The valleys on Steens in the fall
Are filled with green, yellow, and orange leaves,
Framed by mountain mahogany
Clouds skitter across the sky;
Parting to enlighten
Lone patches of gold
On Steens Mountain
Fall’s foliage gathers at the bottom of
Deep glacially carved gorges
Golden leaves of aspen and
Fuzzy flowers of rabbitbrush
Edge the ridgetops and roads
The last colorful moments shine brightly
On Steens in the fall
As winter’s darkness creeps in
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Looking Back to Lens-Artist Challenge #106: Autumn
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Valley
All pictures were taken on 1 October 2025 while driving to the top of Steens Mountain, Oregon. The mountain reaches an elevation 9,733 feet. The 52-mile long Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway loop road to the summit is open seasonally.
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Oh, wow! I love that dappled view of the gorge, and your wordsmith phrase, "Framed by mountain mahogany". Such a picture in four words.
Thanks, John! I liked the mountain mahogany trees so much that I've seen there on past visits, that I planted one in my yard. :)
Beautiful sky and fall colors in all of these images!
Thank you!
If this is the beginning of such a lovely autumn, then I wonder what would be the peak of it 🙂
Lovely sharing, Soy.
Yeah, I wonder too. Snow is on the way, so we may have to just imagine it. :)
Ah, wish I could have been there too! I love the Steens Mt.
It's a special and spectacular spot! 🙂
These are wonderful Siobhan and the verse is lovely as well. I love how unspoiled everything seems.
Thanks, Tina! It's in a rural area that many people never visit. That makes it a great place for pictures!
Gorgeous!
Yes, it was! Pretty windy at the top though.
Those splashes of gold are gorgeous!
Yes, they were, Sarah!
These are beautiful. I'm glad you took such long shots: the dappled light and the colours go wonderfully together
Thank you! It's a great place for landscape shots.
Thanks for bringing me along this beautiful drive, Siobhan. The colors are gorgeous.
You are welcome, Egidio! It was a great drive.
So beautiful, Siobhan. I love the clouds and the play of light on these wonderful landscapes.
Thanks, Sofia! I was glad it was partly cloudy.