Visitor’s Guides

Greg Burke

voices

Karen Garber, volunteer since 2017

Karen Garber, volunteer since 2017

So glad we got to do a stewardship trip with ONDA this summer, and now I’m more inspired than ever to start hiking the Oregon Desert Trail in bits and pieces.

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Connecting Trails

Connecting Trails

The Oregon Desert Trail ties into two National Recreation Trails: the Fremont National Recreation Trail and Desert Trail.

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Bitteroot

Bitteroot

Bitteroot blooms on north-facing cliffs in western North America.

The Paiute name for bitteroot is kangedya. Traditional Native American uses of the plant included eating the roots, mixed with berries and meat, and using the roots to treat sore throats.

 

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

The Steens may look like a small mountain range, but it 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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