The route begins south of Lakeview in northern California on US395. Goose Lake, straddling the border, occupies a basin west of the Warner Mountains, part of an immense tilted block. Where routes 395 and 31 meet is Abert Rim, North America's grandest tectonic escarpment. Route 31 proceeds over range and over basin until it hits the forests near Newberry Caldera, in the green woods south of Bend, entering the Cascade Range province. This gallery sticks strictly to the Basin and Range.
Tourist information for the Outback Scenic Byway is presented on the byways.org site.