Speak up for Oregon’s high desert.
Every American owns the public lands, waters and wildlife that make Oregon’s high desert special, and every one of us must be an advocate for their conservation for current and future generations.
Brian Piarulli
Every American owns the public lands, waters and wildlife that make Oregon’s high desert special, and every one of us must be an advocate for their conservation for current and future generations.
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: April 24, 2025 | Category: Profile This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2025 Desert Ramblings What fuels conservation success. The sharp and […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Author: Mac Lacy | Published: April 15, 2025 | Category: Deep Dive A deep dive into the history of the Lakeview Resource Management Plan and the future of Oregon’s Greater […]
Read MoreTara Lemezis Website
Author: Tara Lemezis | Published Date: April 14, 2025 | Category: How-To This article was originally published in The Source Weekly on April 9, 2025. A guide to thoughtful […]
Read MoreChad is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, Navy veteran, conservationist, and social entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and protecting wild spaces. His career has been defined by a unique fusion […]
Read MoreAuthor: Claire Cekander | Published: April 3, 2025 | Category: Look Back Reflections on this year’s High Desert Speaker Series. Each year, Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the High Desert […]
Read MoreAuthor: Anne White | Published: April 3, 2025 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on March 27, 2025. Where, when and how to observe sage-grouse lek […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: April 3, 2025 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on March 12, 2025. They’re where you find them. Oregon […]
Read MoreCommunities slapped with unprecedented 5-day comment period for complex and controversial new plan. March 28, 2025 – The Trump administration proposed to permit exploration for a massive new mine in […]
Read MoreAuthor: Ryan Houston | Published: March 26, 2025 | Category: In the News This Op-Ed originally appeared in The Source Weekly on March 20, 2025. The existence of public lands […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association for an evening gathering in Eugene celebrating high desert conservation! Connect with ONDA staff, board members and fellow supporters while enjoying desert-themed activities. Complimentary light […]
Read MoreAllison Law
Author: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: March 19, 2025 | Category: Notes from the Desert Illustrating the restoration process at Robinson Creek Over the past two decades, Oregon Natural Desert Association […]
Read MoreA 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 MoreCregg Large
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreRegistration Thank you for your interest in participating in an ONDA trip. More information about our Spring 2025 trips can be found on our 2025 Stewardship Trips page. We will […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association for an evening gathering in Bend celebrating high desert conservation! Connect with ONDA staff, board members and fellow supporters while enjoying desert-themed activities. Complimentary light […]
Read MoreJoin the late winter tradition of harvesting willows at the Clarno Nursery for use in restoration projects this spring!
Read MoreOlivia Guethling
Located just 15 miles east of Bend, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a 30,000-acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers. Thanks to an ONDA-led campaign, this area was […]
Read MoreThis project takes place at Reynolds Pond, just outside the Badlands Wilderness. In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead two days of […]
Read MoreThis project takes place at Reynolds Pond, just outside the Badlands Wilderness. In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead two days of […]
Read MoreSam Hartman
This project will support watershed-wide restoration efforts at Pine Creek Conservation Area, a property owned and managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. On this trip, volunteers will be […]
Read MoreAaron Tani
This project is part of an exciting collaboration with the Prineville Bureau of Land Management to restore a mile of Riparian Habitat on the South Fork Crooked River. On this […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
This trip will take place at Beatys Butte on the 400-acre North Springs conservation property owned by the Oregon Desert Land Trust (ODLT). This project will continue the construction of […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
This trip will take place at Beatys Butte on the 400-acre North Springs conservation property owned by the Oregon Desert Land Trust (ODLT). This project will continue the construction of […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Jim Davis
Author: Malcolm Costello | Published: February 5, 2025 | Category: Notes from the Desert This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on January 30, 2025. A volunteer recounts the many […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association for an evening gathering in Portland celebrating high desert conservation! Connect with ONDA staff, board members and fellow supporters while enjoying desert-themed activities. We’ll have […]
Read MoreAlan St John
Author: Ryan Houston | Published: January 14, 2025 | Category: Deep Dive Reflections on the most recent chapter in our quest to protect Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands. Growing momentum in […]
Read MorePriorities and pathways to success in the year ahead. Oregon’s high desert features millions of acres of expansive sagebrush plains, emerald ribbons of streamside habitat, iconic mountain ranges, craggy canyons […]
Read MoreCraig Miller
