Alvord Desert: The Scirocco

Camping in the Alvord Desert, June. 2026

37 photos across three days on the playa

June 4 — Arrival
Alvord Playa arrival, June 4 evening
Long shadows of cyclist on the cracked Alvord Playa at golden hour
James cooking dinner at camp, Steens Mountain at sunset
Camp at the edge of the sagebrush, June 4 evening
June 5 — The Loop & The Scirocco
Tent under the moon on the Alvord Playa at 3am
Pre-dawn on the Alvord Playa
Early morning light on the playa
Riding across cracked desert mud near the sagebrush edge
Crossing the dry mud flats heading south
Desert landscape heading south from the playa
Faint desert road south through sagebrush
Hike-a-bike through deep sand in Little Sand Gap
Pushing the bike through sand, Little Sand Gap
Sand and sagebrush in Little Sand Gap
Climbing out of the basin through sagebrush
Tiny rider in vast sagebrush, Alvord Playa in the distance
Wide desert landscape heading south
Desert hills and sagebrush on the return
Panorama of rider on faint trail through sagebrush toward the hills
View from the ridge over the Alvord Basin
Looking out over the playa from the crest
Panorama from the ridge — dust devils rising on the playa, Steens Mountain beyond
Dust storm approaching on the Alvord Playa
Tent in the dust storm, bikes laid flat, scirocco crossing the playa
Leopard lizard with orange spots in the desert sand
June 6 — Sunrise & Playa Play
Steens Mountain in deep red alpenglow at sunrise over the Alvord Playa
Sunrise on the Alvord Playa, June 6
Pueblo Mountains glowing pink and purple at sunrise, looking south from camp
Steens Mountain in orange and purple sunrise light
Early morning light on the playa, June 6
Sunrise colours on the Alvord Playa
Morning sky over the Alvord Desert
Riding on the open playa under towering cumulus clouds
Cycling on the Alvord Playa, morning of June 6
Amy riding hands-free on the playa, arms out wide
Riding the Alvord Playa, Steens Mountain behind
Single rider tiny on the vast Alvord Playa, Steens Mountain rising above
Tse'tse'ede (Steens Mountain) seen from the road, June 6 afternoon