Oregon Highway 19 is a fairly newly paved highway that winds along the northern bank of the scenic John Day River between Service Creek and Kimberly (where the mouth of the North Fork John Day River is). Traffic is generally light (except perhaps on holiday weekends, which are still lightly travelled by urban standards). Wildflower sightings and birding are largely done by scanning the roadsides and river banks while driving this route. When you see something worth stopping for, carefully check the rear view mirror and find a safe place to pull over. Usually you can do this fairly easily, but there are a few stretches of road with a rocky bank on the uphill side of the road and a guard rail on the river side of the road where there is little shoulder. Also watch for the occasional rest stop (with restrooms) or camp ground.
From west to east along Highway 19 one comes across Muleshoe Campground (BLM), Wooden Bridge boatramp (BLM), and Shady Grove Picnic Area (about 8 minutes west of Kimberly). Most of the botany along the road can be done by stopping and exploring the roadsides. If you have the "BLM-FS Map: Prineville District, Lower Deschutes and John Day Rivers", you can fairly easily tell what slopes or river bottom are in public hands for off road scrambles. The slopes above the river tend to be 'slippery' due to the numerous small rocks that coat the ground, so walk carefully. I haven't had a chance to check along the river bottom on public lands, but that might be of interest to those interested in riparian habitats, especially if you are interested in sedges.
Generally wildflowers can be seen in the area from mid-March, peaking in May, and becoming less numerous by mid-June, although those flowers that like summer heat will linger into July. If there is rain into May and early June, as in 2010, the wildflowers will continue to be spectacular into late June. Roadside plants to watch for in April include: western bladderpod (Lesquerella occidentalis var. occidentalis), pungent desert parsley (Lomatium grayi), Henderson's desert parsley (Lomatium hendersonii), Cockscomb Cryptantha (Cryptantha celosiodies), and antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata).
May wildflowers to look for include: heart-leaved buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum var. compositum), rock buckwheat (Eriogonum sphaerocephalum (var. halimioides?)), sticky cinquefoil (Potentilla glandulosa var. campanulata), spurred lupine (Lupinus arbustus), prairie lupine (Lupinus lepidus var. aridus), purple sage (Salvia dorii), desert paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa), Washington monkeyflower (Erythranthe washingtonensis), dusty maidens (Chaenactis douglasii), John Day Chaenactis (Chaenactis nevii), and yellow desert daisy (Erigeron linearis).
June wildflowers to search for include chick lupine (Lupinus microcarpus), orange globe mallow (Sphaeralcea munroana), narrowleaf skullcap (Scutellaria angustifolia), Nesom's Monkeyflower: Diplacus cusickioides, dwarf purple monkeyflower (Mimulus nanus var. nanus), hotrock penstemon (Penstemon deustus), cutleaf penstemon (Penstemon richardsonii), and showy penstemon (Penstemon speciosus).
There are some accomodations in Fossil, about 20 minutes north of Service Creek. Fossil also has gas and a grocery store. There is a small store and a few overnight accomodations at Service Creek, although those are popular with river rafters. As mentioned before, there is a BLM campground a few miles east of Service Creek at Muleshoe. Additional BLM campgrounds are found several miles north of Kimberly along the North Fork John Day River at Lone Pine and Big Bend. The small community of Spray, OR is about half way between Service Creek and Kimberly. This would make a restful overnight stop for those interested in further explorations of the surrounding countryside. Besides several hotels and bed and breakfasts, there is gas, a grocery or two, and a restaurant. Like most small rural communities, the gas station is open at reduced hours (especially on weekends and holidays), so it is always a good idea to fill up before venturing out for a full day in the back country. As mentioned before, there is a county campground at Shelton Wayside County Park about 10 minutes north of Service Creek. Fairview and Bull Prairie are forest service campgrounds (Umatilla National Forest) about 25 minutes north of Spray, reached by Oregon Highway 207.
