OWSR No. 39: North Sprague River

Quartzville Creek

North Sprague River | Photo: Zach Collier

Quick Facts

  • Managing Agency: Fremont National Forest (USFS)
  • Designated Stretch: From River Spring to the Fremont National Forest Boundary
  • Designation Length: 15 miles (15 miles Scenic)
  • Outstanding Remarkable Values: Scenery and Geology
  • Wild and Scenic River Designation: October 28, 1988

More Information

Celebrated by Zach Collier on May 4, 2018 by exploring its lower basalt canyon by foot.

Stories

Driving towards the Geargart Mountain Wilderness and the North SpragueZach Collier: Not many people have heard of the North Sprague River or the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness making this a hard one to research. I drove 3 1/2 hours from Grants Pass to this remote part of Oregon near Bly. Form there I drove up dirt roads to find vistas of the North Sprague. There were none so I hiked down talus slopes to the river a few places and then bushwhacked along its banks.

After looking for more access I eventually hit snowbanks too large to drive through and had to turn around.

Learn about Oregon Wild and Scenic River No. 40: Eagle Creek (Wallowa Mountains) >>

Partners

Northwest Rafting Company Exploratory Division