Holly's Horse Tales and Trails: Dry Creek Horse Camp, Ochoco National Forest, Oregon

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Dry Creek Horse Camp, Ochoco National Forest, Oregon

Well my high country riding is over for this season, but a trip into the Ochoco's is
always a good choice.
I've never actually camped here since I live close enough to drive over for the day. I usually ride here in the spring, since snow melt happens early, but this is a nice November ride as well.

To get there: From Prineville take Hwy 26 east for 8 miles, then take a left on Mill Creek Rd. Continue for 5 miles, then take a left on Rd. 3370, there will be a sign for Brennan Palisades. (There is a gate here that is locked from Dec. 1st to May 1st. So if you want to camp you will have to wait until it opens, or if you just want a day ride, there is a spot to park in front of the gate, and from there you can ride to the camp or on any of the trails.) In 2.5 miles take a left at the sign for the horse camp.

The Ochoco's need to be dry for good riding, if it is wet the ground becomes extremely muddy and slippery.

The sign for the horse camp.

Dry Creek Horse Camp has five sites all with steel corrals. There is a bathroom and a manure bin. The creek has plenty of water in it early in the year, but best not to count on it for stock water, it's called Dry Creek for a reason. There is no potable water, no garbage and no fee. The camp is on a hill so most of the spots are not very level.

Dry Creek Horse Camp.

The main trail from here is the Giddy Up Go Loop. It leaves directly across from the camp and you have several choices on which way to go. Across the creek would be how to ride it counterclockwise, or you can take the far left trail which is the clockwise way....although just continuing to ride up the road the camp is on, will also get you there, in fact the far left trail will eventually end up on this road. Lastly there is a well used trail in the middle of these two, this is the tie trail and it will make your loop shorter if you choose. I rode it clockwise on this day.

Giddy Up Go Loop.

The trail turns into dirt roads at times, some two tracks and then more trail. Several years ago it was not well marked. A friend and I attempted it, lost the trail for a long while and then ended up finding it again, but for that reason didn't actually get to ride the the whole thing. Now it is very well marked, and more people are obviously using it. The original markers are yellow wooden diamonds on the trees, and there are also a few white diamonds.

On the Giddy Up Go Loop.

Giddy Up Go Loop, partly on dirt roads.

Approx. halfway there is the option to take the tie trail back for a shorter loop.

Yellow diamonds mark the trail.

Most of the trail is through forest although there are some views at the top of Steins Pillar and surrounding mountains.
The loop is 12 miles, there is a sign at the trailhead that says it is 7, which is not correct. Most likely this is referring to only one side of the loop.

Views from Giddy Up Go Loop.

Steins Pillar.

Giddy Up Go Loop view.

There are a couple of collapsed dwellings on the way back.

When I got back to camp to have a snack break, there were a few ladies riding Peruvians that I said hi to, and then I continued on to do the other trail to Brennan Palisades. This is a short ( less than 5 miles round trip ) trail that runs along beside the creek, crossing it several times. It eventually comes out into a fenced in meadow and in the spring it's probably better to skirt this area, but right now it was dry enough to ride through. This trail is not marked, you are basically just riding along beside the road you drove in on, until you get to the road that goes to the Palisades, then it's about a 1/4 of a mile up that road. That is the only real destination, although I have explored in the past by continuing to follow this road which climbs up for awhile but then dead ends.

The meadow that is very close to Brennan Palisades.

Brennan Palisades sign.

Brennan Palisades.

If you are feeling adventurous there is a trail that leads up into the Palisades. There is a lot more to be seen from up there than from down below. From the top you can then follow a trail back to the horse camp. Most of the trail is actually in good shape, but there is a section with some downed trees, and a few areas you might lose the trail briefly. It will come to the fence line by the camp, and you just ride down to the entrance from there.

Up on top of the Brennan Palisades.

Other than these two options, there aren't any other trails, but you can continue riding down the road you drove in on. There is an old barn to visit, or just check out where the many random dirt roads in the area go. I have ridden up to the Green Mountain OHV trail from road 3380 and explored around there as well.