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: January 7, 2025 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Source on January 8, 2025. A guide to observing migrating birds at the […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: December 27, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin. Discover the stark contrasts and deep beauty of Oregon’s first high desert […]
Read MoreAs this year comes to a close, we’re looking back on everything our community has accomplished in 2024 with a sense of pride. Oregon’s high desert is a remarkable landscape […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association for the final event of the High Desert Speaker Series as we dive beneath the surface of high desert streams and into the hidden world […]
Read MoreAuthor: Anne White | Published: December 13, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2024 Desert Ramblings A flashy prehistoric insect. Dragonflies are […]
Read MoreGet ready for an exciting exploration into the crucial role insects play in Oregon’s high desert. Oregon Natural Desert Association’s High Desert Speaker Series continues with Dr. Tara Cornelisse, invertebrate […]
Read MoreSpend an evening with Oregon Natural Desert Association as we continue the High Desert Speaker Series by uncovering the fossilized world of eastern Oregon. Dr. Samantha Hopkins, University of Oregon […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association as we kick off our 2025 High Desert Speaker Series with an absorbing evening all about high desert owls. Paul Bannick, acclaimed author and wildlife […]
Read MoreONDA es la única organización de conservación que se dedica exclusivamente a preservar el desierto alto de Oregón. Nuestros miembros y partidarios viven en Portland, en Bend, a lo largo […]
Read MoreMichael S. Quinton
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: November 27, 2024 | Category: Coming Up This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2024 Desert Ramblings Your key role in caring for […]
Read MoreHere’s a closer look at public lands management planning in Oregon’s high desert: Resource Management Plans The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses resource management plans (RMPs) to provide the […]
Read MoreAuthor: Claire Cekander | Published: November 19, 2024 | Category: Profiles Stories of giving from our community. Our supporters contribute to Oregon desert conservation in many meaningful ways. Some restore […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: November 14, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on November 13, 2024. The many uses and attributes of […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: November 14, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on November 14, 2024. A landscape rich with fascinating geology, a deep […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: November 14, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2024 Desert Ramblings Where to go this season As temperatures […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
Author: Anne White and Mark Salvo | Published: October 29, 2024 | Category: Deep Dive This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2024 Desert Ramblings The Oregon desert […]
Read MoreAuthor: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: October 10, 2024 | Category: Look Back This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2024 Desert Ramblings Wrapping up the fifth season of […]
Read MoreAuthor: Anne White | Published: October 24, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on October 16, 2024. When the sun sets on the […]
Read MoreAuthor: Mark Salvo | Published: October 10, 2024 | Category: Deep Dive Something must be done, and quickly. Climate change is an existential threat to Oregon’s high desert. We must […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: October 10, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on October 10, 2024. Central Oregon’s “Backyard Wilderness” features 50+ miles of […]
Read MoreAuthor: Anne White | Published: September 13, 2024 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on September 4, 2024. More than two dozen species make their […]
Read MoreAuthor: Sarah Lindsay | Published: August 29, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on August 28, 2024. Behind the scenes of ONDA group stewardship trips. […]
Read MoreAuthor: Alison Jean Cole | Published: August 29, 2024 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on August 14, 2024. In an ocean of sagebrush, a […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Patrick | Published: August, 2024 | Category: Deep Dive Finding conservation inspiration over 750 miles of high desert trail Hiking the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail is not just […]
Read MoreAuthor: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: August 13, 2024 | Category: Look Back This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on August 7, 2024. Restoring native grasslands in the high […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: July 30, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on July 30, 2024. Four fantastic swimming holes on the John Day […]
Read MoreAuthor: Karly Foster | Published: July 27, 2024 | Category: Look Back This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on June 28, 2024. An Oregon ecological haven. The McDermitt Caldera is […]
Read MoreJoin us for a night of inspiration and discovery at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, October 4, 2024! This year’s event promises an unforgettable experience at the […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association’s Conservation Director Mark Salvo for a workshop on how to write compelling comments to conserve 3.2 million acres of public lands in the Greater Hart-Sheldon. […]
Read MoreThis trip is part of a collaboration with the Prineville BLM district focused on retrofitting fences to make them more friendly to wildlife. By retrofitting the fences protecting this mesic, […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Greg Burke Website
George Wuerthner
In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Burns District, ONDA will improve a portion of the Fred Riddle Trail in the Steens Mountain Wilderness. The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management […]
