Morning view of the North Fork Owyhee Wild & Scenic River canyon east of Three Forks Recreation Area, with the Owyhee River Canyon in the background, June 8, 2017, by Greg Shine, BLM.

into the remote southeast corner of Oregon, the Wild and Scenic North Fork Owyhee River offers outstanding opportunities for recreation and viewing scenery and wildlife in the rugged, high desert canyonlands of the Owyhee River Basin.

It’s your river. Make your splash!

The Oregon Omnibus Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1988 designated all 9 miles of the North Fork Owyhee River from the Oregon/Idaho state line to its confluence with the Owyhee River at Three Forks as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System NWSRS. It also classified these miles as Wild – the highest level of protection for the values which make it outstandingly remarkable while providing river-related outdoor recreation opportunities in a primitive setting.

And oh, does this river have some outstandingly remarkable values!

If it’s recreation you’re after, the North Fork Owyhee offers high-quality backpacking opportunities for those looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience.

Excellent opportunities for early season (spring runoff) expert level kayaking on the 12 mile section between North Fork Crossing in Idaho and Three Forks also draw intrepid adventurers.

Numerous other recreational opportunities – including hunting, camping, wildlife viewing and photography are available in the area – with camping and vehicle access available at the Three Forks Recreation Site.

The river’s scenery is equally outstanding. The designated river corridor contains a subtle diversity of landforms and vegetation – a place where interesting erosional patterns and colorful rock strata mix with large stands of juniper.

The canyon bottoms are overshadowed by steep, rugged canyon walls, and two main side canyons laced with juniper trees add to the complexity of the landscape. In the typically flat high sagebrush desert, these canyons provide an exceptional visual setting.

The remoteness and solitude found along the river also contribute to the scenic setting.

Wildlife also thrive here. Mule deer make use of the North Fork Canyon as a migrational corridor to wintering ranges farther down the main Owyhee Canyon.

Other species known to live in the area include cougar, pronghorn antelope, and white-tailed jackrabbit. The abundance of small mammals on the plateau above the river contributes to the large and diverse raptor population of the canyon.

A community of western juniper in the mid-canyon area provides hiding and thermal cover for wildlife. Numerous species of birds utilize the juniper trees throughout the year. Greater sage-grouse are quite common, and numerous species of nongame birds also take advantage of the diverse habitat.

As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as we pursue our multiple-use mission.

Although most of the land along the North Fork Owyhee River and the Owyhee Wild River System is managed by the BLM, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and private parties have interests in the resources of these rivers and adjoining lands.

Coordination and cooperation with all stakeholders is critical to effective BLM management, and we believe partnerships and inclusion are vital to managing sustainable, working public lands.

For more information, contact: Vale District Office 100 Oregon Street Vale, OR 97918 Phone: 541-473-3144 Fax: 541-473-6213