Outback Scenic Byway
Oregon Route 31 and US 395 across the high desert from the pines near La Pine past Fort Rock, Summer Lake and Abert Rim to Lakeview.
Also known as Oregon Outback Scenic Byway
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length170 miles[1]ODOT's TripCheck lists 171 miles.
- Drive timeAbout four hours[1]FHWA's "time to allow"; TripCheck gives a minimum of 4-6 hours
- RoadsUS 97, Oregon Route 31 and US 395[2]
- Start and endNear La Pine to New Pine Creek at the California line, south of Lakeview[2]
- Fees and passesNone along the byway[1]
- Best seasonJune through October[2]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesRemote high desert: expect occasional snow in winter and temperatures in the 90s in summer.[2]
- Seasonal closuresHighway 31, US 395 and the county roads are maintained year-round; winter storms occasionally slow traffic, but the roads are rarely closed.[3]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Outback Scenic Byway starts in the Deschutes National Forest near La Pine and heads southeast on Oregon Route 31. The pine forest soon gives way to sagebrush plains, with Fort Rock, an old volcanic crater, standing up out of the flats.
Farther on, the road crosses Picture Rock Pass and drops to Summer Lake, a stop for waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway. Past Paisley it runs beside Lake Abert under the long wall of Abert Rim, then joins US 395 to Lakeview and ends at New Pine Creek on the California line.
This is remote country with long gaps between towns. ODOT suggests June through October, and warns of snow in winter and heat in summer, so fill up and carry water.
Stops along the way
-
Lakeview
Town at 4,800 feet, home of the Old Perpetual geyser.
Official information · 42.18878, -120.34581 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Lake Abert
Alkaline lake below the Abert Rim fault escarpment.
Official information · 42.59784, -120.2262 · about 5.3 mi from the route line
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Paisley
Small town with hot springs and access to the Chewaucan River.
Official information · 42.69377, -120.5461 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Summer Lake
Small town beside the Summer Lake Wildlife Area, a Pacific Flyway stop.
Official information · 42.97293, -120.7775 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Picture Rock Pass
4,830-foot pass named for nearby petroglyphs.
Official information · 43.04788, -120.79899 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Fort Rock State Park
Volcanic crater rising 325 feet above the desert floor.
Official information · 43.37384, -121.07004 · about 5.4 mi from the route line
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Fort Rock Homestead Village
Homestead buildings gathered into a living history museum.
Official information · 43.35572, -121.05836 · about 5.7 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Vegetable Man of La Pine Farmers MarketLa Pine, OR · about 1.9 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- Asian pearsAug, Sep, Oct
- BasilJun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- BlackberriesJun, Jul, Aug
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Cascade Lakes Scenic BywayOR · about 90 mi away
- Rogue-Umpqua Scenic BywayOR · about 100 mi away
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic BywayCA, OR
- McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic BywayOR
- West Cascades Scenic BywayOR
- Mt. Hood Scenic BywayOR
More scenic drives in Oregon
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Outback Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- The Oregon Outback Scenic Byway (TripCheck, Oregon Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Outback Scenic Byway: Visitor Services, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).