The views from Jackass Rim are stupendous. This is a small scarp by Basin and Range standards, but its vetical rise of a thousand feet or so, looses nothing by its size. It seems as if one step will send you soaring, just like the golden eagles, hawks and falcons that nest here. This is a grand place for cloud watchers.
For some twenty miles the rim provides stunning views of Steens Mountain and vast Harney Basin. Directly below, the Donner und Blitzen River winds though the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge cuts a green strip through the desert as it makes its way toward landlocked Harney Lake. To the east, snowy Steens Mountain fills the view.
Hidden behind its face of Jackass Rim, a complex of broken layers hold ephemeral lakes and bonsai juniper forests. On the long gentle western slope, herds of wildhorses, pronghorn, and mule deer wander.
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The first day we will follow an old jeep trail that climbs through a notch in the massive cliffs. After breaching the scarp, we traverse north to Peanut Lake using animal trails and cross country routes. Along the way we visit a bonsai juniper tree forest and side trails leading to stunning views of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and Steens Mountain. Our campsite is at an unnamed lake where high rims protect us from harsh wind and weather. On our second day we retrace our tracks to the parking area on Highway 205 at P-Hill above Frenchglen.
Some trails are narrow and demanding while others, particularly the wild horse trails, are easily negotiated. There are several large lakes in this area, all of them dry is year, tucked into spectacular high-rimmed basins. Between Camps 1 and 2 we will visit a juniper forest of particularly old and gnarled specimens that grow out of nearly solid rock. Camp 2 sits in a wind protected hollow with magnificent views of Malheur Wildlife spread out below. Our Third day's route includes walking the top of the mountains' rim in a wildly expansive experience of space and distance.