Visitor’s Guides

Greg Burke

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Helen Harbin, ONDA Board Member

Helen Harbin, ONDA Board Member

“I connect with Oregon’s high desert through my feet, my eyes, my sense of smell, and all the things I hear. Getting out there is a whole body experience.” Supporting ONDA, Helen says, not only connects her with wild landscapes, but is also a good investment. “I felt like if I gave them $20, they might squeeze $23 out of it.”

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South Fork Crooked River and Birds

South Fork Crooked River and Birds

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Cregg Large, member since 2009

Cregg Large, member since 2009

“I came to Oregon 12 years ago from Texas. Texas, for all its size, has very little public land. Coming to Oregon has made me realize the special gift we as Americans have in our public lands. Volunteering with an organization like ONDA is my way of reciprocating for this gift. Through restoration efforts, I feel we are helping leave a better place than we found it. Through advocating for protection for public lands, we safeguard migration routes for animals and keep the land where it belongs: with the public.”

Devin Dahlgren   Website

Visitor’s Guide
to the Owyhee Canyonlands

Visiting the Owyhee Canyonlands calls for preparation, awareness, and self-sufficiency. Top off your gas tank when leaving gateway communities like Nyssa or Jordan Valley and carry a spare gas can, because once you leave the blacktop you will not find services or amenities. Roads within the canyonlands are often unmaintained, rocky, and rutted. A...

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Sean Bagshaw   Website

Visitor’s Guide
to Steens Mountain Region

It may look like a small mountain range, but Steens is actually just one massive mountain. When you visit the largest fault block mountain in North America, expect extremes. Snow falls earlier and lingers longer than you might expect in the high country here, so be sure to check road reports before heading out....

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Jeremy Austin

Visitor’s Guide
to the Greater Hart-Sheldon Region

There aren’t many established trails in the Greater Hart-Sheldon Region, and the roads vary between pavement, gravel, and dirt, but this fascinating region offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages and abilities, and the opportunity to see pronghorn antelope, Greater sage-grouse, and more. Some visitor services exist on the...

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Tyler Roemer   Website

Visitor’s Guide
to the Central Oregon Backcountry

With rolling plains of sagebrush, dramatic river canyons, and dense forests of old-growth juniper, the Central Oregon Backcountry provides visitors with a wide-ranging introduction to Oregon’s High Desert. This is wild desert within a 1- to 2-hour drive from Central Oregon communities. Whether you are seeking an easy day-hike or a weekend adventure, use...

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Sage Brown   Website

Visitor’s Guide
to the John Day River Basin

See for yourself the rugged allure of the John Day River Basin, with its vast expanses of windswept high desert, endless mountains, and picturesque meandering rivers. Within a few hours drive of Bend lies a scenic wonderland of big sky and stunning geography. The John Day River Basin offers day hikes, backcountry rambling, river...

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