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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Greg Burke Website
voices
Cregg Large, member since 2009
Cregg Large, member since 2009
“I came to Oregon 12 years ago from Texas. Texas, for all its size, has very little public land. Coming to Oregon has made me realize the special gift we as Americans have in our public lands. Volunteering with an organization like ONDA is my way of reciprocating for this gift. Through restoration efforts, I feel we are helping leave a better place than we found it. Through advocating for protection for public lands, we safeguard migration routes for animals and keep the land where it belongs: with the public.”
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
listen
South Fork Crooked River and Birds
South Fork Crooked River and Birds
A 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.
South Fork Crooked River
The Place Rising from springs amidst central Oregon’s sagebrush sea, the South Fork Crooked River winds through the canyons of the South Fork Wilderness Study Area before joining up with […]
Read MoreOregon Badlands Wilderness
Central Oregon’s Backyard Wilderness Located just 15 miles east of Bend, Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a 30,000-acre area filled with fascinating lava flows and ancient juniper trees. Here, you will […]
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