Wilson Creek - Owyhee Front

There is no place in the Owyhee Canyonlands that has the dynamic rock formations of the Wilson Creek area. I have spent years exploring and photographing the Owyhee Canyonlands and this is the only area that I have found with these Unique stacked cathedral formations.

Hike: 15,16, and17 The Wilson Creek Travel Management Area is a 28,000 acre area of mostly public lands located in the Owyhee Front, about 10 miles south of Marsing. Idaho. The northernmost portion of the subregion lies along Highway 78, near the Snake River. The project area runs approximately from Highway 78 south The Wilson Creek subregion is portion of the larger (261,487-acre) Owyhee Front Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) that was designated as “Limited to Designated Roads and Trails” in the 1999 Owyhee Resource Management Plan. Established trails in the Owyhee Canyonlands are hard to come by. Most of the hiking in the Owyhee is cross country scrambling but in the Wilson Creek Area the trail system is second to none. Horse trails, bike trails and hiking trails for all levels of adventurer.

West Fork Little Owyhee via 3 Forks - Owyhee River

Three Forks-Owyhee River, Oregon

Dust from our vehicle obscures the outlines of dark basalt cliffs, rising above then falling from site along the flat desert road from Highway 95 to Three Forks. Faint contours of the basalt cap to the west marks the edge of the deep chasm of the River Canyon. The powdery dust settles as we approach the lip of the canyon dropping sharply into the Three Forks Basin, the three spectacular tributaries of the Owyhee River, the North, Middle, and Main forks giving relief to the arid desert. 
The Owyhee drains a remote area of the plateau region on the north edge of the Great Basin, rising in northeastern Nevada and flowing generally northward near the Oregon-Idaho border to the Snake River.



Three Forks is a dramatic base camp giving you many opportunities for self-guided hikes to Warm Springs Creek, along the North Fork Owyhee, and my favorite the West Fork of the Little Owyhee.

The confluence of the WF Little Owyhee and the Main Fork Owyhee.

Main Fork Owyhee near the WF Little Owyhee Confluence.

 

 From the rim of Three Fork a high clearance 4 w/d vehicle may be required. To access the trail head dropping into the West Fork of the Little it is a must. For more information see the guide book, "The Owyhee Canyonlands-An Outdoor Adventure Guide". This is hike #52.





The canyon views from the confluence of the West Fork Little Owyhee and the Main Owyhee are unforgetable offering extraordinary views both up stream and down stream. This is a dramatic vantage point and should be considered for a camp location.

View down river from the rim above the confluence of the WF Little Owyhee and the Main Owyhee.

If you base camp at Three Forks, a consideration on the trip back might be a soak in the hot springs at Warm Springs Creek. Warm Springs Creek, along the edge of the Main Owyhee, offers warm waterfalls and several pools of clean and clear chest deep water. It is not to be missed.

Juniper Ridge-Honeycombs

Its not to late to visit the trails into the Owyhee Canyonlands. In fact with the cool overnight temperatures and the highs being in the high 70's to low 80's, right now is the perfect time. Last weekend I took advantage of the weather and dropped into the Honeycombs, a short canyon that drops into the Owyhee Reservoir from a rugged outcroppings of  colorful ash formations.

Juniper Ridge Camp at the top of  the Honeycombs

 Normally this is an easy one day out and one day back round trip but with heavy camera equipment and having to carry water I opted to have freinds drop me off at the trail head and then pick me up by boat on the Reservoir at Bensley Flat two days latter. 
Two miles in from the trail head is a nice camp on Juniper Ridge with stunning views of the Owyhee Desert and the craggy Honeycomb canyon below.

In mid canyon there are several overhangs that provide shade to hikers. This is a good spot to make camp to explore and photograph the canyons unique ash formations.

Mid-Canyon Camp

Looking down canyon from Mid-Canyon Camp

View from mid-canyon up to Juniper Ridge.

From mid canyon it is a short 1.5 mile walk to the Reservoir.  There are many good options for camping with a ton of cottonwood trees for shade. I choose a different option and traveled out via boat.

Low Water on Owyhee Reservoir at Bensley Flat.

This hike: Juniper Ridge-Honeycombs (hike 27), from our latest guide, "The Owyhee Canyonlands, an outdoor adventure"


 By Steve Stuebner an Mark Lisk

New Gallery in My Old Space

Many of you my remember my old studio space at 518 Americana. In this was the space I started my photography career in 1987. A long time ago. Now I am coming full circle and moving back into the building with 18 other talented artists. Gallery Five 18
 
 

An ensemble of nineteen artists for an opening exhibit at our new Gallery in Boise. Gallery Five18 features a large exhibition space, an outdoor sculpture area, and a beer and wine bar. This is no ordinary gallery, owned by a single proprietor with contracts with individual artists. Gallery Five18 is a collaborative of several well know Idaho artists, including long time downtown gallery owners, painter Jerri Lisk and photographer Mark Lisk.

Kickstarter-Owyhee Canyonlands Guidebook

Steve Stuebner and Mark Lisk are asking for your support to fund the printing of their latest book, "The Owyhee Canyonlands - an outdoor adventure guide". Please follow the link to support our project. The guidebook will feature a complete guide to the 100 mile Owyhee Scenic Back Country Byway, 55 hiking and biking routes in Owyhee County, Idaho and E. Oregon, as well as hiking and backpacking in the new Owyhee Wilderness.

I am excited to have the new Idaho calendars at the Gallery and available for purchase. Please contact Ashley, our gallery manager, for information.  

Hand coloring the West

The short cold days of winter have left me with time to rediscover a old art, hand colored black and white photographs. It has been a few years since I have broken out the prisma colors and this seemed like a good time to add a little color to the present season.

 New work:  Hand colored and burnished prisma color on original photographs by Mark Lisk
These images will be on exhibit at the Lisk Gallery, February 7th - March 8th

Cascade Corner

In an isolated corner of Yellowstone National Park, right on the Idaho and Wyoming border, is a place referred to as Cascade Corner. It is here that I began my latest photography expedition, the Fall River in the Fall. 

Then moved on to three other spectacular areas in East Idaho, Mesa Falls, Harriman State Park, and SF Snake River near Swan Valley. With the unseasonably warm afternoon and crisp mornings this years fall colors have been nothing short of amazing. (Click the above link to view the entire shoot.)