Download Section 23: Rome to Lambert Rocks, 20 miles

Section 23: Rome to Lambert Rocks, 20 miles
Beginning Access Point: Rome
Ending Access Point: South end of Lambert Rocks, near Bogus Creek
Section Summary: In this section the ODT heads north out of Rome, climbs to the east rim of the
Owyhee River canyon, and follows the rim north almost to Bogus Creek, dropping back down to the
Owyhee River just south of the creek. It is a treeless and mostly dry stretch. The cross-country terrain is
rocky in places. Views down into the canyon are ample, as well as broad landscape views in all
directions. It can be hot and windy on this exposed section, and a spring or fall hike would be best in
this area.
Section Details: From Rome Station (OC110) the ODT follows the
main dirt road northwest along agricultural fields to a junction
(OC112), turns right (northeast), and crosses the Owyhee River on
a bridge (OC113). This road continues northwest after the bridge
and passes by a cluster of houses (caution: dogs may run out and
bark here). The road climbs northwest up a canyon, and the ODT
follows this well-traveled road as it weaves up to the eastern
plateau above the Owyhee River. At a fork at the top of the climb
(OC115) the trail turns left (northwest) and continues on the road
to a junction (OC117) with a two-track road that leads west past
Eiguren Reservoir No. 1 (dry in May 2012) to a large tire water trough (OC118; full in May 2012 and June
2013; dry July 2013; unreliable, see photo).
Rough trail to river at OC126
Here the ODT heads cross country to the canyon rim (OC119)
and follows the rim north, weaving with the bends of the river.
One may choose to stick to the canyon rim, or to cut off
peninsulas of the rim by going directly between waypoints.
During this cross-country stretch through small sagebrush and
bunchgrass the trail crosses a couple barbed wire fences, and
hikers may find themselves on old two-track roads going in the
direction the trail goes, but these are sparse and largely grownover. The trail passes White Rock Reservoir (near OC124; dry)
and Red Line Reservoir (OC125; dry 2012) and continues north Water trough at OC118 in 2012; dry in July
2013
along the rim to a barbed wire fence enclosure at OC126. The
ODT enters this fenced-off area (this is still public land here, see
photo) and follows a rough trail cut into the canyon wall as it descends toward the river to a junction
with a rough two-track road (OC127).
The ODT follows this two-track north to another junction (OC129), which represents the end of this
section. Turning left (west) at this final junction, the two-track leads down to camping and water access
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at the Owyhee River (OC130, see photo). This open area next to the river lies at the south end of the
Lambert Rocks plateau of lava.
Lambert Rocks from east canyon rim
Sunset at OC130
The Lambert Rocks formation was created when basalt lava flows entered the canyon from the east
and forced the river to detour farther to the west around the lava. In the dry washes emerging from
Lambert Rocks, opal can be found. The opal is white, glassy where broken, and shows a pearly luster.
The quartz in the opal is derived from the dissolved volcanic ash of the volcanoes. The steel bridge
crossing the Owyhee River north of Rome was installed in 1906; before the bridge a ferry operated
there. The location was called Owyhee Crossing. (Source: Owyhee and Bruneau River Systems
Boating Guide and Owyhee River Geology)
Trail Tip: Walking the rim can be hot and exposed. The water tanks are unreliable so caching is a good
idea if through-hiking.
Nearby Town Information-See information on Rome at the end of Section 22.
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