Owyhee Meanders

Hikes: D.
Total Distance, D: 5 1/2 miles.
Difficulty: Level II.
Season: April 15-September 15.
USGS Map: Piute Basin East, Jarvis Pasture.
BLM 100K Maps: Riddle, *Bull Run Mts.
Dirt Road Miles: 25 1/2 gravel.
PLSS Location: Section 18, T14S R1W.

Introduction: The Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Study Area offers endless hiking opportunities. The limiting factor is access: few decent roads lead to trailheads. One solution is to take a leisurely river trip with lots of time for dayhiking. Another solution is to use the road network built to service the gas pipeline that crosses this remote area in two places: on the main Owyhee, and on the upper South Fork. This trip follows a pipeline road to the pumping station on the main Owyhee, from which you can hike to one of Idaho's most scenic viewpoints and outstanding natural areas.
  Along the way you see a living workshop in river meanders. There are deep entrenched meanders, long abandoned meanders 100 feet above current river level, and meanders so recently cut off that they probably still flood every 100 years. Additionally, the area has California desert bighorn sheep and rare plants.
  Please be considerate if you see California bighorn sheep. They are suffering from competition with cattle, and probably from contact with man, and above all from contact with low-level Air Force overflights. The bighorns get nervous when men are at the same or higher elevation, since they like to escape upwards. If you encounter bighorns, keep your distance and stay below them.
  This area is very wild. Be careful of those unnameable fears you feel where you are in "back of beyond" areas. Be prepared for that eerie, squeaky, creaky feeling you'll get when you spend the night out here!
  A final note: When the author spotted this area on USGS topographic maps, he quickly drove out here and hiked and photographed the area. When he showed his slides to his desert friends, they wouldn't believe them--they had to see the area for themselves. Neither they nor any subsequent visitors has been disappointed!
  Oh wait: In 1982 the author led a Sierra Club outing here. He loaned his classic Gerry Camponaire tent (a great three-man) to a couple with limited resources. They lost the tent--yes, that nine pound tent fell out of the man's pack, and he didn't notice. So, if you find a big blue tent down here, give me a call: I don't suppose the fabric is much good any more, but I would like to sew a new tent from the pattern.

The Hike: Leave the road when it starts to descend to the Garat Crossing, and head north across the plateau, watching for bitterroot flowers. Look to the northeast, across the river, for the abandoned meander at the Garat Crossing.
  When you reach the north edge of the plateau (W1), carefully drop down and descend to a very primitive road. Turn left (west) and go down to an unnamed dry creek. Cross it and scramble north onto the Kimball Basin plateau. Continue north, edging over to a view of the river in its 500 foot canyon. The author has seen does with fawns below, grazing and crossing the river unaware of his scrutiny. All this, just two miles from the road.
  From these first views, continue north to the unforgettable view of where the Owyhee has eroded a 400 foot cliff and cut off a meander, creating the blackwater swamp called The Tules. A good descent is at the west end of The Tules (W2). You may camp near the river (O). Treat this area with the greatest respect--it is very, very special!
You can continue north from here to a view of the confluence of Battle Creek and the Owyhee, or just explore up and down the river.

Access: Drive south from Bruneau on ID-51 to the Nevada line. Continue 3/4 mile, and turn right on a paved road (W3). Follow this road for 2 1/2 miles, where the pavement ends. Continue straight, and bear right after another 1/2 mile. Twist around a bit, and then 6 total miles from the highway, 3 1/2 miles from pavement's end, and 3 miles from where you bore right, turn left on a gravel road with (in 1987) a speed limit sign (W4).
  Take this road 11 miles, to a distinct junction (W5), and bear right (go straight). Follow this pretty good gravel road about 8 1/2 miles to the pumping station. You can park here, or take the road in front of the fence for 1/2 mile to the right. You can camp near the trailhead or try the Mountain View Reservoir camping area on the Reservation; it has mediocre campsites with some tables, OK tent sites, and some shade.