Autumn – The Best Time to Visit Oregon’s Desert?

Greg Burke   Website

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Helen Harbin on Wildlife

Helen Harbin on Wildlife

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The Land Between: The Greater Hart-Sheldon Region

The Land Between: The Greater Hart-Sheldon Region

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Aaron Tani, Sage Society Member

Aaron Tani, Sage Society Member

“It feels good to support ONDA on a monthly basis, because I know they never stop supporting our public lands. ONDA works to help make our lands a better place for the future, and I feel like I’m a part of that every month with my support.”

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Enjoy 8,000 acres more or less to yourself

Jessica Brothers

Savor solitude and scenery along the John Day River

Rugged and vast, Cottonwood Canyon State Park holds vertical cliffs carved by the John Day River, deep canyons and arid, rocky grasslands that extend for miles in all directions. With 8,000-plus acres open for exploration in the park and another 10,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands surrounding the park,
you’ll have no shortage of room to roam in this unique landscape.

For hiking, you can take the Pinnacles Trail or the Lost Corral Trail to follow either side of the John Day
River downstream. Each is 4.3 miles one way. Upstream, the Hard Stone Trail travels 1.5 miles one way and is open to foot traffic only. Or, you can strike out on your own and follow old, unmaintained ranching roads that lead into the backcountry. The J.S. Burres day-use area is a popular boat launch for rafts, kayaks, canoes and drift boats. For anglers, the John Day River has steelhead, catfish, carp and smallmouth bass.

Be sure to carry plenty of water as potable water is available only at the developed day-use area and in the
campground. Note that the park doesn’t have cell phone coverage anywhere.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS The park is located on Highway 206 between Condon and Wasco. Coming from Portland, the park is about 25 miles southeast of Biggs Junction, where you exit Interstate 84. From Highway 97 north or southbound, turn onto Highway 206 at Wasco and drive for 15 miles to the park entrance. You’ll see the main park entrance sign from the highway.

Big Indian Gorge

Cooler temps and stunning fall color make this hike in the Steens Mountain region an excellent choice for autumn

Barb Rumer

Enjoy aspen and waterfalls in the Steens

To travel into the heart of the Steens Mountain Wilderness, take the Big Indian Gorge Trail to the headwall of the gorge, passing through meadows as well as cottonwood and aspen groves.

It’s easy to follow for the first 7 miles and then it fades away and becomes a cross-country hike. There are three stream crossings along the way, which can be difficult or impassable at times during spring and early summer, but should be easily crossed in fall. The U-shaped gorges, carved by glaciers, are sure to amaze, as will the waterfalls. A number of primitive campsites exist along the way.

For those hikers interested in turning the round-trip hike into a one-way trip with a shuttle on the far end,
plan for a climb out of the gorge to the Steens Loop Road and to add two miles, for a ten-mile one-way
trip. From South Steens Campground hike up the gorge until the trail starts to disappear. The drainage on
the north side of Big Indian Gorge is your exit, and is a steep 2,000’ cross-country hike up and out of the
canyon. There are intermittent traces of a trail, and you may find yourself crossing back and forth over the
seasonal creek on your climb out.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS From Burns, take State Highway 78 southeast for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 60 miles to Frenchglen. Travel approximately 9 miles, then turn left on the Steens Mountain Loop Road south entrance. The trailhead is found in the South Steens Campground, which is just over 18 miles from State Highway 205.

Hot Springs Campground

Combine birding with hot spring soaking and this spacious campground in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Mark Darnell   Website

Soak up the silence

As the name implies, you’ll find a great soaking at the Hot Springs Campground located in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. Soakers can choose between two hot springs – the protected comfort of a 6-foot deep pool surrounded by wind-blocking stone walls, or a primitive pool hidden off a closed road on the backside of the parking area.