Read MoreOlivia Guethling
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead severaldays of trail work and fence removal at Reynolds Pond and the Badlands Wilderness to […]
Read MoreOlivia Guethling
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead severaldays of trail work and fence removal at Reynolds Pond and the Badlands Wilderness to […]
Read MoreOlivia Guethling
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead severaldays of trail work and fence removal at Reynolds Pond and the Badlands Wilderness to […]
Read MoreIn partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead several days of trail work and fence removal at Reynolds Pond and the Badlands Wilderness […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Aaron Tani
George Wuerthner
Sage Brown Website
Join us as we work with the Prairie City Ranger District to plant native vegetation along Summit Creek to improve fish and wildlife habitat. ONDA has worked on Summit Creek […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
This trip is part of a series of projects that will provide a demonstration of what habitat restoration work can accomplish in the Beatys Butte area. By working to restore […]
Read MoreThis day trip is part of a collaboration with the Prineville BLM district focused on restoring riparian habitat. By repairing fences to exclude riparian areas from the impacts of cattle […]
Read MoreThis day trip is part of a collaboration with the Prineville BLM district focused on restoring riparian habitat. By repairing fences to exclude riparian areas from the impacts of cattle […]
Read MoreBeth Macinko
Aaron Tani
This trip is part of an exciting collaboration with the Prineville Bureau of Land Management to restore 3 miles of the South Fork Crooked River. This trip will involve cutting […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: June 25, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on June 19, 2024. Oregon’s high desert is home to […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association’s board, staff, and supporters in celebrating the many high desert conservation successes you achieved in 2024! Hear highlights from this year’s habitat restoration work and […]
Read MoreTyson Fisher
Join us for the unveiling of ONDA’s 2025 Wild Desert Calendar at Immersion Brewing Barrel Room in Bend. Full of images from Oregon’s iconic wild places and featuring photographers from […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: June 10, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings The high desert is teeming with […]
Read MoreJim Davis
New Plan will Chart the Future for 1.6 Million Acres of Oregon’s High Desert. June 6, 2024 – The Bureau of Land Management has issued a new draft plan that […]
Read MoreMark Darnell Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, October 4, 2024 — an unforgettable evening of captivating short films that address pressing environmental issues, highlight […]
Read MoreAuthor: Claire Cekander | Published: June 6, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on May 31, 2024. Appreciating dawn in the high desert I wake […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association’s annual celebration of desert conservation! Commemorate a year of achievements and conservation successes at our High Desert Hootenanny in Portland. Hear highlights from this year’s […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: May 29, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on May 23, 2024. Oregon’s vast, remote Greater Hart-Sheldon is home to […]
Read MoreAuthor: Mark Salvo | Published: May 29, 2024 | Category: Coming Up This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings After three decades of advocacy, this […]
Read MoreAnton works on land conservation and river restoration in the Columbia Basin for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Prior to this, Anton focused on natural resource issues […]
Read MoreAuthor: Anne White | Published: May 17, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on May 8, 2024. Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands is a seasonal […]
Read MoreHaley Tobiason
Author: Haley Tobiason | Published: May 17, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings If you’re a new birder wanting to […]
Read MoreAuthor: Mac Lacy | Published: May 11, 2024 | Category: Look Back This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings ONDA secures historic wildlands protection in […]
Read MoreAuthor: Karly Foster | Published: May 7, 2024 | Category: Look Back From the nation’s capital to its rugged canyons and surging waters, ONDA traversed the country advocating for the […]
Read MoreAuthor: Claire Cekander | Published: March 6, 2024 | Category: Look Back Reflections on the 2024 High Desert Speaker Series Each year, Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the High Desert […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: April 25, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on April 17, 2024. Find color in one of the least […]
Read MoreAuthor: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: April 18, 2024 | Category: Coming Up This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings Bringing new restoration methods to a […]
Read MoreNate Wilson
Oregonians Applaud ‘Public Lands Rule’ Emphasizing Conservation and Recreation on BLM Public Lands. April 18, 2024 – The Bureau of Land Management released its final “Public Lands Rule” putting conservation, […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: April 10, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings Paragon of adaptation and legacy of […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association for an evening gathering in Portland’s Peninsula Park. Mix and mingle with our staff, board and fellow supporters while enjoying complimentary Oakshire Brewery beer, wine, […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Patrick | Published: March 29, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on March 22, 2024. These short hikes will give you a taste […]
