Please use caution with any Oregon Desert Trail plans due to COVID 19. Last updated on February 1, 2021.
Oregon cases of COVID-19 are still high in 2021, and even though vaccines are making their way to our communities, we continue to advise everyone to follow the state’s guidelines, which include wearing a mask in public indoor spaces, and outdoor spaces where social distancing isn’t possible. Persons arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.
When in doubt about your desire to visit certain public lands, please contact the land managers directly for guidance. Before you visit an Oregon Desert Trail town, give the business or service a call to inquire about their comfort with outside visitors, changes to services, and changes to business hours. Find contacts for most businesses in the ODT trail towns here.
Be aware that local conditions may change—even after you start your trip. You may need to alter your plans or go home abruptly should local stay-at-home orders go into effect during your journey. Stay informed of the most up-to-date information.
Help continue limiting COVID-19’s spread.
Getting exercise outdoors is a good thing. Getting outdoors on the ODT is only a good thing IF:
- the trail and trailheads are open
- your state allows non-essential recreational travel
- you observe physical distancing from anyone not in your household
- you wear a mask around others and limit gatherings
We support single-day hikes or horseback rides on the ODT. Longer, completely self-sufficient trips that don’t require resupply may be okay. In either case, you can limit transmission of the virus between you and others by bringing everything you need and not stopping anywhere while traveling to and from the trail.
In this challenging and unprecedented time, we hope you can remain flexible and still discover and explore public lands close to home. Depending on where you live, there are many spectacular sections of the Oregon Desert Trail that can be hiked in a day or a weekend. For those further afield, know that the ODT will still be there in the future for your long-distance journey.
We’ll continue to evaluate the ongoing situation and provide updates. Thank you for being responsible and taking precautions to keep yourself and others safe.