Steens Mountain Region Archives - Oregon Natural Desert Association

The Oregon Desert Trail

By Lace Thornberg on April 24, 2019 | Posted in:

Join the Oregon Desert Trail Coordinator Renee Patrick for an introduction to a long-distance adventure in Harney County. This 750-mile route traverses some stunning natural features in the high desert like the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and Steens Mountain, and can be explored on foot, horseback, boat or even skis in the winter....

Dark Desert Skies

By Kody Osborne 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...

Steens Mountain Travel Plan

By Lace Thornberg on March 12, 2019 | Posted in:

Current Status Victorious! On appeal, the Ninth Circuit threw out BLM’s unlawful travel plan and critical wildlife habitat on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon has been protected from motorized disruption. Our goal Steens Mountain is one of the last remaining strongholds for the Greater sage-grouse, an iconic bird whose survival is threatened by fragmentation...