Desert Wilderness Retrospective

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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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Sarah Graham, Sage Society Member

Sarah Graham, Sage Society Member

“I contribute to ONDA monthly because it adds up to a larger annual gift than what I’d be able to comfortably afford if I were to do a simple one-time donation annually. I’m able to give more to ONDA this way and have greater impact which is important to me, and my dog Polly.”

voices

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.”

Spring Basin Wilderness

Home to rare desert wildflowers and more 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 designated wilderness, offers a profusion of desert wildflowers in the spring and year-round recreational opportunities for hikers, horseback riders, hunters […]

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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 onto another planet. Within this landscape, you will find […]

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Central Oregon Backcountry

Desert Wilderness Retrospective

By on April 2, 2019 | Posted in: Look Back

A Tale of Two Wilderness Areas: Badlands and Spring Basin On March 30, 2009, President Obama signed a massive public lands package into law, with the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and Spring Basin Wilderness among the many places protected. Besides sharing the same birthday and being located in Oregon’s high desert, the Badlands and Spring...

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Dark Desert Skies

By on March 29, 2019 | Posted in: How-To, Where-to

For those of us who have spent time in Oregon’s high desert, there is no need to explain how truly dark skies showcase the wonders of the stars viewable by the naked eye. Night skies relatively free from light pollution — that is, human-created artificial lighting and atmospheric disturbances such as smog — will...

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Badlands Challenge

By on March 15, 2019 | Posted in:

To honor the tenth anniversary of Oregon Badlands Wilderness designation, ONDA is hosting a six-month long exploration challenge. 30,000 acres of fascinating lava flows and ancient juniper trees await you, all just 15 miles east of Bend, Oregon. Arriving in the Badlands, so named for its rugged and harsh terrain, can feel like stepping...

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Badlands Bash

By on March 1, 2019 | Posted in:

Join ONDA and the Friends of Oregon Badlands Wilderness at FootZone Bend to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Oregon Badlands Wilderness. On March 30, 2009, President Obama signed a massive public lands package that protected the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, Spring Basin Wilderness, and many more. Come raise a glass to high desert wilderness...

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South Fork WSA Fence Build #2

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Backpacking to a remote location and building fence to protect riparian habitat.

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South Fork WSA Fence Build #1

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

On the first of several trips slated for this area over the next few years, we will backpack out to a piece of privately owned land within the South Fork Crooked River Wilderness Study Area (WSA) to build a challenging, but important, fence around 80 acres on the river. This fence will accomplish many...

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Willow Creek Planting (Day Trip)

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

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Deschutes/Tumalo Planting

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

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Wildlands Monitoring Training

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Learn how to make field observations and record what you find when conducting annual monitoring of Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in eastern Oregon.

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Jake Place Planting #2

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

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