Birch Creek Historic Ranch
Nestled among cream and chocolate colored hills, barren red cliffs, and towering rock spires lays a secret oasis: the Birch Creek Historic Ranch. Established in the early 1900s, the ingenuity and determination of a Basque sheepherder and a West Virginia cattle rancher are still evident at the site today. Stone walls built in the Basque tradition still ascend the mesa. Remnants of a waterwheel hint at the lush alfalfa fields fed through the gravity irrigation system. Nineteen buildings and structures at the ranch contribute to the property's designation as a historical rural landscape on the Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places.
Birch Creek Ranch Brochure
Explore Oregon Recreation: Birch Creek Historic Ranch
Know Before You Go:
- Open YEAR ROUND, best access May-October.
- Accessibility is dependent on road conditions. A high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.
- There is a single water source and restroom. Five-unit campground.
Point of Interest:
Contact the Bureau of Land Management Vale District office for facilities rental information, current road access conditions, and any seasonal fire closure restrictions.Birch Creek Ranch Brochure
Explore Oregon Recreation: Birch Creek Historic Ranch
Activities
- Auto Touring
- Biking
- Boating
- Climbing
- Historic & Cultural Site
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Day Use Area
- Photography
- Paddling
- Swimming
Media