Scout Camp Trail
The Scout Camp loop trail on the Middle Deschutes River is one of the most spectacular hikes you’ll find in Central Oregon. About a third of a mile from the trailhead, the trail descends steeply into the Deschutes River Canyon. On the way down, enjoy the fascinating geology of the canyon walls and views...
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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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Flatiron Rock
The Flatiron Rock trail offers a wonderful introduction to the Badlands, winding through inflated lava and old-growth juniper woodlands for about 2.5 miles to one of the most prominent rock formations in the Badlands. From the trailhead, hikers have the option of taking the Ancient Juniper trail, a short and pleasant route that links...
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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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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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Whychus-Deschutes
Within an hour’s drive from Bend and just west of Terrebonne, the rugged canyons of Whychus-Deschutes remain astonishingly wild.
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How to Talk to Your Friends about Public Lands
For most outdoor recreationists, talking about being out in nature comes, well, naturally. We share photos from our trips. We rave about the views we enjoyed and the wildlife we encountered. We invite our friends to join us on our next adventure. But, when it comes to talking about the policies that govern the public...
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Kirk Richardson: Alice Elshoff Award winner
For more than a decade, Kirk Richardson has been a strong voice for protecting Oregon’s high desert. He’s served on the Oregon Natural Desert Association Board of Directors, helped dream up the Live Monumental effort to protect areas like the Owyhee through his position at KEEN Footwear, and now is the recipient of the...
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Climate change in the sagebrush sea
Dr. Megan Creutzburg is a researcher at Oregon State University’s Institute for Natural Resources, where she provides technical coordination for the Oregon Sage Grouse Conservation Partnership (SageCon). With climate marches happening across the nation on Saturday, ONDA’s Corinne Handelman sat down with Megan for an interview about her research on sagebrush landscapes and climate change...
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