Remember your  OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE
RESPONSIBLY.

* * *

### Overview

The 103-mile Owyhee Uplands Back Country Byway offers high desert scenery at
its finest. From expanses of sagebrush and grasslands to sheer, red-walled
river canyons, the Byway provides an opportunity to visit a vast, little-
known, and unchanged corner of the American West.

### Helpful Links

  * More Infromation: Byways- Bureau of Land Management
  * Visit Idaho- Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway
  * Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway Brochure
  * Flickr Album
  * Guidebook

<p>Remember your <a href="https://www.blm.gov/learn/outdoorethics" rel="nofollow"> OUTDOOR ETHICS</a> when enjoying your public lands. Please<a href="https://www.recreateresponsibly.org" rel="nofollow"> RECREATE RESPONSIBLY.</a></p>

<hr/>
<h3>Overview</h3>

<p>The 103-mile Owyhee Uplands Back Country Byway offers high desert scenery at its finest. From expanses of sagebrush and grasslands to sheer, red-walled river canyons, the Byway provides an opportunity to visit a vast, little-known, and unchanged corner of the American West.</p>

<h3>Helpful Links</h3>

<ul>
	<li>More Infromation: <a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-programs/byways" rel="nofollow">Byways- Bureau of Land Management</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://visitidaho.org/things-to-do/road-trips/owyhee-uplands-backcountry-byway/" rel="nofollow">Visit Idaho- Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/OwyheeCountyBackCountryByway.pdf" rel="nofollow">Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway Brochure</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://flic.kr/p/JwGNBG" rel="nofollow">Flickr Album</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/OwyBywayGuide_2016_web.pdf" rel="nofollow">Guidebook</a></li>
</ul>

Bird's eye view of the park

Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway

BLM manages more than 43,000 acres of public lands in the North Fork Owyhee
Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern
Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high
desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge
Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something
for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge
river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique
beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical
cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn
sheep to wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their
canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.

BLM manages more than 43,000 acres of public lands in the North Fork Owyhee Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn sheep to wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.

North Fork Owyhee Wilderness Area

The North Fork Owyhee River consists of steep vertical walled canyon ranging
in depth from 200 to 500 feet. As it flows toward Oregon, the canyon changes
from a landscape dominated by rhyolite monoliths and pinnacle formations to
one engulfed in sheer walls of blocky basalt. The river shoreline is lined
with groves of mature and old-growth juniper woodlands. During high spring
flows, a portion of this river is used by expert boaters as an outstanding
Class V whitewater run.

The North Fork Owyhee River consists of steep vertical walled canyon ranging in depth from 200 to 500 feet.  As it flows toward Oregon, the canyon changes from a landscape dominated by rhyolite monoliths and pinnacle formations to one engulfed in sheer walls of blocky basalt.  The river shoreline is lined with groves of mature and old-growth juniper woodlands.  During high spring flows, a portion of this river is used by expert boaters as an outstanding Class V whitewater run.

North Fork Owyhee River

## Overview:

Flowing west out of southern Idaho, the rugged and lightly-roaded country of
the offers scenery, beautiful geology and plenty of solitude. Clear nocturnal
skies are the norm here where the lack of light pollution allows unimpaired
views of the night sky.  
The North Fork Owyhee offers very high quality backpacking opportunities.
Excellent opportunities for early season (spring runoff) expert level kayaking
on the 12 mile section between North Fork Crossing and Three Forks are also
available. Numerous other recreational opportunities, including hunting,
camping, wildlife viewing and photography are available in the area.

## Know Before You Go:

  * This river is not for the inexperienced kayaker! Once you enter these deeply carved canyons, you will be a long way from help. Emergency access is extremely difficult, and cell phone coverage is nonexistent within the confines of the canyon. 
  * The river can be accessed by vehicle at either the primitive Three Forks Recreation Site or at the semi-developed North Fork campground in Idaho. 
  * When recreating on public lands, please practice Leave-No-Trace Principles. 

## Point of Interest:

This wild and scenic river spans state lines. There are 15.1 miles of the
North Fork Owyhee classified as a Wild and Scenic River with 9.6 miles managed
by the Oregon Bureau of Land Management and 5.5 miles managed by the Idaho
BLM.

<h2>Overview:</h2>Flowing west out of southern Idaho, the rugged and lightly-roaded country of the offers scenery, beautiful geology and plenty of solitude. Clear nocturnal skies are the norm here where the lack of light pollution allows unimpaired views of the night sky.<br>
The North Fork Owyhee offers very high quality backpacking opportunities. Excellent opportunities for early season (spring runoff) expert level kayaking on the 12 mile section between North Fork Crossing and Three Forks are also available. Numerous other recreational opportunities, including hunting, camping, wildlife viewing and photography are available in the area.


<h2>Know Before You Go:</h2>
<ul><li> 
This river is not for the inexperienced kayaker! Once you enter these deeply carved canyons, you will be a long way from help. Emergency access is extremely difficult, and cell phone coverage is nonexistent within the confines of the canyon.
</li><li> 
The river can be accessed by vehicle at either the primitive Three Forks Recreation Site or at the semi-developed North Fork campground in Idaho.
</li><li>
When recreating on public lands, please practice Leave-No-Trace Principles. 
</li></ul>

<h2>Point of Interest:</h2>
This wild and scenic river spans state lines. There are 15.1 miles of the North Fork Owyhee classified as a Wild and Scenic River with 9.6 miles managed by the Oregon Bureau of Land Management and 5.5 miles managed by the Idaho BLM.

The road down to Three Forks Recreation Site

North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

Low June flow on the North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

Incised canyon of the North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River near Three Forks

Evening on the North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

BLM manages more than 12,000 acres of public lands in the Pole Creek
Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern
Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high
desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge
Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something
for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge
river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique
beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical
cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn
sheep to wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their
canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.

BLM manages more than 12,000 acres of public lands in the Pole Creek Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn sheep to wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.

Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway

Overview

Helpful Links

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

North Fork Owyhee Wilderness Area

North Fork Owyhee River

North Fork Owyhee Wild and Scenic River

Pole Creek Wilderness Area