Visitor’s Guides

Greg Burke

success

Central Oregon’s “Backyard Wilderness”

Central Oregon’s “Backyard Wilderness”

Our quest to protect the Oregon Badlands

Located just 15 miles east of Bend, Oregon Badlands is a 30,000-acre wilderness area filled with fascinating lava flows and ancient juniper trees Arriving in the Badlands, so named for its rugged and harsh terrain, can feel like stepping

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fact

Swallowtail

Swallowtail

The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly is the official state insect of Oregon and a true native of the Pacific Northwest. The Swallowtail can be seen in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage area.  Source: State Symbols USA

Latin name: Papilio oregonius

fact

Western Rattlesnake

Western Rattlesnake

Also known as the Great Basin Rattlesnake, these pit vipers have buff-tan coloring and small, oval blotches to blend into their arid surroundings. Small heat-sensing indentations on each side of the snake’s snout detects warm-blooded prey for better striking accuracy in the dark. Source: The Oregon Encyclopedia

Latin name: Crotalus oreganus lutosus

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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