Steens Mountain Region

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 is actually one contiguous monolith that dominates the horizon.

Stretching some 60 miles wide and a mile vertical, Steens is the largest fault block mountain in the northwestern United States. From the high points along its long ridgeline, one can look out over the Alvord Desert to the south and gaze into deep gorges to the north.

Raptors soar over this mountain that juts out of the vast sagebrush sea, while sage-grouse, pronghorn, and many other wild creatures make their homes amidst the sagebrush, perennial grasses, and wildflowers found on its slopes.

 

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.”

voices

Carl Axelsen, member since 1999

Carl Axelsen, member since 1999

You folks at ONDA really have your stuff together. Such a well-planned opportunity to comment, since figuring out how to connect with the gummint is off-putting. You make it work for me.

Deep canyons and gorges amidst Steens mountain

Lupine at sunrise in spring

The Alvord Desert playa sits below the towering mountain

Tyler Roemer   Website

Exceptional fall foliage ignites the region

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

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 […]

Read More

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. […]

Read More

Steens Mountain Wilderness

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 […]

Read More