The Awesome Guano Creek Trail In Oregon Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Ranch
Here in Oregon, the sky truly is the limit when it comes to hiking adventures. Whether you want to walk behind a waterfall, traverse an old-growth forest, hike along a resplendent river, or explore the high desert, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here in Oregon! And if it’s an adventure to a spooky, abandoned old homestead you’re seeking, you’ll find it along the Guano Creek Trail in Oregon.
Located in the high desert of southeast Oregon, you'll find the Guano Creek Wilderness Study Area: 10,350 areas of untamed Oregon wilds.
While the trail is a very doable four miles, the uneven and rocky terrain adds an extra challenge to this hike. Part of the canyon has vertical basalt walls, which you can see along the route.
As it's located in the middle of Oregon's high desert, be sure to bring along plenty of water, and wear proper hiking shoes. (You might also encounter rattlesnakes on the trail, so watch out!)
Your efforts will be rewarded, however, upon arriving at the historic Shirk Ranch. The property was originally homesteaded during the initial settlement of Lake County in the early 1880s by the Hill family. In 2009, the ranch was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.
Surprisingly well-preserved, you can walk right up to the old, weather-worn horse ranch. However, as with visiting any abandoned site, pay extra attention to your surroundings and be on the lookout for rotten floorboards.
While you're on the property, you'll notice a mysterious (and frankly, unsettling) sandstone headstone. It's said to be the final resting place for two men -- Bill Vickers and J. Gruenke -- who were killed and buried on the ranch.
After exploring this mysterious, abandoned ranch in Oregon, you'll simply follow the Guano Creek loop trail back to where you began. In total, the trail spans just over four miles.
The Guano Creek Trail is an under-the-radar trek in Oregon that offers some of the most intriguing and sublime scenery in the state, and definitely belongs on your hiking bucket list!
Have you hiked to the abandoned Shirk Ranch before? What a unique Oregon gem! For more information on the Guano Creek Trail in southeast Oregon, visit AllTrails.
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Address: Guano Creek, Oregon, USA
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I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