Read More**Updated Event Time: See you from 4 – 6 p.m. on September 10.** Join Oregon Natural Desert Association for an evening gathering in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park. Mix and mingle […]
Read MoreAuthor: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: March 18, 2024 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source on March 13, 2024. Working with tribes to restore the lifeblood of […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: March 15, 2024 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on March 14, 2024. Appreciate the high desert’s dark skies It’s no […]
Read MoreAuthor: Karly Foster | Published: March 6, 2024 | Category: Profile Dive into a journey of empowerment and inspiration as we celebrate Women’s History Month with profiles on the remarkable […]
Read MoreThe Owyhee Canyonlands is a national treasure, featuring miles upon miles of deep rugged canyons and rolling sagebrush grasslands that support a rich diversity of wildlife and feature some of […]
Read MoreAuthor: Mac Lacy | Published: March 4, 2024 | Category: Deep Dive A deep dive into the history of the Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan and the future of Oregon’s […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: January 17, 2024 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on February 14, 2024. What we can learn from beaver about […]
Read MoreThe Bureau of Land Management Finalized New Plan Conserving More than 400,000 Acres in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands. February 23, 2024 – After more than two decades of research, inventory, public comment […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for an evening gathering in our office this summer. Enjoy complimentary beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks and light appetizers. You will also have […]
Read MoreIn partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will help lead a day of trail maintenance at Reynolds Pond to prepare the site for the […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Join us as we work with the Prairie City Ranger District to plant native vegetation along Summit Creek to improve fish and wildlife habitat. ONDA has worked on Summit Creek […]
Read MoreSam Hartman
This project will support watershed-wide restoration efforts at Pine Creek Conservation Area, a property owned and managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Volunteers will use hand tools such […]
Read MoreSam Hartman
This project will support watershed-wide restoration efforts at Pine Creek Conservation Area, a property owned and managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Volunteers will use hand tools such […]
Read MoreAaron Tani
This trip is part of an exciting collaboration with the Prineville Bureau of Land Management to restore 3 miles of the South Fork Crooked River. To make this stretch of […]
Read MoreAaron Tani
Beth Macinko
Jim Davis
Sam Hartman
This project will support watershed-wide restoration efforts at Pine Creek Conservation Area, a property owned and managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Volunteers will use hand tools such […]
Read MoreCorinne Handelman
Ready to get out into the desert and give it some care? Oregon Natural Desert Association would love to see you on one of the dozens of stewardship trips and […]
Read MoreAuthor: Claire Cekander | Published: January 29, 2024 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Bend Bulletin on January 26, 2024. The West’s largest expanse of unprotected wildlands […]
Read MoreThank you for continuing to support high desert conservation and staying in the loop on news and happenings at ONDA. Looking for more ways to get involved in this community? […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: January 17, 2024 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source on January 10, 2024. Winter rain and snowfall make for wildlife stories […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
This trip is part of a series of projects that will provide a demonstration of what habitat restoration work can accomplish in the Beatys Butte area. By working to restore […]
Read MoreAuthor: Karly Foster | Published: December 28, 2023 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source on December 13, 2023. Reflect on a year of enjoying the wonders […]
Read MoreGabriel Amadeus Tiller Website
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: December 12, 2023 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bend Bulletin on November 24, 2023. Escape the cold at one of these […]
Read MoreSpend an evening with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg, a community ecologist and Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Director of Tribal Initiatives at Oregon State University, as part of Oregon Natural […]
Read MoreSpend an evening with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg, a community ecologist and Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Director of Tribal Initiatives at Oregon State University, as part of Oregon Natural […]
Read MoreJoin us for the final events of Oregon Natural Desert Association’s 2024 High Desert Speaker Series, featuring Alison Jean Cole—an author, rockhound, and lapidary artist. In this informative talk, Alison […]
Read MoreJoin us for the final events of Oregon Natural Desert Association’s 2024 High Desert Speaker Series, featuring Alison Jean Cole—an author, rockhound, and lapidary artist. In this informative talk, Alison […]
Read MoreOregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands is one of the largest conservation opportunities in the country. Join Oregon Natural Desert Association Board Members, Elisa Cheng and Natasha Bellis, at a 2024 High Desert […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association for the inaugural event of the 2024 High Desert Speaker Series—a captivating online presentation delving into the diverse species of bees thriving in Oregon’s high […]
Read MoreJamey Pyles Website
Author: Ryan Houston | Published: December 5, 2023 | Category: Deep Dive A deep dive into the Wilderness vs. National Monument pathways Even the most intrepid desert traveler can get […]
