Leslie Gulch: Oregon’s Stunning Alien Territory

Leslie Gulch looks like someone dropped a chunk of Utah into the far southeast corner of Oregon.

Instead of evergreens and waterfalls, you get towering honeycombed spires, rusty orange cliffs, and bighorn sheep picking their way across the rocks. It’s remote, it’s dusty, and it’s one of the coolest places in the state.

Here’s how to get there, which trails to hike, and how to snag a spot at the free campground.

What Is Leslie Gulch?

Leslie Gulch is a canyon in the Owyhee Canyonlands that runs down to the Owyhee Reservoir. The BLM protects it as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern for its scenery, wildlife, and rare plants.

Those wild formations are made of volcanic ash that settled here millions of years ago and hardened into soft rock called tuff. Wind and water have been carving it ever since, leaving behind spires, pillars, and walls full of holes that look like honeycomb.

How Did Leslie Gulch Get Its Name?

It used to be called Dugout Gulch. Then in 1882, a local rancher named Hiram Leslie was struck by lightning here, and the canyon took his name. Not the luckiest guy, but he’s famous now!

Wildlife in Leslie Gulch

It doesn’t look like much could live out here, but this canyon is packed with life.

• California bighorn sheep: The stars of the show. A herd was reintroduced in 1965 and has grown to more than 200. Scan the cliffs!
• Raptors: Look up for golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and prairie falcons.
• Mammals: Mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, and even elk.
• Reptiles: Lizards everywhere, and rattlesnakes too. Watch your step.
• Rare plants: Two wildflowers, Packard’s blazingstar and Ertter’s ragwort, grow here and nowhere else on Earth.

How to Get to Leslie Gulch

Leslie Gulch is FAR from everything in Oregon. It’s actually way closer to Idaho. Here’s what you’re looking at:

• From Boise: About 2 hours
• From Bend: About 6 hours
• From Portland: About 8 hours

Directions

There are two main ways in, and both end on Leslie Gulch Road:

1. Via McBride Creek Road (shortest from Idaho): From Highway 95 in Idaho, take McBride Creek Road west about 8 miles to Rockville. Go 1 mile north to Leslie Gulch Road, then about 15 miles west into the canyon.
2. Via Succor Creek Road: Take Succor Creek Road from Oregon Highway 201 or US-95 down to the Leslie Gulch Road junction. You’ll pass Succor Creek on the way, which is worth a stop!

Road Conditions

Expect 20+ miles of gravel and dirt, with washboard and some rutted sections deeper in the canyon. A few things to know:

• High clearance is recommended. AWD helps, but most cars and vans manage in dry weather.
• Leave the big RV at home. The BLM doesn’t recommend large RVs.
• Watch the weather. Flash floods, rain, and snow can wash out the road or make it impassable. If it’s been raining, be ready to turn around.
• Fill up first. The closest gas and groceries are in Jordan Valley, Oregon, and Marsing, Idaho.

Leslie Gulch Trails

There are four main hikes, and they’re all short. Each one shows off a different side of the canyon. Short on time? Do as much of Upper Leslie Gulch as you can.

1. Upper Leslie Gulch

• Distance: About 4.3 miles round trip
• Trail type: Out and back
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

This one starts off Leslie Gulch Road and follows a dry creek bed for about half the way, with hoodoos towering all around you. The trail ends when the canyon gets choked with brush. There are some fun boulders to scramble on along the way, too.

2. Dago Gulch

• Distance: About 2.1 miles round trip
• Trail type: Out and back
• Difficulty: Easy

The easiest hike here. It mostly follows an old jeep road with great views of the hoodoos and very little climbing or scrambling. Turn around when you hit the private property sign.

3. Timber Gulch

• Distance: About 1.3 miles round trip
• Trail type: Out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate, short but steep with some scrambling

Short and SO worth it. Follow a wide sandy wash, scramble past a few rocks that look like they’re blocking the way (they’re not as bad as they look), and climb up into a huge natural rock amphitheater. Give yourself time to just stand there and stare.

This narrow wash is prone to flash floods, so skip it if there’s rain around.

4. Juniper Gulch

• Distance: About 3.3 miles round trip
• Trail type: Out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate to hard, with about 1,000 feet of climbing

Our pick for the best views. Look for a small gap in the brush at the Juniper Gulch trailhead and follow the canyon. The first stretch is shady, with brush and rocks to work through.

At the first fork, go left. The right fork works too, but it’s a lot more up and down. About halfway, you’ll climb steeply out of the canyon to 360-degree views and some of the best honeycomb rock in the whole gulch.

Camping at Slocum Creek Campground

Camping under the stars surrounded by glowing red rock? Yes please. Slocum Creek Campground sits in a side canyon near the bottom of the gulch, and it’s the only place you’re allowed to camp inside the protected area.

• Cost: Free!
• Reservations: None. It’s first come, first served, so arrive early, especially on weekends.
• Sites: About nine, with covered picnic tables and fire rings.
• Facilities: Vault toilets only. No drinking water, so bring plenty.
• Stay limit: 14 days.
• Season: Generally spring through fall. Winter roads can be rough or impassable.

Campground full? There’s an overflow lot just outside the protected area where you can park overnight, but it has zero amenities.

The road continues past the campground to a boat ramp on the Owyhee Reservoir. The water is usually glassy calm, which makes it awesome for kayaking or SUP. Just know the water can drop below the ramp later in the season.

Best Time to Visit Leslie Gulch

Spring and fall, hands down. Spring brings green hillsides and wildflowers, and fall has comfortable temps and golden light on the rocks.

Summer gets HOT, and there’s almost no shade. Winter brings snow and muddy, sometimes impassable roads.

Tips for Visiting Leslie Gulch

• Pack everything: Food, lots of water, and a full tank of gas. There are no services out here.
• Download maps: There’s no cell service. Save your maps and directions before you lose signal.
• Check the forecast: Flash floods are a real danger in the narrow side canyons.
• Sun protection: Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. Shade is rare.
• Wear sturdy shoes: The terrain is loose and uneven.
• Watch for rattlesnakes and ticks: Both are common here.
• Know the rules: No overnight backpacking, no camping outside Slocum Creek, stay on existing roads, and don’t collect rocks or plants.
• Watch for cattle on the road: This is open range.
• Bring baby wipes: Your post-hike “shower.” Trust us, you’ll be dusty.

What’s Near Leslie Gulch?

• Succor Creek: More alien landscapes, right on the way in.
• Jordan Valley: Fuel up and check out the nearby pillars and craters.
• Owyhee Canyonlands: Lake Owyhee State Park, hot springs, and endless remote canyons.

Where to Stay Near Leslie Gulch

If you’re not camping, your best bet is to base yourself in Idaho. Nampa is the closest city with a solid range of hotels, and Boise has the most options plus a great food and brewery scene.

Final Thoughts

Leslie Gulch takes real effort to reach, and that’s exactly why it’s so special. Few people make the drive, so you’ll often have these wild rock towers almost to yourself.

Come in spring or fall, snag a site at Slocum Creek, and give yourself at least one full day to hike. You’ll leave dusty, sunburned, and totally amazed.

We hope this helped you plan your trip to Leslie Gulch!

Sharing is caring!