Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Those in search of fall landscapes in Oregon can find plenty around the Willamette Valley, but Steens Mountain offers a scene like no other in the state.



This year, early snow blanketed Steens Mountain, adding big patches of white around the yellows, oranges and reds of the mountain’s annual fall foliage.

It made a spectacular scene for those who visited the remote destination over the weekend, found in the far southeastern corner of Oregon south of Burns.

READ MORE: 12 fall adventures around Oregon

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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All along the drive up the mountain, viewpoints offered stunning fall displays of quaking aspens, which cover fields and fill canyons. From the popular Kiger Gorge Overlook, green and yellow leaves were visible at the bottom of the deep, snow-coated glacial valley.

The gravel Steens Mountain Loop Road was passable until the higher reaches, when deeper snow required cars with high clearance and four-wheel drive.

It looked like a convergence of two seasons on Steens (though fall snow is common in eastern Oregon), adding a colorful flair to a landscape already full of dramatic natural beauty.

To get to Steens Mountain, take Oregon Route 205 south from Burns for 60 miles to Frenchglen. Look for Steens Mountain Loop Road and follow the gravel road up the mountain.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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