Take a Hike | Pike Creek Canyon Trail, Alvord Desert

Read about our camping trip to the Alvord Desert here.

On the edge of the Steen Mountains and the Alvord Desert lies a great day hike ready for exploring. While Pike Creek Canyon Trail is nearly 7 miles in total, it’s easy to turn it into a shorter out-and-back (which we did due to heat) or if you’re looking for some additional adventure, you can extend it for several more miles if you’re willing to do a bit of scrambling, climbing and bushwacking.

I recommend hiking Pike Creek in the spring or early summer to catch the creek when it’s full and the wildflowers in full bloom. We visited the Alvord in late May and the canyon hills were lined with stunning lupin of all colors and paintbrush adding bright pops of color.

For those who enjoy a side of history with their hike, Pike Creek is also the site of a former uranium mine, and you can still see and explore remnants of it. There are also several opportunities to find geodes and other fun geologic features which makes this hike great for families and nerds alike. Just be sure to respect the space and leave these treasures behind for the next hikers to enjoy.

Pike Creek Canyon Trail was a great outing during our stay at the Alvord Desert and I would highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the area. A great way to end your hike would be stopping at the Alvord Desert Hot Springs for a nice soak with some great views of the desert and Steen Mountains.