Succor Creek via Leslie Gulch Road is a 28.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Jordan Valley, Oregon that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
A popular sight seeing, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and off road recreational area in eastern Oregon. The towering rock structures of Succor Creek Canyon rise above prime riparian habitat and rock-hounding grounds. Leslie Gulch is a strikingly beautiful vastness of volcanic tuff towers. This is a picturesque place where wind, water, and time have created spectacular panoramas of unusually sculpted colorful conical towers, honeycombed pinnacles, and intricate multiple layered spires. Succor Creek and Leslie Gulch provide opportunities for hiking, photography, camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, off-roading, boating, and rock hounding. Look for chukars or thundereggs. The rugged canyons and rock formations of Leslie Gulch and Succor Creek are home to a population of California bighorn sheep. Depending on the season's precipitation, this area is usually open by the middle of April through November. The elevations in the area range from around 2600' in the canyons to about 4400' on the ridges.
For further info contact the BLM at Vale, Oregon, (541) 473-3144 or at www.or.blm.gov/Vale.
There is no potable water in the area. It is a primitive area, so bring everything you may need with you and pack it out when you leave. There are no mapped hiking trails, but many impromptu trails lead to interesting rock formations and viewpoints. Most of the secondary roads in the area are more suited for hiking than driving. Be prepared for ticks and be on the lookout for rattlesnakes. The weather is unpredictable and you may encounter extreme conditions. DON'T GO WHEN IT IS WET! The mud can be unbelievable. There is no cell phone service in the area. Thundereggs which formed within holes in the volcanic ash may contain a variety of mineral deposits, some thundereggs contain agate. Both campgrounds in the area are no fee and are first come, first served. Leslie Gulch is closed to horses to protect an endangered plant.
Clean free camp site, first come first serve, get cozy with your neighbors because you’re all right on top of each other, but you are surrounded by tall scenic landscapes. The views are spectacular with amazingly colored landscapes. Tons of trails to hike and drive. Would totally recommend anyone to go if you get a chance. About a 2 hr drive to the campsites if your coming from the Boise area of Idaho.
Awesome day hike! Really surprised by this one. It's tucked away on some back roads. Spent about 5 hours back there and didn't see another person. Would definitely do again. The only thing I would recommend is to download the directions prior to entering the area. There isn't any cell service within 20 miles. So if you aren't familiar you will surely miss your turn. Hike was awesome. Not too difficult and the view just got better as I went deeper into the trail.
I took the jeep and dogs out from Kuna along the back roads toward Jordan Valley and then connected with the route thru to leslie gulch. The road was washboarded out pretty bad for quite a bit of the trip and it was HOT! When we got to the gulch, it was mostly dried up. I think this year (2013)has been a hard, dry summer. On the way back we turned north and out thru Succor creek. There is some "middle earth" looking terrain up there! So cool to see (but hot and dusty) and we did a little exploring. I won't be doing this trip again in summer... maybe spring time would be better. We had fun but man was the jeep dusty! ha BC
We visited the Leslie Gulch area and the weather was perfect. A lot of people were also enjoying the great weather and the very scenic area. The road in the canyon was washed out in most of the low spots, but still passable by automobiles. I added some photos to this guide.