Why We’re Nominating Whychus Creek
The following Wild and Scenic River nomination was written by the Bend Senior High School Environmental Club. Whychus Creek: a Nomination as a Wild and Scenic River We rely on our watershed. It provides unique habitat, gorgeous scenery, historical connections, and gives life to the towns and cities of Oregon. In order for Oregon...
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Alder Springs
Located on Lower Whychus Creek, Alder Springs is an oasis in the high desert. The trail starts at the top of the Whychus Creek Canyon and descends gradually to the creek, with panoramic views of the Cascades, towering rock formations, and the rushing waters of Whychus Creek below. At 1.5 miles, hikers reach Alder...
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We Challenged, You Hiked
ONDA’s Badlands Challenge prompted discovery, exploration, and a lot of math In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Oregon Badlands Wilderness designation, ONDA hosted a six-month-long exploration challenge. After ONDA volunteers helped to build trail segments that created critical connections into the larger Oregon Badlands trail system, we realized the 30,000-acre wilderness area now...
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Only You Can Prevent Sagebrush Fires
You might think of forests when you think “wildfire,” but, as OPB reported in May, nearly 75 percent of all acres burned in the west over the past two decades were on rangelands — not forest. As someone who lives in or visits sagebrush country, you have an important responsibility to help prevent human-caused...
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Volunteer Opportunity: First Friday tabling at Patagonia @ Bend
Join ONDA for First Friday at Patagonia @ Bend on July 5! We’ll be sharing information about our conservation and restoration initiatives and connecting interested folks with our work, all while enjoying cold drinks in a fun community atmosphere. Volunteers will set up at 5 p.m. and break down at 7:30 p.m. Email Caelin@onda.org...
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Volunteer Opportunity: Wildflower Show and Pollinator Festival
Join ONDA on Saturday, July 6 at the Sunriver Nature Center for the 2019 Wildflower Show and Pollinator Festival! Volunteers will share information about ONDA’s restoration and conservation initiatives, set up and break down the ONDA table and connect community members with our work. View hundreds of native wildflowers, a honeybee hive demonstration, local...
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Desert Wilderness Retrospective
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
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
The Oregon Badlands Wilderness, so named for its rugged and harsh terrain, lies just 15 miles east of Bend, Oregon, but arrive here and you might feel like you’ve stepped into an all-together different time and place. This is 30,000 acres of fascinating lava flows and ancient juniper trees. You may see pictographs, as...
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Badlands Bash
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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