Idlewild Campground
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Location
Idlewild is located in Malheur National Forest 17 miles north of Burns along US Highway 395. At an elevation of 5200 feet, there is a nice campground, a picnic area, and several miles of walking trails here. There are stands of old growth ponderosa pines in the area.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
This is the most forested location Harney County and an area favored by birders. The higher elevation campground provides large ponderosa pines which host Gray Jays, White- headed Woodpeckers, nuthatches, creeper, Clark’s Nutcracker and Northern Pygmy-Owl. At night, you might be treated to the call of a Flammulated Owl or a Common Poorwill. Look and listen for Green-tailed Towhee in the Ceanothus. Most of the local forest species can be found here.
A nice side trip can be had by driving a portion of National Forest Development Road 2820. Start just north of Idlewild here (43.803760,-118.989573) and drive east for as long as you like. NF 2820 traverses nearly 50 miles of forested mountain habitat.
Check the National Forest web site for current information.
See a map of trails (Idlewild Trail, Devine Summit Trail, WAS Trail, and Microwave Trail) at this link.
See also Joaquin Miller Horse Camp 2 miles farther north along 395.