Traveling to OSP

Remember: sunset at this time of year is around 8:00 PM. Please try to arrive before dark, but if unable to do so, be cautious of deer or other animals on the roads, particularly around dusk or dawn. Anticipate an hour’s drive from Prineville to the site. Roads are paved except for the last four miles, which are gravel, and in good shape.

Before leaving home, please check our web site for any possible detours.

For a map with driving directions, click here

A) From western Oregon, western Washington & California:
Travel east out of Prineville on State Highway #26. Zero your trip meter at the Forest Service Headquarters at the east end of town. Stay on Hwy 26 for approximately 14 miles, then turn right onto the Ochoco Ranger Station Road. It is not marked, but there should be an OSP sign placed shortly after you turn.

Zero your trip meter again and travel 8.4 miles, until you come to a Y in the road just past the Big Summit Ranger Station. At this Y, zero trip meter again, stay right on NFS 42 and go 19 miles to NFS 4240. Turn right onto NFS 4240 and proceed for 2.7 miles, turn right onto NFS 800. Go 1.5 miles west on NFS 800 and you will arrive at Indian Trail Spring.

B) From eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, & other states:
Coming from places east of Indian Trail Spring, there are several options. From the north and east several good paved roads lead eventually to the town of Mitchell along Hwy 26. It is recommended that those coming in from this direction continue west on Hwy 26 to the turnoff for the Ochoco Ranger Station Road.

There are several gravel Forest Service roads that can be taken if one has an Ochoco National Forest map and feels comfortable with navigating back roads. But it is always a good idea to contact the Forest Service right before OSP to make sure these roads are open. From the southeast, the main roads will take you through Bend and then to Prineville. Hwy 27 is a shortcut available off of Hwy 20 to Prineville, it is graveled from Hwy 20 until the Prineville Reservoir where it becomes paved.

Please check the Oregon Department of Transportation web page www.tripcheck.com for up to date road information. The link for Incident Maps will take you to a 9 section grid. The Indian Trail Spring site is in Central Oregon. The site is east of Prineville along Highway 26.