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
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Great Horned Owls and Western Screech Owls
Great Horned Owls and Western Screech Owls
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South Fork Crooked River and Birds
South Fork Crooked River and Birds
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Young Horny Toad Lizard
Young Horny Toad Lizard
In the summer these lizards begin foraging for food as soon as their body temperature rises as the heat of the day increases. They feed on slow-moving, ground-dwelling insects. In the fall they hibernate by burying themselves in the sand.
Latin name: Phrysonoma platyrhinos
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.
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 […]
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