Virtue Flats OHV

At first glance, you might find it hard to believe that the rolling sagebrush hills have much to offer a 4x4, but don't be fooled. Virtue Flats, just east of Baker City, Oregon, is one of the best places on the east side of the Cascades for motorized recreation, including 4-wheeling. This designated Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area consists of approximately 6 square miles of steep rolling hills, sagebrush-covered flats, old mine tailings, twisting narrow gulches, and rock-strewn ravines hidden between the hills.

This area was set aside by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1975 specifically for Off-Highway Vehicle recreation, and continues to be a popular playground of motorcyclists, quad ATVs, and four-wheel drives, as well as mountain bikes and others. The area was set aside for intensive OHV recreation so you can roam and explore cross country to your heart's content.

There's something for every 4-wheeler at Virtue Flats, whether you are a novice or expert, stock or modified. While many of the old mining roads and dirt tracks are suitable for stock and lightly modified four-wheel drive vehicles, there are some tougher trails and absurdly difficult obstacles that offer a greater degree of challenge. Challenges include some rocky sections that will put the most highly modified vehicles and expert drivers to the test.

Many of the routes are still being identified. Don't expect a well-defined trail once you venture off the main roads. Brushy conditions are common, so expect to come home with at least a few scratches. Brush becomes just another obstacle to deal with here. Some of the cross country routes are very faint and will require a good eye to follow. Except for a signed loop route, there very few signs to guide you. So you will find a detailed map very useful. The staging area contains a restroom (seasonally), bulletin board with maps and brochures and loading ramps. Full services are available in Baker City, just a 10 minute drive away. Primitive camping is allowed on the BLM public lands throughout the area, and full-hookup RV parks are available in town.

Summer conditions can be hot and dusty unless you time your visit right after a rainstorm. During extreme fire danger, cross country travel may be prohibited. A better time to visit Virtue Flats is in the early spring, late fall, or even in the dead of winter. Because snowfall in the high desert tends to be on the light side, this is also one area you can explore even in the middle of winter (just remember to bring warm clothes and a hot thermos). When it gets wet from snow or rain, the resulting muddy conditions will make even the easier trails very challenging.

Virtue Flats is very popular with motorcycles, quads, and mountain bikes so please respect other users and be extra careful when approaching blind hills and corners. Cross country travel is permitted within the designated OHV area boundaries (Hwy. 86 on the north, Ruckles Cr. Rd. on the south, as shown on the map). Know where you are, respect private lands, and remember to always Tread Lightly!

Oregon ATV Permits will soon be required, and are available from local vendors in La Grande and Baker City. The permits only cost ten dollars for two years and the revenues help fund various ATV projects and grants across the State, including those for Class II (4x4) opportunities at Virtue Flats. If you have a valid Idaho or Washington ATV permit, it will be honored in Oregon. Five bucks a year to support your sport! (Every state should have such a great program.)

Take Interstate 84 to Exit 304 at Baker City, Oregon. Get gas and munchies there. Then get back on the interstate (northbound) briefly and take EXIT 302 onto Highway 86 eastbound... just follow signs to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. After about 5 miles, instead of turning left to the Interpretive Center, turn RIGHT on "RUCKLES CREEK LP"... this is a gravel road with a small green sign. Keep left on the main road, and in a couple miles you will see the main staging area, where maps are available and a signed loop route begins.