Bachman Grade Road

Bachman Grade Road, also called Triangle Road, is an easy and scenic excursion south from the little town of Oreana. Bachman Grade is a well-maintained, mostly two-lane, gravel road suitable for any vehicle. The trail starts in the relatively flat sagebrush steppe and climbs to about 6000 feet at Toy Pass. There are views of the mountains across the open sagebrush from the steppe. As you climb towards Toy Pass, views of the steppe and the mountains to the north of the Snake River Plain emerge.

In 2019, the BLM started the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project to improve sage-grouse habitat in 617,000 acres. The project includes cutting down many of the juniper trees that crept into the sage-grouse breeding areas. Piles of cut juniper trees are waiting to be burned or removed.

While there are no designated camping areas along the road, dispersed camping is available. Few places scream “Camp Here!” but ample spots for a quick camp exist. When camping, avoid the private land along the road.

Unfortunately, the road is gated at a private property boundary around mile 23.

Owyhee County in Southwest Idaho has over 5000 square miles of desert, canyons, and mountains. There are no services in the entire area, and cell coverage is spotty. Being adequately prepared for any contingency is a must.