Poker Jim Ridge Hike
Hike Rating: Moderate
Hike
Length: 6.1 miles roundtrip (variable)
Elevation Gain: 650’
Trailhead Elevation: 5,670’
Best Season: June through September
Driving Access: High-clearance
vehicle
Plus
Points
• A cow-free, cross-country hike along a 1,500’-high, fault
block escarpment
• Sweeping, panoramic vistas west to the Warner Valley and
its pothole lakes
• Long views to the east of Steens Mtn., the Catlow Rim and
the Pueblo Mtns.
• Pronghorn antelope and mule deer are commonly seen on the
open sage flats
• Bighorn sheep sightings are a possibility along Poker Jim
Ridge
• Native American pictographs on a low basalt rim beside a
desert lake
Minus
Points
• No established trail, but
walking is easy over the low sage and short bunchgrass
• Few trees or shade, except along rim, so it’s best to
start in early AM on hot days
• Afternoon thunderstorms can present a lightning hazard
along the rim
Download (PDF, 605 KB): Photos of Poker Jim Ridge
Hike
Download
(PDF, 693 KB): Topo Map for Poker Jim Ridge
Hike
Download
(GPX, 4 KB): GPS Points for Poker Jim Ridge
Hike
Download
(PDF, 605 KB): Road Map for Poker Jim Ridge
Hike
Trail
Notes
From the
small parking area at road’s end, follow the conspicuous
trail leading north, which then skirts the west side of
Petroglyph Lake. Look for petroglyphs here on the low
basalt rim west of the lake (please don’t touch them!). The
route then strikes off cross-country for the prominent
juniper-covered ridge to the northeast. Look for small
groups of antelope and mule deer in this stretch. After
walking about 0.6 miles north across a treeless plain, one
comes to the first scattered juniper trees (GPS Point 2)
and begins the gradual 0.4 mile ascent to the most obvious
high point on the northern horizon (Promontory 6049 at GPS
Point 3).
Once at the
top of Promontory 6049, enjoy the panoramic views west over
the Warner Valley wetlands and pothole lakes. Also note the
striking hexagonal-shaped tops to the columnar basalt here.
The route is then cross-country to the east and north along
Poker Jim Ridge, through the low sage and scattered
junipers just behind the rim’s edge. With binoculars, one
can scan for bighorn sheep on the ridge ahead and in the
rocks below the rim. To the east are long views of the
Steens Mtn. range, the Catlow Rim and Pueblo Mtns. The
route along the rim gradually climbs about 250’ over the
next 1.7 miles, until it reaches a broad, open high point
(Promontory 6315 at GPS Point 4) — which makes a good lunch
and hike destination. Return as you came.
Road
to Trailhead
From the headquarters of the
Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge, drive about 0.8 miles
northwest on the main refuge road to a dirt road on the
northeast. There may be a small sign here to Petroglyph
Lake. If it's dry and hard, turn onto this dirt road and
follow it for about 1.5 miles to a small parking area and a
“Road Closed” sign. When dry, the first mile of this dirt
road is passable by any passenger car. However, the last
half mile gets rocky and rough, so unless you have a high
clearance vehicle, you may want to park at some point
(taking care not to block the roadway) and walk this last
section.
Camping Options
The nearest
developed campground is the Hot Springs Campground on the
refuge itself, about 6 driving miles south from the
trailhead and about 4 miles south of the Refuge
Headquarters. It has 30 free sites of various sizes, from
small tents to large RVs, plus a vault toilet and an
enclosed public hot springs. There is no drinking water at
this campground, but it can be obtained at the Refuge
Headquarters. The campground has a camp host in the summer
and is managed by the USF&WS.
The next nearest developed campground is Camp Hart
Mountain, an old CCC camp located in the Warner Valley
about 10 driving miles southwest from the trailhead and
about 15 miles north of Plush on the paved road to the Hart
Mountain Antelope Refuge (Road 3-12). This campground has 9
free campsites that will accommodate any size camping rig,
vault toilets and drinking water. It has a camp host during
the summer and is also managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Agency
Contact: Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge,
(541) 947-2731 or (541) 947-3315
DISCLAIMER:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this
information, but the authors do not guarantee that it is
either current or correct. The reader assumes full
responsibility for any use of this information, and is
encouraged to contact local federal land agencies to
inquire about current conditions before
traveling.
Page
last updated: 1/16/13