High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway
High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Oregon. Within Oregon it covers roughly 110 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway is a 127-mile drive through southeastern Oregon's high desert, running from Burns south to the remote community of Fields. Designated an Oregon Scenic Byway in 2003, the route follows Oregon Route 205 across some of the state's most sparsely populated country, with sagebrush flats stretching toward the horizon in every direction. Along the way it skirts the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, a major stopover for migratory birds, and runs within view of Steens Mountain, a 50-mile fault-block ridge that rises more than a mile above the surrounding desert floor. Services are scarce for long stretches, so travelers typically fill up in Burns before heading south, treating the byway as an entry point into Steens Mountain and the surrounding high desert rather than a quick drive-through. It's a stark, wide-open route that rewards travelers looking for solitude over roadside amenities.
- Burns to Fields
- 127 miles (OR-205)
- designated Oregon Scenic Byway 2003
- Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
- Steens Mountain
- southeastern Oregon high desert
Plan a drive on High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway
4 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway.
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