In a short stroll from this 29-site campground, you’re likely to see many birds, including Northern Harriers, Bullock’s Orioles, Yellow Warblers and Greater Sage-Grouse. Cold Creek and Bond Creek flow in from the south and southeast respectively, joining forces to create Rock Creek. Each of these riparian corridors forms long arms that extend out from the center of the basin and abound with designated campsites and hiking opportunities.

Autumn is a particularly pleasant time to visit, as the aspen trees that fill Hart Mountain’s numerous draws
and basins turn fiery red, orange and yellow, accenting the already dramatic topography of the fault block
mountain’s eastern flank. At 5,600 feet in elevation, this time of year brings the possibility of snowfall,
creating stark contrasts between the red rocks, green lichens and golden foliage.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS From the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge headquarters, head south
following signs for the Hot Springs Campground. About a mile down the well-graded gravel road, the
road splits. Stay right, following signs for the Hot Springs Campground, which is roughly 4 miles south of
headquarters.

Camp Creek Planting

14 - 17 Oct

Plant riparian trees and shrubs along a newly restored stretch of Camp Creek to provide critical habitat for salmonids.

Cottonwood Canyon Exclosure Build

22 - 23 Oct

A quick, mid-week overnighter to build exclosure fences in preparation for planting at our newly installed beaver dam analogues (BDAs) on Hay Creek. You...

Cottonwood Canyon Planting

1 - 4 Nov

Planting native riparian plants alongside recently installed beaver dam analogues (BDAs) on Hay Creek. This trip is the culmination of a season of preparation...

Five for Fall

Download the descriptions for these three adventures, plus two more desert outings.

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Safety Tips

Following these suggestions will help you travel safely through the high desert of eastern Oregon and enjoy fragile places responsibly.   

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Autumn – The Best Time to Visit Oregon’s Desert?

By on September 4, 2019 | Posted in: Where-to

Spring, summer and winter are all strong contenders, but there’s mounting evidence that autumn could be the very best season to visit Oregon’s high desert. Consider … Temperature – Daytime highs are in the 70s, not the dripping-brow 90s and nighttime lows are in the lovely-for- sleeping 30s, not the teens. Color – Yes,...

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Boots, Bikes and Boats in Eastern Oregon

By on August 27, 2019 | Posted in:

As central Oregon’s trails become more and more popular, consider looking east for that next adventure and a sense of solitude. Learn about opportunities in and around the Steens Mountain Wilderness, Fremont-Winema National Forest and John Day River region. Oregon Desert Trail Coordinator Renee Patrick will share ideas for your next hiking, biking or...

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Only You Can Prevent
Sagebrush Fires

By on July 1, 2019 | Posted in: How-To

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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Terry Butler, 2018 Volunteer of the Year

By on June 6, 2019 | Posted in:

“If I have to pick a favorite place in Oregon’s high desert, it would be Sutton Mountain, but I’m excited about all of the Wilderness Study Areas,” says Terry, adding, “Each is a gem to explore, and I hope they all get protection someday… I love the scale of the physical beauty of the...

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Senator Merkley Steps Up
for Sutton Mountain

By on May 22, 2019 | Posted in: In the News

Today, Sen. Jeff Merkley, announced that he will introduce the Sutton Mountain and Painted Hills Area Preservation and Economic Enhancement Act that would establish the Sutton Mountain Wilderness to protect an area in the John Day River Basin renowned for spectacular scenery and prime wildlife habitat. “With this legislation, we’ll make sure that future...

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Lower John Day Working Group Place Based Planning Meeting

By on May 10, 2019 | Posted in:

You are invited to attend a public outreach meeting of the Lower John Day Place-Based Planning work group. We will be discussing water demands in the lower John Day Basin and seeking your input on potential solutions. Please join us for dinner and expert presentations. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will present...

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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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John Day River

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Fence Retrofit

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Help retrofit miles of fence to make the landscape safer for wildlife at the Clarno unit of this National Monument

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Cottonwood Canyon State Park BDA Install #1

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

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