The Ochoco's are great for riding in the spring/early summer, since the snow melts there long before our higher country. It can be muddy if you get there too early, although it was not a problem this year with our especially dry winter.
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| Round Mountain Trail. |
To get there: From Prineville, drive 15 miles east on Hwy 26. Take a right at the sign for Walton Lake and Big Summit Prairie. Follow this road for 14 miles, make sure to stay to the right where it becomes road 42 ignoring the left turn towards Walton Lake. Watch for the sign for Independent Mine. There is a washed out dirt road that heads uphill, drive up it very briefly and take a left into the large parking area.
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| Parking area sign. |
The trailhead for Round Mountain South is at the end of the parking area. This is also where you park for the
Independent Mine Loop and Lookout Mt.
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| Round Mountain trailhead. |
This is an 18 mile out and back ride from the south trailhead to the north trailhead. But there are other options, like climbing to the top of the mountain to check out the view and then turning around, making it about an 8 mile ride, or you could continue on to Walton Lake adding an extra 2 miles to the total trip. When you are very close to the end of the trail there will be a signed junction, Walton Lake is one mile away to the right, or continue to the left to the north trailhead which was my destination this time.
The trail is marked the whole way with signs at junctions and white diamonds on trees.
This is wild horse country, there were numerous stallion piles along the trail but none were very fresh and I did not see any horses this time.
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| The Round Mountain Trail is welled marked with white diamonds and the occasional cairn.. |
There are some water sources along the trail, a swampy watering hole (it may not have water in it all summer) and some spring fed green troughs, plus another trough at the north parking area.
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| Swampy watering hole. |
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| Round Mountain Trail. |
Your horse needs to be in some semblance of shape since you climb Round Mountain twice.
The trail was completely clear with absolutely no downfall at all, as of June 5th. Once you reach the peak of Round Mountain you ride up a dirt road briefly and then the trail resumes and heads steeply down the other side.
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| Round Mountain Trail. |
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| The top of Round Mountain looking down over Big Summit Prairie. |
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| Corn Lilies. |
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| Round Mountain summit. |
The north trailhead is a gravel loop road with just some very small pullouts to park in.
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| The half way point, north trail head. |
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| Convenient water trough at the north trailhead. |
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| North trailhead. |
Get out there and ride!!
GPS COORDINATES TO ROUND MT. TH
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