Read MoreAuthor: Craig Miller | Published: November 27, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on November 22, 2023. Where, when and how to see birds […]
Read MoreAuthor: Karly Foster | Published: November 15, 2023 | Category: Look Back Representatives of four tribal communities traveled to Washington, D.C., with ONDA to advocate for permanent protection for Oregon’s […]
Read MorePhil Mitchell
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: November 14, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2023 Desert Ramblings Conservation efforts offer hope for this […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Patrick | Published: November 10, 2023 This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2023 Desert Ramblings Hiking for a plan to permanently protect this landscape. When […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: November 9, 2023 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Source on November 8, 2023. Where to find vibrant autumn leaves igniting eastern […]
Read MoreBruce Couch
Author: Hana Sant | Published: November 7, 2023 | Category: Look Back The results of our 2023 member survey This summer, we surveyed our members to learn more about your […]
Read MoreAuthor: Haley Tobiason | Published: October 30, 2023 | Category: Look Back Reflections from a season of surveying at Lake Abert Rounding the corner of Oregon’s Highway 395, nestled underneath the […]
Read MoreAaron Tani
Author: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: October 25, 2023 | Category: Look Back This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2023 Desert Ramblings Initial phase of restoration on the […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Author: Mark Salvo | Published: October 19, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2023 Desert Ramblings The future of this enduring species […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: October 6, 2023 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in our Fall + Winter 2023 Desert Ramblings Newsletter. Among the diverse geology, arid climate, […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
Author: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: September 26, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on September 20, 2023. Both iconic and beloved in Oregon’s high […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: September 13, 2023 | Category: Look Back From getting the opportunity to reconnect with indigenous communities to finding work that truly interests him In 2021, […]
Read MorePatrick French
Author: Renee Patrick | Published: September 6, 2023 | Category: Deep Dive Gear is always a hot topic of conversation among long-distance backpackers. Good gear choices for a challenging route […]
Read MoreGary Calicott
ONDA has joined a diverse coalition calling for a Presidential national monument for Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands. September 6, 2023 – ONDA has joined a diverse coalition of organizations and advocates calling […]
Read MoreRenee joined ONDA’s team in 2023. As communications manager, she elevates ONDA’s work, connecting people with the public lands found in Oregon’s high desert. She comes with experience in both […]
Read MoreAuthor: Anne White | Published: August 15, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on August 9, 2023. What is the future for the American […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association’s annual celebration of desert conservation! Commemorate a year of achievements and conservation successes at our High Desert Hootenanny in Portland. Hear highlights from this year’s advocacy […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association board, staff and supporters in celebrating the many high desert conservation successes you achieved in 2023! Come to Aspen Hall in Bend on Friday, December […]
Read MoreJoin us in celebrating the release of ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar at Immersion Brewing Barrel Room! Meet photographers featured in the 2024 calendar and pick up desert tips and know-how. […]
Read MoreRick Samco Website
Join us on Friday, September 29, 2023 for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, presented by E2 Solar. This year’s festival will be hosted at the Tower Theatre in Bend, […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: July 28, 2023 | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Source on July 5, 2023. Head east of Bend anytime between early spring […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Join us as we work with the Prairie City Ranger District to plant native vegetation along Summit Creek to improve fish and wildlife habitat. ONDA has worked on Summit Creek […]
Read MoreJohn Aylward
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: July 7, 2023 | Category: Look Back The recap and realizations of two ONDA board members rafting 55 miles of the Owyhee River. Close your […]
Read MoreJon Muyskens
The Bureau of Land Management Releases New Plan Conserving More than 400,000 Acres in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands. June 16, 2023 – The Bureau of Land Management announced a new plan […]
Read MoreAlan Majchrowicz
Author: Ryan Houston | Published: June 9, 2023 | Category: In the News Four years in the making, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley’s bill could finally deliver protection […]
Read MoreJeremy Austin
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: June 7, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on June 7, 2023. The resilient pronghorn has raced through millennia, […]
Read MoreDan Hawk
Collaborative effort produces new guidance on renewable energy development in Oregon. June 2, 2023 – Oregon Natural Desert Association is pleased to join partners in offering new guidance on the resources […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Celia Bell
Greg Burke
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA is leading regular service days in 2023 to improve the Badlands Wilderness for its human visitors and […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
