Whychus-Deschutes
Within an hour’s drive from Bend and just west of Terrebonne, the rugged canyons of Whychus-Deschutes remain astonishingly wild.
Read MoreCentral Oregon Backcountry
Greg Burke Website
fact
Swallowtail
Swallowtail
The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly is the official state insect of Oregon and a true native of the Pacific Northwest. The Swallowtail can be seen in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage area. Source: State Symbols USA
Latin name: Papilio oregonius
voices
Sarah Graham, Sage Sustainers Member
Sarah Graham, Sage Sustainers 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.”
success
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
Read MoreA Wild Backyard
Rugged river canyons, ancient juniper woodlands, and rolling grasslands make the Central Oregon Backcountry some of Oregon’s most beloved public lands. Wild places like the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and Whychus-Deschutes provide boundless opportunities for exploration and adventure, all just minutes away from the people who live and work in Central Oregon.
Central Oregon’s backcountry holds features found nowhere else: junipers that are among the oldest trees in Oregon, Native American rock art and artifacts that tell the history of this region, and some of the last wild habitat for animals like golden eagles and steelhead. These irreplaceable treasures need and deserve protection.
Our Favorite Places in the Central Oregon Backcountry
Working for the Central Oregon Backcountry
A growing population and an influx of visitors are presenting new challenges to our lands. ONDA works to protect places like Whychus Creek and the South Fork Crooked River by engaging the community and encouraging people to speak up for the places they love.
Questions?
For more information about our work in the Central Oregon Backcountry, contact Gena Goodman-Campbell at gena@onda.org or call (541) 330-2638.
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 the […]
Read More