OpenTrail

Blue Basin Loop Hike

Moderate · Ace

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon

Directions

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5.1 km3.2 mi

Distance

281 m922 ft

Elevation gain

1h 35m

Est. time

Loop

Route type

What to expect on this trail

  • Natural surface
  • Steep
  • Rough underfoot
  • Rolling
  • Hiking
How these were worked out
Natural surfacerecorded
OpenStreetMap records the surface of this trail as "ground". Source: OpenStreetMap, high confidence.
Steepestimated
Nine tenths of this trail is at or below a 26.6% grade, and its steepest climb reaches 62.9%. Source: DEM terrain profile, moderate confidence.
Rough underfootestimated
OpenStreetMap records smoothness "bad" on this trail. Source: OpenStreetMap, moderate confidence.
Rollingestimated
The grade varies by 16.5 percentage points along the route rather than climbing steadily. Source: DEM terrain profile, moderate confidence.

Biking is not listed. That means no explicit permission is recorded, which is not the same as a prohibition — see the bike section below.

Ace's Active Trek A real workout with honest climbing — pack water and snacks.

About this trail

Blue Basin Loop Hike is a 5.1 km trail in Oregon. Route imported from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); community descriptions, photos, and condition reports welcome.

Play the route

Fly the trail end to end, with the climb as it comes.

Conditions

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Elevation profile

Terrain sampled every 35 m from public elevation data.

Descent
208 m
High point
887 m
90th percentile grade
26.6%
887 m771 m655 m0 m2.4 km4.7 km

Bike access & suitability

Legal permission and physical difficulty are evaluated separately.

Bike access unknown

Legal access

Confirm before riding

No authoritative or explicit bicycle-access rule is recorded for this trail.

Estimated MTB suitability

Extreme

68% confidence - score 84/100

  • - Terrain: 26.6% 90th-percentile grade and 55 m climbing per km.
  • - Surface: ground.
  • - Smoothness: bad.

Source: No access source recorded - checked Aug 2, 2026 - rules v2

Posted signs and current land-manager closures always override OpenTrail.

Report incorrect bike access

Trails nearby

Other routes within about 15 km.

Photos

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Frequently asked

How long is Blue Basin Loop Hike?

Blue Basin Loop Hike is 5.1 km (3.2 miles) as a loop. Allow roughly 1h 35m at a steady walking pace, not counting stops.

How hard is Blue Basin Loop Hike?

OpenTrail rates it moderate. It climbs about 281 m overall, and its steepest sustained stretches run around 27%.

Where is Blue Basin Loop Hike?

Blue Basin Loop Hike is in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon. The map on this page shows the full route, where it starts, and any mapped parking nearby.

Is there parking at Blue Basin Loop Hike?

One mapped parking area sits within 1.5 km of the route, the nearest being Blue Basin Parking. Parking comes from OpenStreetMap, so check the signage when you arrive.

Trail data last updated August 2, 2026 · terrain computed July 30, 2026