WHERE TO STAY, EAT, BUY GAS

WHERE TO STAY, EAT, BUY GAS
Primitive campsites with firepits and outhouses are available on the refuge at the hot springs. Camping is also allowed near the Warner Lakes, on Bureau of Land Management land that borders the refuge. The nearest hotels are in Lakeview. Adel and Plush, both within 20 miles of the refuge, have restaurants. Adel also has a gas station.
WHERE TO SEE ANTELOPE
Pronghorn antelope are visible everywhere on the refuge, but some of the prime spots are on Frenchglen Road by the refuge headquarters, from Lookout Point along Blue Sky Road and on the road between Blue Sky and the southern boundary of the refuge. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to see them.
WHERE TO SEE BIGHORN SHEEP
The best area to spot California bighorn sheep is from the base of Hart Mountain, near the old Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. There is a pull-off and a sign indicating the spot along the road leading into the refuge.
Hiking is another good way to spot bighorn sheep. Good day hikes include the DeGarmo and Arsenic canyons. Bring powerful binoculars or a spotting scope.
HIKES
There are several short hikes that offer better chances to see wildlife and observe some of the refuge's other charms, including petroglyphs, wildflowers and birds.
A half-mile trail around Petroglyph Lake offers up-close views of the ancient drawings; a one-mile roundtrip hike in DeGarmo Canyon includes a waterfall, numerous caves and bighorn sheep territory.
For suggestions on longer hikes or overnight backpacking, contact the refuge headquarters in Lakeview. Longer hikes are described in the "Oregon Desert Guide" (published by The Mountaineers, $15.95), by Andy Kerr. Driving tours are listed in "Oregon's Outback" (Frank Amato Publications, $14.95), by Donna Lynn Ikenberry.
TIPS
Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and protective clothing. Temperatures in Oregon's high desert can reach 110 degrees in the late summer and fall, but drop quickly at night. Also bring sturdy hiking shoes with high ankles to protect against rattlesnakes.
The refuge headquarters features a visitor information center that is open 24 hours a day. The center has a restroom, informational brochures, species listings and maps of the refuge.
MORE INFORMATION
The refuge headquarters, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is in Lakeview, at (541) 947-3315 or at http://pacific.fws.gov/refuges/field/OR--hartmtn.htm.