Section 22: Three Forks to Rome, 41 miles
Beginning Access Point: Three Forks
Ending Access Point: Rome
Section Summary: In this section, the ODT climbs out of the
Owyhee River Canyon and follows the rim north and west to
the small town of Rome. While an alternative route would be
to stay in the river corridor if water flow is low (under 200 fps),
this option has yet to be scouted and may be difficult due to
the large rock piles that create rapids at high water. The
overland trail route follows two-track and cross-country
stretches, has minimal water availability, and is very exposed to
the sun and wind. The terrain on the rim is rocky in places,
making the walking slow going and ankle rolling. Overall it is a
Volunteers above the Owyhee Canyon
challenging section due to the limited water access and
exposure to the elements. Caching water beforehand is recommended.
Section Details: There is a barbed wire fence gate above the
northwestern-most campsite at Three Forks (northwest of
OC077), and the ODT crosses through this gate and follows a
rough two-track road as it climbs up a side canyon. At about
OC078, before the road turns east, the trail leaves the road
and heads cross-country northwest up a gentle ridge to the
rim (OC079, see photo), passing some juniper in exposed
rock and following an ancient two-track toward the top.
While it is tempting to follow the rim directly above the
Owyhee River for the great views (see photo), there are
North of Three Forks
several side canyons to be navigated around, and in an effort
to decrease mileage the trail strays from the canyon edge in places.
From the rim at OC079, the ODT heads north toward Long Canyon (OC080), passing over a barbed wire
fence shortly after the climb to the rim and crossing a two-track road shortly before descending into the
upper part of the canyon. There is a reservoir and a water trough (dry in June 2013) in upper Long
Canyon. After climbing gently out of Long Canyon, the ODT continues northwest (note that the road to
Three Forks is less than a mile to the east here), and covers ground through the sage and bunchgrass
terrain, occasionally passing a lone juniper tree for shade. The trail travels in and out of upper Indian
Canyon (OC084) and continues northwest to a steep descent off a hill to meet up with the dirt road to
Three Forks (OC086), just south of the Three Forks Overlook pullout. The ODT follows this maintained
road north and leaves the road for cross-country travel again (OC088) northwest across an undulating
landscape.
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The ODT crosses a two-track road (OCO91), and makes
one more gentle climb to a hill overlooking Soldier
Creek’s canyon. The trail descends to the creek
bottom, arriving there at a place where a two-track
road approaches the creek from the east (OC092). In
June 2013, there was a full water tank along this welltraveled two-track road about a mile down canyon. To
get out of the Soldier Creek drainage, the trail climbs
north from OC092 through a cheatgrass-laden slope to
a break in the rock rim (OC093). Once above the rim
the ODT continues cross-country to the west, meeting Rome boat launch campground
up with a two-track road at OC096. Here the trail
travels west to a point overlooking a large basin (OC098), and continues west-northwest cross-country
along the base of the ridge. This cross-country stretch gently descends, turns due-west (OC100), and,
after a small climb and drop, meets up with a faint jeep trail (OC101) that leads to a more well-traveled
two-track road (OC102; In June 2013, there was a full water tank along this two-track road about a mile
to the northeast).
The ODT follows this two-track west to a fork (OC103),
and takes the left (southwest) fork along the Owyhee
Canyon rim as it weaves to a junction with another road
at a barbed wire fence gate (OC104). Passing through the
gate, the trail takes this road north. At the next road
intersection (OC106), the road heading west leads to a
large tire water trough (OC105; full in June 2013); the
ODT continues north to the next road junction and
fenceline (OC107). Here the trail crosses onto the north
side of the fence and follows a cow trail west to the
canyon rim. Upon arriving at the rim (OC108), the ODT
Volunteers hiking cross-country
heads north cross-country and descends through a gap in
the rimrock to the Rome Boat Launch Campground (OC109; five campsites, water, pit toilet; see photo).
Rome Station (OC110) is just across the river.
The town of Rome got its name from the nearby rock formations that are reminiscent of the pillars
of Rome. (Source: Oregon Geographic Names) The Owyhee River, which flows nearby from Three
Forks to Rome, is a popular albeit very technical and dangerous whitewater rafting segment in the
early spring. The Owyhee River received its name from early Northwest explorer and trapper Peter
Skene Ogden. Two Hawaiian workers in Ogden’s party were killed by Snake Indians while exploring
the river canyon and Owyhee was Ogden’s spelling of Hawaii. (Source: Oregon Geographic Names)
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Trail Tip: This section is very dry. Water caches are essential if you plan on more than a day hike.
Water caches at the Owyhee Canyon Overlook northwest of OC086, and along the two-track road at
OC098, both accessible by vehicle, have proven effective.
Nearby Town Information-Rome
Rome, the midpoint along the Oregon Desert Trail’s Owyhee Canyonlands section, consists of one
establishment. The town lies roughly 30 miles east of Jordan Valley. There is no cell phone service here
but wifi internet access can be found.
Lodging, restaurant and gas station: Rome Station, 3605 Highway 95 W. This place has gas pumps, a
diner and cabins. Daily 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 541-586-2294. Wifi internet access.
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