Section 25: Leslie Gulch to Owyhee State Park, 27 miles
Beginning Access Point: Juniper Gulch parking area at Leslie Gulch
Ending Access Point: Lake Owyhee State Park Campground
Section summary: In the final section of the ODT, the trail travels
north from Leslie Gulch through some of the finest areas of the
Owyhee Canyonlands. This section is mostly cross-country, with
several climbs and descents. Water can be found at fairly regular
intervals at springs along the way. It is a rugged section,
challenging but amazing. Spring and fall are ideal times to hike
this section.
Section details: From the Juniper Gulch pullout of the Leslie Gulch Juniper Gulch
Road (OC173), the ODT heads north up Juniper Gulch (see photo),
following a trail at first, then cross-country as the user trail fades. After about a mile the gulch forks
(OC175) and the ODT climbs up the west fork through a grassy boulder field to a ridgeline (OC176). Here
the trail contours to the northeast toward a dead juniper, then continues north on the main ridge,
climbing over two hills on the way down to the drainage to the north (OC177; Shadescale Spring to the
northeast had no water in May 2012).
The trail continues down this unnamed drainage,
past rock spires that seemingly grow out of the
hillsides (see photo), to the top of Craig Gulch
(OC180). Turning northeast here, the trail skirts the
top of Craig Gulch, passing a large tire water trough
(OC181; full of murky water May 2012), and weaving
to the northeast to meet a dirt road at OC182. The
ODT follows this road north to the cathedral-like
rocks at Three Fingers Gulch (OC183; water found
closer to the reservoir (OC184) in this gulch May
2012). The road ends here and the ODT continues to
Volunteers near Craig Gulch
the northeast up the gulch through some aspen and
willow (note the old stone corrals built in the gulch) and eventually onto an old two-track road (near
OC185). At OC186, the old road continues to the northeast, but the ODT turns northwest and follows a
cow trail through sagebrush up an unnamed drainage. This drainage turns north, and honeycombfeature rocks begin to show themselves out of the slopes here.
The trail crests a ridge (OC187) and continues north, descending into Carlton Canyon (OC188). After
heading west for less than a half mile in Carlton, the ODT turns north (OC189) and climbs up Painted
Canyon. A fun-but-long side trip here is to continue down Carlton Canyon to the reservoir, head north
around the east side of Saddle Butte to Bensley Flat, and then east up into the Honeycombs.
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At OC190, the trail takes a side canyon to the northnorthwest and climbs up to a two-track road that leads
northwest to South Sheephead Spring (OC192; large
tire water trough full May 2012 and July 2013, see
photo). Here the trail continues north cross-country,
contouring along the west slope of Sheephead Ridge
and dropping to a two-track road (OC193). The ODT
follows this road downhill for a short while, then heads
Descending in Birch Creek
cross-country north across the open valley to Rookie
Canyon Spring (OC195; water here May 2012, see photo). The trail continues steeply to the north past
some rock outcrops, then begins a long, gradual descent past Birch Creek Reservoir (OC197; reservoir is
on private property).
At this point, for a less arduous descent to the state park,
one could travel cross country northeast to a two-track
road past Calhoun Reservoir, and follow this road down
to the campground. The ODT continues north into the
Birch Creek Canyon, and as the canyon starts dropping
more steeply north of OC198 (see photo), the trail stays
on the east side of the drainage, contouring about 100200 feet above the drainage bottom. A cow trail leads
through a rock outcrop at OC200, and the trail continues
descending along the east side of Birch Creek to the twotrack road (OC203). This road continues north, crossing
Hikers moving cross-country
the creek, and arrives at the Lake Owyhee State Park’s
Indian Creek Campground (OC204; Open April 15 to November 1, 25 sites w/ electricity, 5 primitive tent
sites -$17 tent sites. Water, pit toilets). The eastern terminus of the ODT is out on the peninsula that
juts out into the reservoir just beyond the closed Camp Store (see photo on next page).
South Sheephead Spring
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Rookie Canyon Spring
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The piles of horse manure that one may encounter in this area are called stud piles, although it is
usually more than just the stud horses that create them. These piles are territory markers.
Uplift and erosion have exposed the colorful and textured layers of basalt, rhyolite, volcanic ash, and
sediment layers in the Owyhee Canyonlands. Pockets of gas trapped in the volcanic ash have eroded
over the ages into the honeycomb-shaped formations seen in many of these drainages.
Seventeen California bighorn sheep were reintroduced to the Leslie Gulch area in 1965. Today the
herd numbers around 380, the largest in North America. (Source: Bureau of Land Management)
Trail Tip: Fill up with water at Mud Spring before
going up Juniper Gulch. Beware of poison ivy at
the bottom of Birch Creek.
Hiker at the eastern ODT terminus, Lake Owyhee State Park
Nearby Town Information-Adrian
Adrian lies to the east of the eastern terminus of the Oregon Desert Trail at Lake Owyhee State Park.
Post Office: 105 Oregon St. Adrian OR 97901. Mondays-Fridays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Restaurant: The Mirage, 605 N. First St. 541-372-0150.
Store: Adrian Market, 509 First St. 541-372-2727.
Note: This area is on Mountain Standard Time. No cell phone service.
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