Eastern Oregon - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 719

camping at Slocum Creek campground (covered picnic tables, fire pits, gravel
sites), which is open March to November. Watch for rattlesnakes.
Driving on gravel roads is slow going, so leave yourself plenty of time and take
food, lots of water and a full tank of gas. Also note that it getsveryhot here in sum-
mer and you're unlikely to get cell service. For more information, contact the Vale
BLM ( 541-473-3144; www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale ) .

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Jordan Valley
POP 180
The closest thing to civilization in the southeastern corner of Oregon is tiny Jordan Val-
ley (Mountain Standard Time). Known for its Basque heritage, this pit stop has an inter-
esting rebuilt frontón, a stone ball court used for playing the traditional Basque game of
pelota . There is a motel and a surprisingly good restaurant-inn.
Basque Station Motel ( 541-586-2244; 801 Main St; d $54-64; ) is nothing fancy,
with large rooms overlooking a serene meadow out back. Check-in is at the gas station.
Order bacaloa (dried salt cod), Basque-style chorizos or just broiled lamb chops at Old
Basque Inn ( 541-586-2800; 306 Wroten St; mains $7-19; 7am-2:30pm & 5-10pm Mon-Sat,
7am-10pm Sun) , an old Basque boarding house. There are five homey rooms upstairs with
shared baths (doubles $65, including breakfast).

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Burns
POP 2900
Named by a wistful early settler for Scottish poet Robert Burns, this isolated high-desert
town was established in 1883 as the watering hole and social center for incoming settlers
and roving cowhands. Today, Burns (don't mistake it for Burns Junction - essentially
just a highway junction southwest of Jordan Valley) has a decent number of services and
is a convenient jumping-off point for trips south into the Malheur National Wildlife
Refuge and Steens Mountain area.

Sights & Activities