This trip represents the beginning of a series of projects that will provide a demonstration of what restoration work can accomplish in the Beatys Butte area. By working to restore […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Olivia Guethling
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead several days of service in 2023 to improve the Badlands Wilderness for its human visitors […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
George Wuerthner
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead several days of service in 2023 to improve the Badlands Wilderness for its human visitors […]
Read MoreThis project will support watershed-wide restoration efforts at Pine Creek Conservation Area, a property owned and managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Volunteers will use hand tools such […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
George Wuerthner
This trip is part of a series of projects that will provide a demonstration of what habitat restoration work can accomplish in the Beatys Butte area. By working to restore […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Burns District, ONDA will improve a portion of the Fred Riddle Trail in the Steens Mountain Wilderness. The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead several days of service in 2023 to improve the Badlands Wilderness for its human visitors […]
Read MoreCelia Bell
This project takes place near Juntura on the Burns Paiute Tribe’s Jonesboro Property, also known as Denny Jones Ranch. For this trip, volunteers will be spending two days planting culturally […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Greg Burke Website
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead several days of service in 2023 to improve the Badlands Wilderness for its human visitors […]
Read MoreBrent McGregor
Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, September 29, 2023 — an evening of short films showcasing our earth’s natural wonders and the amazing […]
Read MoreAnne White
Author: Elizabeth MacLagan | Published: May 18, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight Widely planted for habitat restoration, Chokecherry and Blue Elderberry are important species in the high desert ecosystem. These […]
Read MoreONDA’s 2023 fall stewardship trips and projects offer a variety opportunities to give back to the high desert and its creatures while getting to know new people and places. Registration […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Schiavone | Published: May 12, 2023 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source on May 12, 2023. Experienced local photographers offer pointers for capturing the […]
Read MoreSteve fell in love with the Oregon Desert while earning his J.D. at Lewis and Clark Law School and working for the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission. After moving to Alaska, […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for an evening gathering this summer. Enjoy complimentary cold beverages, non-alcoholic drinks and light appetizers. Mix and mingle, learn about new aspects […]
Read MoreCarrie joined ONDA in 2023, bringing with her not only a passion for Oregon’s high desert, but over 25 years of experience as a finance professional at a large investment […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for an evening gathering in our office this summer. Enjoy complimentary cold beverages from Deschutes Brewery, Crater Lakes Vodka, wine, non-alcoholic drinks […]
Read MoreDan Hawk
Collaborative effort produces new guidance on renewable energy development in Oregon. Oregon Natural Desert Association is pleased to join partners in offering new guidance on the resources and values that […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Author: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: April 14, 2023 | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source on April 14, 2023. Help reverse the overwhelming impacts of climate change […]
Read MoreDavid Sherril
Author: Karly Foster | Published: April 6, 2023 | Category: Look Back A week in the nation’s capitol spent advocating for public lands and conservation in Oregon’s high desert, told […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed new “Public Lands Rule” could be a win for Oregon’s high desert. On March 30, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management announced an anticipated […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Located on the Oregon-Nevada border, the Greater Hart-Sheldon is one of the six most important habitats remaining for greater sage-grouse in the American West. This charismatic ambassador of the Sagebrush […]
Read MorePhil Mitchell
The Greater Hart-Sheldon is more than 3 million acres of sagebrush steppe anchored by Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in southeastern Oregon and Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northern Nevada. […]
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Read MoreTyler Roemer
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: March 13, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight Oh man, I’m liking those lichen! Lichen are both ubiquitous and highly diverse, yet little known and understood, […]
Read MoreAndrew Sambuceto
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: February 21, 2023 | Category: Where-to This article originally appeared in The Source on January 11, 2023. Oregon’s high desert – that vast expanse of sagebrush […]
Read MoreMichele Patrick
Author: Anne White | Published: February 16, 2023 | Category: Look Back In June 2022, ONDA hosted a site visit to McDermitt Creek in southeastern Oregon to introduce desert advocates […]
Read MoreJames Parsons Website
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Read MoreJames Parsons Website
Mark Darnell Website
This is an exciting and physically demanding trip. We will backpack out to an inholding owned by the Oregon Desert Land Trust within the South Fork Crooked River Wilderness Study […]
Read MoreBen Gordon
Join ONDA for a fence repair trip in support of the the Burns Paiute Tribe's efforts to restore tributaries of the Malheur River on their Logan Valley property.
