we’ll be there by 10:30.  Kindly don’t expect to get there right at 10:30 and find us though.  Be early if you are catching up.

We will continue south on Hwy 395 to Burns and then Hwy 20 west to Riley and south on Hwy 395.  If you are going to leave the herd and head home early, this is a good point.  Take Hwy 20 on back.

We’ll continue through Wagontire.  Then, between Alkalai Lake and Lake Albert, we will be looking for a BLM road between milepost 58 and 59 on the left.  It’s just before BLM Rd 6104 and about a mile before the Highway Well Rest Stop.  Back into the canyons to camp for the night.  Here’s a street view of the turn off.

Camping for day 3:

  • This will be a dry camp out in the boonies.
  • No facilities of any sort – but reputedly superb view of the night sky.
  • No fires

Day 4 – sunday 6 September

Depart from the canyons and backtrack on Hwy 395 to the Christmas Valley-Wagontire Rd.  By this point, if you haven’t met up with us – well, we’ll figure you won’t.  But… just in case… if you are that the intesection of Hwy 395 and Christmas Valley-Wagontire Rd around 9:30-10:00, you should be able to fall in with us.

We’ll cruise into Christmas Valley and gas up.  From Christmas Valley, a foray up north to Crack in the Ground.  Back to Christmas Valley and west to Fort Rock.  Pick up Hwy 31 North.  Wave at Outback Station as we pass it.  Stop at Hole in the Ground if we wish.  To La Pine for gas.  North on Hwy 97 to Hwy 43 to Hwy 42 around the north side of Wickiup Reservoir, south on Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway) down to North Davis Creek.  The exact location for camping is up in the air.  Machelle has been here though.  We may need to be patient and flexible on this  since it is Labor Day weekend.

Camping for day 4:

  • Dry camp
  • No facilities
  • No Fires

Day 5 – monday 7 September

Depart from North Davis Creek and take Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway) to Hwy 58 and then back home.

What to bring:

  • CB radio.  We’ll be on channel 2
  • extra oil – they’re old V-dubs right?
  • selection of tools
  • shovel (we may need to dig a hole – we may need to throw dirt on a fire)
  • plenty of water.  We may or may not be in places with water.  Have enough
  • plenty of food.  We’ll likely be stopping to get lunches along the way, but plan to cook breakfast and dinners
  • shower bag.  A rinse off at the end of a days driving would probably be nice
  • musical instrument(s).  Lets play music!