Guides/Overland routes/Oregon
Overland route13 midifficulty: easy

Diamond Craters Tour Route

RegionOregonAgencyBureau of Land ManagementLast verified—
Diamond Craters Tour Route — overland route near Princeton, Oregon, Oregon
BLM Oregon (Greg Shine, CC BY 2.0)
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
13mi
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Loop
Vehicle
Standard high-clearance vehicle in dry conditions; the gravel surface is passable to passenger cars when graded but turns slick in rain.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Cell coverage
None on the loop; service returns near Burns, 50+ miles north.
Take action
Plan in Epic PlansOpen in Google MapsOfficial site

The Diamond Craters Tour Route is a self-guided 13-mile gravel loop across an Outstanding Natural Area on BLM land in Harney County, Oregon, 40 miles southeast of Burns. The route winds through a 27-square-mile basaltic volcanic field that BLM and the Oregon Department of Geology designated as a geological reference site, with cinder cones, maars, lava tubes, and spatter ramparts visible from the loop and short side spurs. The Bureau of Land Management's Burns District manages the area; the BLM brochure and a printed roadside guide key the numbered stops.

The surface is graded gravel suitable for high-clearance passenger vehicles in dry conditions. The route closes to no one but drives best in spring and fall; midsummer is hot and the surface dusts heavily. The full loop runs two to three hours of driving with stops, longer with the short walk to Malheur Maar.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Slick clay when wet. The loop turns greasy in rain. Wait for it to dry.
  • Summer heat and dust. Afternoons hit 100°F in July and August. Plan for shoulder seasons.
  • No services on the loop. No fuel, no water, no shade.
  • Rough side spurs. A few of the numbered stops are accessed by short rough spurs that punish low-clearance cars.
  • Cell coverage gone. Tell someone where you're going.
  • Walking on lava is hard on tires and feet. The basalt is sharp; close-toed footwear is the right call.
  • Wildlife. Rattlesnakes, mule deer, and pronghorn use the basin.

Location

13 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 43.097, -118.754

Trail facts

5 fields
AgencyBureau of Land Management
Nearest townPrinceton, Oregon
Websitewww.blm.gov/visit/diamond-craters
ClosedDec, Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug
Approx. location43.097, -118.754

Getting there

Directions

From Burns. South on OR-205 for 40 miles. Turn east on Diamond Lane (county road) and follow signs for Diamond Craters. The signed loop entry is on the right after about 8 miles.

From Frenchglen. North on OR-205 for 30 miles. Turn east on Diamond Lane and follow signs.

Loop direction. The BLM brochure numbers stops counterclockwise from the entry; most drivers follow that order.

Photos

8 photos

Photos · 8

Field notes

Getting Oriented

Diamond Craters sits in the Diamond Valley, southwest of the Steens Mountain massif and north of the Catlow Valley. The standard approach is via OR-205 from Burns to Diamond Lane, then east on Diamond Lane (county road) to the loop entry. The Bureau of Land Management's Burns District manages the natural area; the printed driving-tour brochure (available from the Burns BLM office and online) keys 14 numbered stops along the loop.

The nearest service town is Frenchglen, 30 miles south on OR-205, with a hotel, restaurant, and seasonal fuel. Burns, 50 miles north, is the practical base for water and fuel.

Trail Overview

Thirteen miles, loop. The road is graded gravel and county dirt suitable for high-clearance passenger cars in dry conditions. The loop has short numbered side spurs to specific volcanic features — Big Bomb Crater, Malheur Maar, Central Crater Complex — most of which are walked rather than driven. The volcanic field formed in a single eruptive episode roughly 7,500 years ago, making it geologically very young.

Most drivers run the loop with the BLM brochure on the dashboard and stop at each numbered marker. Plan two to three hours; longer if you walk the short trails to the maar overlooks.

Points of Interest

  • Malheur Maar. A water-filled maar (volcanic crater formed by steam explosions) with an interpretive overlook on a short walking spur.
  • Big Bomb Crater. A spatter rampart and bomb-strewn slope visible from the road.
  • Central Crater Complex. A nested set of overlapping craters at the loop's center.
  • Lava Pit Crater. A collapsed lava-tube crater on the south side of the loop.
  • Driblet Spires. Small lava spires visible from the road's southwest segment.
  • Diamond Craters Outstanding Natural Area boundary. BLM-designated since 1982, the natural area protects the field's research value.

Where to Camp

Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land outside the natural area boundary; on-loop camping is not allowed. The Page Springs Campground at Frenchglen, 30 miles south, is the closest developed BLM site. Steens Mountain has a chain of BLM campgrounds (Page Springs, Fish Lake, Jackman Park, South Steens) along the Steens Loop Road. Burns has private RV options.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • Pick up the BLM driving-tour brochure before driving in. The Burns district office has them; the loop has none on-site.
  • Run the loop in spring or fall. Summer afternoons hit 100°F and the dust is heavy.
  • Don't drive after heavy rain. The clay surface turns slick.
  • Carry water. There is no water on the loop or in the surrounding ranching country.
  • Pair with Steens Mountain Loop Road for a multi-day Harney County drive.
  • The Round Barn State Heritage Site (an 1880s cattle barn) is 8 miles northeast of the loop on county road and a worthwhile side stop.
  • Cell coverage is gone for the entire visit.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Diamond Craters Tour Route?
Diamond Craters Tour Route is rated easy. The route runs 13 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Diamond Craters Tour Route?
Standard high-clearance vehicle in dry conditions; the gravel surface is passable to passenger cars when graded but turns slick in rain.
When is the best time to visit Diamond Craters Tour Route?
The best months are Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct. Avoid Dec, Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug.
Is there cell service at Diamond Craters Tour Route?
None on the loop; service returns near Burns, 50+ miles north.