Donner ünd Blitzen Wild and Scenic River

Originating on the western slopes of the Steens Mountains in remote southeast Oregon, the Blitzen River and its many tributaries flow 91 miles northwest to the nearby Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The snow- and spring-fed rivers cut through dramatic canyons before passing onto the flat open wetlands of the Refuge where there is no outlet. In 1864, an Army commander who, when forced to cross the river during a thunderstorm, named the river Donner ünd Blitzen, which is German for thunder and lightning.

Designations

Designations

October 28, 1988, and October 30, 2000. October 28, 1988: From its headwaters to the confluence with the South Fork Blitzen and Little Blitzen, including the tributaries: Little Blitzen River, South Fork Blitzen River, Big Indian Creek, Little Indian Creek and Fish Creek. October 30, 2000: Mud Creek from its source to its confluence with the Donner ünd Blitzen River; Ankle Creek from its headwaters to its confluence with the Donner ünd Blitzen River; and the South Fork of Ankle Creek from its source to its confluence with Ankle Creek. Also in 2000, the first ever Redband Trout Reserve was created to improve stream health and fish habitat.

Classification/Mileage:
October 28, 1988: Wild — 72.7 miles; Total — 72.7 miles
October 30, 2000: Wild — 14.8 miles; Total — 14.8 miles

Other Designations

The entire river system is within the Congressionally-designated Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area.

Portions of the river system fall within the 175,000-acre Steens Mountain Wilderness and three Research Natural Areas.

Outstandingly Remarkable Values

Cultural (Historic Sites)

Historic sites and resources on Steens Mountain, including the river corridor, reflect the turn-of-the-century period of settlement, homesteading and livestock raising.

Located on the Little Blitzen River is the Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District, part of the historic context of pioneer settlement and the development of the livestock industry in the American West. Migrating from western Oregon, three bachelor brothers settled there in the early 1900s and built their ranch by gaining control of water in the area. They sold the ranch in the 1950s, and in 1986 the BLM purchased the property to manage the ranch for its historic value.

Fisheries

The Blitzen River supports a wild, native redband trout population and the Malheur mottled sculpin, both listed as sensitive species. It is recognized by anglers as one of Oregon's finest wild trout streams. Fish species in the Blitzen River above Page Springs Dam are redband trout, mountain whitefish, longnose dace and mottled sculpin. The redband trout is the species most commonly found in the system, indicating the presence of good stream habitat, water quality and quantity.

Geologic

Surface rock is predominantly Steens Basalt—thin, multiple flows of basalt approximately 15 million years old and several thousand feet in thickness. Thin patches of rhyolite ash-flow tuffs occur sporadically.

The area provides textbook examples of a U-shaped glaciated canyon. Steens Mountain is the northern-most uplifted fault block in the state of Oregon, with well-defined escarpments and graben valleys. It is unique in the region because its upper 2,000 feet were shaped during the ice age as glaciers formed in the creek and streambeds, and the intense weight of the snowcap caused depressions on the surface of the mountains. Over 2,500 was carved and gouged down to a layer of very hard basalt. A second glacial advance in the upper sections of the gorges and scarp created smaller hanging valleys in the tallest areas of the existing gorges.

Pre-Historic

The river corridor was used by Native Americans, including the Northern Paiute and their predecessors. The area was used for hunting, fishing and gathering plants for food. Prehistoric sites are known to be present in portions of the river system, and conditions for prehistoric site potential exist throughout the corridor.

Recreational

Steens Mountain is a destination for two- to four-day backpacking or horsepack experiences. Exceptionally high-quality recreation also includes fishing, and one section is designated catch-and-release in one section to protect the population of native fish. Other popular activities are hunting and the viewing and photography of wildlife and scenery.

Scenic

The river and its tributaries pass through several vegetation zones which are the result of temperature, elevation and precipitation. The lower area features sagebrush and bunchgrass, and the upper subalpine zone offers glaciated canyons and deep basalt formations whose viewsheds are largely untouched and in their natural condition.

Vegetation

The Blitzen and its tributaries host a great variety of plant communities and a large number of sensitive species. Riparian zones are dominated by willows, western birch, mountain alder, black cottonwood and quaking aspen, as well as other species. Sedge and grass-dominated meadows, bog areas, seeps wetland communities, subalpine and alpine communities are found in the system. The uplands include areas dominated by big sagebrush, western juniper, mountain mahogany, quaking aspen and mountain snowberry, and understory species include Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass and needlegrasses.

Wildlife

The Blitzen River drainage is highly valued for its abundant wildlife. The river area and adjacent uplands are used by an estimated 250 wildlife species. Mule deer winter in the lower four miles of the Blitzen River and the lower four miles of Fish Creek and summer in upper areas. Rocky Mountain elk and pronghorn antelope are also present.

Raptors, such as the American kestrels, and great horned owls nest along canyon rims of the Blitzen River and its tributaries, and the cliffs are also home to nesting turkey vultures and ravens. Sage grouse stay in the upper, flatter terrain, and chukars and valley quail are found along the river.

Recreation

Access and Interpretive Information

Interpretive exhibits illustrating the natural and cultural history of the area dot Steens Mountain. The Page Springs Interpretive site is located at the south end of the Page Springs campground and offers information on two local hikes. Maps and other literature are available at the BLM office in Hines, Oregon.

Auto-touring is a common activity during the snow-free months along the high-elevation Steens Mountain Loop Road. A high-clearance vehicle is advised as some portions of this road are very rough. When open, this loop road is accessed via State Highway 205. Steens Mountain Loop Road, also known as Steens Mountain Back Country Byway (BCB), passes through the narrow highlands of the mountain, descends over the steep and rough Rooster Comb section, then traverses west to the south entrance to the Steens Loop Road, about 11 miles south of Frenchglen. The Steens Mountain Loop Road may be driven in either direction, but drivers may wish to avoid hazards of the Rooster Comb section. Steens Loop Road also provides access to the Donner und Blitzen WSR system including parts of Donner ünd Blitzen River, Fish Creek, Little Blitzen River, Big Indian Creek, and Little Indian Creek.

Day-Use and Camping

Popular with birdwatchers and fishers, the Page Springs campground is located just outside the hamlet of Frenchglen at the base of Steens Mountain. Both camping and a day-use picnicking are available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. A fee is charged for camping only. Page Springs make a great location to make a base camp; however, during the milder months the remote Fish Lake, Jackman Park and South Steens campgrounds are open seasonally.

Trails and River Access

With its trailhead located within Page Springs Campground, the 3.8-mile Blitzen River Trail offers the most direct access to the renowned fishing waters of the Blitzen River. Also at the campground is the shorter, 1-mile Wilderness Trail which offers greater elevation-and viewing opportunities-of the nearby river and desert landscapes. Both trails are out-and-back.

For overnight backpackers, the Fred Riddle, Nye and Wet Blanket trails descend steeply into the glaciated canyon of the Little Blitzen River connecting with the river’s namesake trail.

There are limited opportunities for boating in the remote Donner ünd Blitzen River system and no boating facilities exist. Advanced boating skills are required in this demanding and hazardous river system.

Fishing

The Blitzen is known for its world class redband trout fishery and fly fishing is considered some of the finest in Eastern Oregon. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife limits fishing on Little Blitzen to catch-and-release year-round.

River Management

Planning for river management is an essential part of preserving the outstanding remarkable values for which each river was designated as wild and scenic. A river management plan has been prepared for the Donner ünd Blitzen Wild and Scenic River.