This is Hart

I’m pretty sure your regular runs do not give you a chance to enjoy hot springs, a glass house, petroglyphs, gravesites from the 19^th century, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, wild horses, bears, sage-grouse, rattlesnakes, majestic views, wide open prairies, endless sage brush oceans, and trillions of mosquitoes—potentially all during the same day. I present you three route variants (TIH1, TIH2, and TIH3) in the pretty fantastic Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, which quietly resides in a remote corner of the Oregon Outback (not your Subrau). The routes are long enough to be worth the long drive to the refuge. Make it a long weekend and enjoy a part of Oregon that most people have never even heard of, let alone visited. And no, the routes are not as hard as the name suggests. Nevertheless, completing any of the three will pretty much require an entire day. If you are from the Portland area, driving out on Friday, perhaps staying at the Hart Mountain cabin or camping, completing one of the routes on Saturday, and driving home on Sunday is a pretty realistic plan. If you are driving through Prineville on the way (= shortest route), don’t forget to check out Ochoco Brewing Company [CLOSED]. The Pioneer Saloon in Paisley is also worth a stop if you are interested to get a feel of a remote ranching community in the middle of the Oregon Outback.

Routes

All three routes start from the northeast corner of Hart Lake, 6.6 miles from Plush, OR. Start coordinates: 42.44026,-119.82168. There is parking for a bunch of cars. If your car merits a bigger and more official parking lot with restrooms, there’s one pretty much across the street, as part of the Warner Wetlands. The recommended direction for all routes is counter-clockwise. You get to do the easy and flat part first and you will either end in the hot springs (TIH1) or with a gnarly descent from the rim (TIH2 and TIH3), followed by a 3mi road section back to the start for TIH3. It’s not, however, impossible to do these routes clockwise as well. Your call. All three routes partly follow the Oregon Desert Trail (ODT). Section 10, maps 1-8 cover parts of the routes above. See ODT maps and guidebook for more info. The ODT maps also contain important water availability info. The idea of route TIH1 is that you directly end up in the Hart Hot Springs. Ideally, have someone drop you off at the start in the early morning and have them meet you at the hot springs. They can set up camp, get a fire going, cool a few beers in the creek, and prepare dinner. Good luck finding someone willing to do that. That’s why there is TIH3, which gets you back to the start. Route TIH2 traverses the Hart Mountain rim and spits you out—possibly a little beaten up—on the Hart Mountain Road (County Highway 3-12). Unless you want to do the 3mi road section back to your car (route TIH3), you’d have to arrange for a ride. That’s not obvious in these days if you don’t have cell phone reception. Smoke signals are not recommended. TIH2 and TIH3 follow a ridgeline that leads you from the top of the rim to the road. The line is pretty obvious from the top, but there are details on the way you’ll have to work out. Apart for one (TIH1) and two (TIH2 and 3) cross-country sections, the routes follows 4×4 dirt roads. Some of them are used, others are abandoned, most are unmarked. Some sections are very rocky, others not so much. You’ll get a bit of everything. At the exception of the cross-country sections, pretty much everything is runnable. The traverse over the Hart Mountain rim for TIH2 and TIH3 is steep and gnarly on the descent to the Hart Mountain Road (County Highway 3-12). You only want to do this if you are comfortable in such terrain. Be warned that you cannot simply and blindly follow the GPS track. TIH2 and TIH3 will involve finding your own line to some extent. If you realize this is not for you, go back and divert to the Hart Hot Springs (route TIH1). Route TIH3 involves a 3mi road section. It’s not as bad as it sounds. Perhaps a great opportunity to finish strong and fast if you have something left in your tank. If you are an overachiever, you could first head to the hot springs on route TIH1 to take a break and a cleansing soak, then head back up to where TIH2/3 turns off and cross over the rim on these routes. That would add roughly 4mi to your day, plus some elevation gain. All for a good purpose. Or something along these lines. Or, last but not least, you could camp at the hot springs, and then do the TIH3 route as a lollypop, following TIH1 first up to where TIH2/3 turns off. I’d still recommend to do it counter-clockwise.

Overview of the three routes. Click to enlarge or use interactive map.

Dos and Dont’s

• Carry maps, e.g., the ODT maps. The route is not marked.
• Carry enough water. In the summer, not all streams may be running. Check the ODT maps for water info.
• Carry a GPS and know how to use it, especially if you want to complete TIH2 and TIH3.
• The descent from the rim on TIH2 and TIH3 should not be done in the dark.
• While poles are not a must, I’d recommend them for the TIH2 and TIH3 descent from the rim. The average runner will find the terrain on that descent to be steep and difficult.
• Don’t count on seeing people on these routes. Except at the hot springs. Help could be far away.
• Don’t rely on cell phone coverage, there is none. So even if you have a satellite tracking device, your party may not be able to follow you and/or receive your messages.
• If you plan on using Gaia, make sure to download the maps for this area for offline use at home.
• The routes may take you longer than you anticipate. Carry a headlamp in case you had a late start and/or things don’t go according to plan.

FAQs

• What’s in for me if I complete any of these routes? Fame. Pure fame. And perhaps an FKT.
• How can I announce an attempt? Use your personal Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or post in some running-related group/forum/page.
• How can I submit my data to be listed on this page? Use the submission form at the end of this page.
• Are there any records? Probably. If you’d like me to post your times and reports, please contact me and I’ll post here.
• Do I need to write up a trip report? No, it’s not mandatory. Yet, reports allow to share knowledge and to inspire others, so they are encouraged.
• Do I need to carry a satellite tracker? No, but you need to submit solid evidence that you completed the challenge. A GPS track (e.g., recorded with GaiaGPS) provides reasonable evidence. So do links to Strava or other activity websites. And of course photos and movies will provide additional evidence.
• Can I back- or fastpack this? Definitely. However, if you are staying overnight, you will need a (free) backcountry permit. You can fill one out at the Refuge Headquarters 24/7.
• Can I park my car along Hart Mountain Road (County Highway 3-12)? No, there is no room for parking.
• Is there parking at the start? Yes.

How to get there

• Google maps to start of TIH1, TIH2, and TIH3 routes
• Google maps to Plush, OR
• Driving directions to Hart Mountain Refuge (pdf)

Where to stay

• Plush, OR: Hart Mountain Cabin. A great location for your base camp. The cabin can accommodate up to 4, but it’s already rather tight for 2 persons. There is no cell reception and the wireless has never quite worked, so be ready to be disconnected from the world while you stay there.
• Camping in the refuge. See refuge map for the location of these campgrounds.
  • Camp Hart Mountain
  • Guano Creek CLOSED
  • Hot Springs
  • Post Meadows 

Source: Refuge brochure.

Where to eat and shop

• Plush, OR: Hart Mountain Store
• Lakeview, OR, has a Safeway and other stores and restaurants.

Additional resources

• Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
• Refuge brochure (pdf)
• Wildlife viewing list (pdf)
• Oregon Desert Trail (ODT)

Maps

• Hart Mountain US Fish & Wildlife Service maps
• Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge with vegetation zones (pdf)
• Oregon Desert Trail maps and guidebook. Section 10, maps 1-8 cover parts of the routes above.

Disclaimers

• The information provided on this website does not identify possible dangers. When you are attempting one of these routes, you assume responsibility for your own actions and safety.
• It is your responsibility to follow all wilderness regulations as well as Federal, State, and Local laws.

Submit your Attempts and Completions

Click here to get to the form.