CuteCamper
Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway
Overview:
Welcome to 41 miles of Central Oregon's scenic backcountry! Relish views of the orange and red clay mounds of the Painted Hills, crane your neck to catch the emerald-green lichen on the rock walls of Girds Creek Canyon, and get up close and personal with the high desert cliffs of Sutton Mountain. You can stick to the byway or explore colorful hiking trails, discover historic corrals from early ranching days, pause for a lunch break at Priest Hole on the banks of the John Day River, or camp under breathtaking, unobstructed night skies. Anywhere you look, it's a photographer's dream!Know Before You Go:
- Open year round.
- The byway is open to motorcycles, vehicles, and bicycles.
- Picnicking, restrooms and drinking water are available at the Painted Hills National Monument (water not available during winter months).
- Fuel, food and lodging are available in Mitchell, Oregon.
- Primitive camping is available at the BLM Priest Hole Recreation Site, which can be reached via a 1.4 mile spur road off of the north side of the byway loop (restroom, no water).
Point of Interest:
The Scenic Byway passes by the Painted Hills, one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon. It's worth the time to explore the colors, fossils and geology of this amazing place!Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway Brochure
RecAreaDirections
The Sutton Mountain Backcountry Byway is a 41-mile scenic loop that can be traveled in either direction. From State Highway 26 about 3 miles west of Mitchell, Oregon, head north on Bridge Creek Road past the Painted Hills for about nine miles. Continue to the right toward Priest Hole on the Twickenham/Bridge Creek Cutoff Road and follow that for about 15 miles. Head south on Highway 207 until you bump into Highway 26, about .5 miles west of Mitchell.
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Permits info
Facilities
Priest Hole Recreation Site Facility
Primitive camping opportunities exist within the Priest Hole area along the John Day Wild and Scenic River. Please help take care of this beautiful resource by using the restroom facilities, by packing out garbage including organics such as fruit peelings and nutshells, and by only driving and camping along open roads. A fire pan is required if having a campfire when fires are allowed in order keep the area pristine and attractive to others.
Know Before You Go:
- Open YEAR ROUND but the rough road can make access difficult in winter.
- ACCESSIBILITY is primitive and not easily accessible for people with disabilities.
- NO FEES for camping. A free paper permit found at kiosks is required to float the one mile section of river around Priest Hole. There is one toilet; NO potable water, trash cans or campsite amenities.
- PETS ARE ALLOWED under owner control. Watch for rattlesnakes.
- HUNTING/FISHING LICENSES ARE REQUIRED.
- Fire restrictions run June 1 – October 15 (liquid gas or propane only).
- When fire restrictions are not in place, campfires are allowed ONLY in raised, metal fire pans. Hundreds of rock fire rings are found each year, scaring the ground and creating resource damage. Please help us preserve this precious resource.
- Please bring your own fire wood. Cutting vegetation, including standing dead vegetation is not allowed.
Point of Interest:
Priest Hole is a local favorite for fishing and swimming. Stopping here is a natural part of a visit to the Painted Hills, Sutton Mountain Back Country Byway and eastern Oregon!
