Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
A centerpiece of Oregon’s high desert, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is located at the foot of Steens Mountain, from which the Wild and Scenic Blitzen River provides a constant and […]
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voices
Nate Wilson-Traisman, member since 2019
Nate Wilson-Traisman, member since 2019
“My greatest hope is that Oregon’s desert continues to gain public lands protections, and is guarded from unsustainable development, so that future generations may benefit from all the region has to offer.
I felt inspired by trips to Oregon’s high desert, and was actively searching for ways to contribute to the protection of these wild places. ONDA stood out as a leader in this respect, and when I’ve had money to contribute, ONDA has been a clear choice.”
voices
Craig Terry, ONDA member and stewardship volunteer
Craig Terry, ONDA member and stewardship volunteer
“The people I have had the privilege to share time with each season keep me volunteering again and again. Who else but those ONDA staff leaders would make fresh coffee at dawn each morning or pack a watermelon all day to serve as a reward under a juniper in a steep canyon?” Craig, who grew up in northwestern Nevada, says ONDA connects him with places he loves and a mission he believes in. “My grandfather and his father put up wire fences for their ranching needs. Taking out barbed wire sort of completes a circle for me.”
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Wind and Birds in Quaking Aspen
Wind and Birds in Quaking Aspen
A captivating place to explore
Steens Mountain is remarkable for its unrefined, stark beauty. The mountain was and continues to be a significant and revered site for the Northern Paiute people and is well known for its cultural, ecological and recreational values.
Each year, more than 100,000 people visit Steens to hunt, fish, hike, camp, bird watch, or just absorb the peace found in the area. From sweeping vistas to deep canyons and gorges cut by prehistoric glaciers, people get hooked on Oregon’s high desert after spending time in the Steens. The Kiger, Little Blitzen, Big Indian, and Wildhorse gorges are surprising in their lushness, and tend to lure visitors deeper.
Our favorite places in the Steens Mountain Region
Our Dedication to Steens
Thanks to decades of hard work and cooperation, Steens Mountain has been preserved as a place of magnificent beauty, with grand vistas and rich wildlife habitat. Oregon Natural Desert Association gives the mountain our ongoing attention so that it can remain that way. We’ve helped to limit unsustainable uses and preserve the wild character of the region by working to make Steens the first “livestock-free” wilderness area in the country. Through thousands of hours of volunteer stewardship, we have improved fish and wildlife habitat and enhanced the natural character of this special place.
Accomplishments
In 1987, a group of community members based in and around Bend, Oregon realized that the high desert lands and waters they loved had no one dedicated to their protection. […]
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Oregon’s first desert wilderness On October 30, 2000, President Clinton signed the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act, creating Oregon’s first desert wilderness. This accomplishment was the result of […]
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Steens Mountain Region
A secret revealed Though lesser-known, the alpine qualities of Steens Mountain rival Oregon’s Cascade peaks, with the summit sitting at 9,738 feet. Often mistaken for a chain of mountains, Steens […]
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