Section 3: Squaw Flat to Lost Forest, 28 miles
Beginning Access Point: South Reservoir, just southeast of Squaw Mountain
Ending Access Point: Northwest edge of Lost Forest Research Natural Area, BLM road 6141-1-00.
Section overview: This section navigates around the lava field of Lava Mountain and across a juniper and
sage flat to Peters Creek OHV Campground, and continues to the southeast to Lost Forest. The twotrack and cross-country stretches are fairly strenuous, as the sage can be quite tall and thick in places.
South Reservoir is muddy cow-water and cannot be counted on for safe drinking, but there is water in
spigots at Peters Creek Campground. This section could be mountain biked by using two-track roads
near the cross-country stretches.
Section description: From South Reservoir (CV085) one
can just see the top of Lava Mountain to the south—the
ODT heads southeast cross-country through juniper
forest toward this peak, and after a gentle climb and
descent, arrives at a two-track road at the north
boundary of the East Lava Field lava flow (CV088, see
photo). This road served as a fire break for a 2013 fire
that scorched much of the lava field’s interior. Heading
east on the two-track road, the ODT follows the
northeast edge of the East Lava Field, and crosses
4wd at Lava's edge (CV088)
through a couple barbed wire fence gates (CV089 and
CV090). The views of Lava Mountain’s peaks and Twin Buttes in the middle of this lava field change with
each mile walked. There are already signs of the vegetation recovering from the fire, and although
there are some aspen in the lava field, no surface water was found during inventory. At CV091, the twotrack road enters an unfenced island of private property and exits at CV092—but to stay on public land
the ODT travels cross-country along the private property’s
west and south side to CV092, then back onto the twotrack road, heading south. This road comes to a barbed
wire fence (CV093), and here the ODT turns east and
follows this fence to the well-traveled Millican Road
(CV094). Please stay on the north side of this fence, as it is
private property to the south.
Crossing Millican Road, the ODT begins a cross-country
stretch to the east through juniper and sage (to the south
one can see large swaths of green, irrigated alfalfa and
Lava Mountain and Twin Buttes
hay fields). The cross-country piece crosses two-track
roads at CV095 and CV096, and eventually one can glimpse a large transmission line in the distance to
the east. The ODT crosses Peter’s Creek drainage (CV097, dry), travels under the transmission line, and
continues until it hits the gravel Frederick Butte Road (CV098). From here it’s a short walk north along
this road to arrive at the Peter’s Creek OHV Park campground entrance (CV100), a welcome source of
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shady trees and water (see inset on following page for information on this camp at CV101). The ODT
heads south on the Frederick Butte Road from the Peter’s Creek Campground and turns left (southeast)
on a two-track road just after crossing a cattle guard (CV099). This road forks shortly after at CV102, and
the ODT stays left (southeast) toward the scattered junipers in the distance. Upon reaching a four-way
intersection (CV103), the ODT follows the left (east) dirt two-track road through juniper forest and
passes through a barbed wire fence gate at CV104. The junipers thin out and soon the road travels into
open sage country.
The trail follows this two-track east, crossing another barbed
wire fence gate between CV106 and CV107, to a four-way
intersection (CV108), at which point the trail turns right
(south) and continues on a two-track road to a cluster of
manmade “improvements” at Mean Rock Well (CV109; see
photo)—a silo, propane tank, water trough … all defunct. If
there has been recent rain there may be some water in the
water troughs, but these are not reliable water sources. Here
the ODT turns southeast off the road, crosses a barbed wire
fence, and heads through the sagebrush toward the line of
Mean Rock Well
pine trees on the horizon—the Lost Forest. Moonlight Butte is
the high point of the landscape about six miles east of Mean Rock Well, and the cross-country stretch
heads roughly towards this butte until reaching a rock rim near CV110. The ODT follows this rim to a
barbed wire fence at CV111. After crossing this fence, the ODT crosses a well-traveled BLM road and
enters the Lost Forest Research Natural Area at a closed two-track road (just across the road to the
south of CV111)—a couple of large boulders prevent vehicle access here. The Sand Dunes are to the
southwest, and it’s worth a short side trip to see these rolling hills of sand butting up against a pine
forest.
Peter's Creek Campground
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Volunteers at Peter's Creek Campground
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During a spring 2013 ONDA volunteer inventory trip in the Peter’s Creek area, a number of birds
were observed at the campground: Gray Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper
Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Northern Harrier, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Kingbird, RedWinged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, European Starling, American Robin, Bullock's
Oriole, and amazingly, a male Northern Mockingbird. While this last species was out of its usual
range, the volunteer group theorized that this particular bird was searching for its own territory,
pushing the boundaries of its species the way that birds have for millions of years.
Lava Mountain is a part of the East Lava Field lava flow and of a broad, shallow cone that covers an
area 6 to 7 miles in diameter. The cinder cones atop this cone were most likely formed during the
last eruptive phases. The East Lava Field is geologically young, believed to have formed during the
late Pleistocene era. (Source: Oregon High Desert Grotto)
The sand dunes at Lost Forest are part of the largest inland shifting sand dune system in the Pacific
Northwest. The dunes are composed largely of ash and pumice that blew into the area 7,000 years
ago when Mt. Mazama erupted. (Source: Bureau of Land Management)
Trail Tip: There are roads near this section that roughly parallel the ODT. One could potentially
traverse them by mountain bike, although a little scouting ahead of time is advised.
Peter’s Creek OHV Park (see photos) is a privately owned campground. After turning off the
Frederick Butte Road at the sign for the camp and going through a gate, one will find several
campsites with water spigots, a cluster of Porta-potties, and a solar shower in the works. Cost is $5
per site per night. Contact Dan Damewood at 541-225-8839 or 541-306-0000 ahead of time to let
him know you are coming, and be prepared to sign a liability waiver. Dan is a great source of local
cultural and historical information.
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