The following are possible partial to full day side trips from Oregon 19.
a) Umatilla National Forest: Accessed via Oregon Highway 207, FS Rd 24 and FS Rd 22. There are numerous places to stop if roadside wildflowers are seen. I'd recommend a stop at Bull Praire Campground to walk the wetlands around the small lake there, Tamarack Mt. Lookout (a rough drive west of FS Rd 24 with good views southwest across the John Day River), and the Antihill Viewpoint which provides views east along the lower North Fork John Day River. Much of the western portion of the drive along FS Rd 24 is through coniferous forest with occasional forest openings. The forest opens up with some dry slopes and a different flora along the eastern portion of the road. One June wildflower to keep an eye out for near Anthill is the elegant mariposa (Calochortus elegans var. elegans). FS Rd 22 provides access to the North Fork John Day River at Monument, OR.
b) Iron Mountain: This is the high, rugged country found to the south of the John Day River between Service Creek and Spray. I haven't had a chance to drive it yet so don't know how good the back roads are here, but you would access it via Waterman Creek Road south of Spray or via Oregon Highway 207, then the Richmond Road to the south of Service Creek. This is mostly private grazing land so expect the possibility of cattle on the road and stick to the public right of way here. The Parish Hollow Road can be followed south to US Highway 26 just east of the pass to the east of Mitchell, OR.
c) Oregon Highway 207 (Service Creek to Mitchell): This paved highway winds uphill to the south of Service Creek. The road cuts can be searched for wildflowers common to the mid-John Day country. There isn't a lot of traffic here, but be sure to find a wide road shoulder to park safely if you stop. All the surrounding land until you reach the top of the pass at Girds Creek Road is private, so stay in the public right of way. Near the top of the pass (east of Girds Creek) one can find a bluish-flowered milkvetch, possibly Blue Mt. milkvetch (Astragalus reventus), grass widows (Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum), broad-sheath desert parsley (Lomatium vaginatum), and spreading wallflower (Erysimum repandum).
Girds Creek Road descends back to the John Day River at Twickenham where one can then head west on the South Twickenham Road to the Painted Hills. There are also several scenic cross routes uphill from the west side of Girds Creek Road to the top of Sutton Mt which is managed by the BLM.
Continuing south on Highway 207, the west side of the road is mostly BLM while the east side is privately owned. Look for John Day Fuzzytongue penstemon (Penstemon eriantherus var. argillosus), Columbia cutleaf (Hymenopappus filifolius) and other wildflowers along the road. As the highway descends into Mitchell, OR, look for Nesom's Monkeyflower: Diplacus cusickioides, hare's-ear (Conringia orientalis) and purple sage (Salvia dorii).
d) Oregon Highway 402 (Kimberly, OR to Long Creek, OR): This winding highway, also known as the Kimberly-Long Creek Highway, follows the North Fork John Day River until coming to Monument, OR. where it climbs uphill and passes through high meadows and farmland to reach US Highway 395 at Long Creek, OR. I've heard good things about this route in terms of scenery and wildflowers, but have yet to travel it so I can't specify what to expect along the route.
Partial Flora for Oregon Highway 19 (Condon, OR to US Highway 26 at Picture Gorge)
June 2 & 5, 2011: Oregon Highway 19 (Condon, OR to US Highway 26 at Picture Gorge)
June 30, 2010: Oregon Highway 19 (Condon, OR to US Highway 26 at Picture Gorge)
May 28, 2007: Oregon Highway 19 near MP 80 (several miles east of Service Creek, OR)
April 8, 2007: South Twickenham Road (west of Twickenham, OR)
April 8, 2007: Oregon Highway 207 (Service Creek to Girds Creek) and Girds Creek Road
April 8, 2007: Oregon Highway 19 near MP 80 (several miles east of Service Creek)
May 1, 2004: Oregon Highway 207 (Service Creek, OR to Mitchell, OR)
June 17, 2001: Forest Road 24 near Ant Hill (Umatilla National Forest)
June 17, 2001: Forest Road 2039 west of Bull Prairie Lake (Umatilla National Forest)
June 16, 2001: Bull Prairie Lake (Umatilla National Forest)
May 24, 1998: Oregon Highway 207 (Service Creek, OR to Mitchell, OR)