Getting Oriented
The loop circles the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness in the southern Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. From John Day, US-395 runs south past Canyon City, joins County Road 65, and becomes Forest Road 15 climbing toward Logan Valley. FR 16 carries the loop east through Logan Valley to Prairie City, where the route picks up US-26 west back to John Day. The Malheur National Forest covers the upper segments; Grant County maintains the connector roads.
Trail Overview
Seventy-four miles, mostly paved loop. The pavement runs continuous around the loop with the exception of FR 1640, the gravel spur from FR 16 north to Roads End trailhead — that spur is optional and adds about 9.5 miles to the trip. Roughly 4,000 feet of cumulative elevation change. The route is open year-round on the lower segments but the higher Logan Valley pavement closes by snow most winters.
The loop runs through wildflower meadows in early summer, with Logan Valley's wet-meadow sections holding camas, lupine, and arrowleaf balsamroot in May and June.
Points of Interest
- Logan Valley. Broad open valley at 4,800 feet on the loop's south arm, with paved FR 16 running its length. Wildflower meadows in early summer.
- Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. 69,350-acre wilderness on the loop's interior. Foot and horseback access only from trailhead spurs.
- Strawberry Lake. Reached by a 1.3-mile hike from the Strawberry Mountain trailhead near Prairie City.
- Roads End Trailhead. Highest-elevation entry to the wilderness, reached by FR 1640 spur off the south side of the loop.
- John Day. County seat with the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument's Sheep Rock unit a short drive west.
- Canyon City. Historic gold-rush town just south of John Day on US-395.
- Prairie City. Eastern loop town with the DeWitt Museum and access to the wilderness's north trailheads.
- Magone Lake. Off a side road from the loop's northeast corner, with a Forest Service campground.
Where to Camp
Forest Service campgrounds along or near the loop include Magone Lake, Murray, Trout Farm, McNaughton Spring, Big Creek, Strawberry, and Slide Creek. Most run reservations through Recreation.gov in summer. Dispersed camping is allowed on Malheur National Forest land off most spur roads.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- The loop is mostly paved but the higher Logan Valley segment closes by snow most winters. Confirm with the Blue Mountain Ranger District before driving October through May.
- The wildflower window in Logan Valley runs late May through early July, with peak bloom typically the third week of June.
- Allow a full day for the drive with stops, or two days to add a wilderness day-hike.
- The 1660 / 1640 spur to Roads End trailhead is graveled and adds significant time. Skip it on a passenger-car loop and stick to the paved circuit.
- The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument's Sheep Rock unit pairs naturally with the loop for a longer Grant County trip.
- The loop runs through Malheur NF, the largest stand of contiguous ponderosa pine in the country.
