Our Approach

success

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

With 10,000 acres of undulating terrain, secluded canyons and spectacular vantages of the John Day Country, Spring Basin is magnificent to explore This public treasure, forever protected as Wilderness, offers a profusion of desert wildflowers in the spring and year-round recreational opportunities for hikers, horseback

Read More

fact

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

What defines Oregon’s high desert?

Bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Blue Mountains to the north, Oregon’s high desert covers approximately 24,000 square miles. Annual rainfall in the high desert varies from 5 to 14 inches. The average elevation is 4,000 feet; at 9,733 feet, the summit of Steens Mountain is the highest point in Oregon’s high desert. The terrain of the high desert was mostly formed by a series of lava flows that occurred between 30 and 10 million years ago.

Sources: The Oregon Encyclopedia; Wikipedia  

listen

Great Horned Owls and Western Screech Owls

Great Horned Owls and Western Screech Owls

Restoring Lands and Waters

Oregon Natural Desert Association sustains and enhances the health of Oregon’s high desert through stewardship and restoration. While much of our wild terrain is beautiful and pristine in many ways, human actions over time have negatively impacted some areas. ONDA takes a holistic approach to conservation in Oregon’s high desert, pairing intensive on-the-ground stewardship...

Read More

Jim Davis   Website

Protecting Public Lands,
Waters, and Wildlife

Oregon Natural Desert Association’s conservation program protects the most spectacular places in Oregon’s high desert, including such treasured spots as Steens Mountain, the Oregon Badlands, the John Day River and the Owyhee Canyonlands. We support the fish and wildlife found within these wild areas, and we guide people in finding new ways to experience...

Read More