Trout Creek Mountains, Mountain range in southeastern Oregon, United States
The Trout Creek Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Oregon featuring wild, varied terrain with dense forests and open ridges. The landscape is cut through by mountain streams and includes different ecological zones that change as elevation increases.
These mountains became a site of mercury mining in the 20th century, particularly near the McDermitt Caldera, which supplied metal for North American industry. The mining operations shaped economic activity in the region for decades.
The Northern Paiute people lived throughout these mountains for thousands of years, leaving behind signs of their settlements and way of life across the landscape.
The area is best explored with high-clearance vehicles, especially when traveling to higher elevations where road conditions become rougher and more unpredictable. Visitors should be well-prepared and check local conditions before heading into the mountains.
The mountain streams here are home to rare Lahontan cutthroat trout, fish that prompted the formation of a conservation group dedicated to protecting them. These trout have adapted to thrive in the cold, clean waters found at higher elevations.
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