Read MoreAlan Majchrowicz Website
Aaron Tani
This trip marks the first step in an exciting new collaboration with the Prineville BLM to restore 3 miles of the South Fork Crooked River. To make this stretch of […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Join ONDA in a day of maintenance to improve trails in the Badlands Wilderness.
Read MoreJoin ONDA to document the incredible habitat, wildlife, and cultural resource values in the McDermitt Caldera threatened by the potential McDermitt Creek lithium mine. A potential massive, new mine near […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
Join ONDA to retrofit fence and help us improve an important migration corridor. Barbed wire fences present throughout the Beatys Butte area pose risks to wildlife. Low flying sage grouse […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
This trip is full and accepting volunteers for the waitlist.
Read MorePatrick Alexander
Author: Rachel Renne | Published: February 13, 2023 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on February 8, 2023. In May 2021, I hiked the entire […]
Read MoreMeet Mary McCord, ONDA’s 2022 Conservationist of the Year If you attended an ONDA event this year, chances are that Mary McCord was working behind the scenes to make sure […]
Read MoreRenee Clough
Author: Renee Patrick | Published: February 3, 2023 | Category: How-to Taking on a challenging remote hike like the Oregon Desert Trail can be intimidating, but hikers from all experience […]
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Read MoreTJ Paulsen
Author: TJ Paulsen | Published: January 30, 2023 | Category: How-To Hikers will run into more gates than you might expect across the high desert. TJ Paulsen completed the entire […]
Read MoreGary Calicott
ONDA’s 2023 spring stewardship trips and projects offer a variety opportunities to give back to the high desert and its creatures while getting to know new people and places. Registration […]
Read MoreMichelle works at the intersection of land, water, and communities. She serves as a Research Associate at the University of Oregon’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center where she focuses […]
Read MorePatrick Stoll
Wilson Wewa will discuss the land, its people and the past, present and future of protecting the high desert in Oregon. Wilson is a storyteller, spiritual leader, and […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Wilson Wewa will discuss the land, its people and the past, present and future of protecting the high desert in Oregon. Wilson is a storyteller, spiritual leader, and oral […]
Read MoreBeth Macinko
Start 2023 off right by joining one or more of ONDA’s winter stewardship trips to the Clarno Nursery on the John Day River to harvest willows and cottonwoods for planting […]
Read MoreBruce Couch
Join professor and author John Leshy at the Tower Theater in Bend for our second event in the High Desert Speaker Series as he discusses his new book, Our Common […]
Read MoreMichele Patrick
Calling all plant lovers! Join us in Portland for an evening of botany and ecology as we explore the native plants of Oregon’s high desert in our second event of […]
Read MoreRon Larson
A welcome step toward improved management and conservation of an imperiled saline lake Oregon Natural Desert Association is thrilled to see bipartisan support for a new program supporting improved conservation […]
Read MoreAuthor: Scott Bowler | Published: December 21, 2022 | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on December 7, 2022. The ubiquitous tree that warrants a closer […]
Read MoreRon Larson
Lake Abert — and the birds that depend on it — is under constant threat as the ongoing drought exacerbates the impacts of poor water management, resulting in reduced inflows […]
Read MoreRon Larson
Lake Abert’s delicate ecosystem depends on consistent and reliable fresh water inputs to maintain optimal salinity to support a complex food web that feeds the abundant birdlife at the lake. […]
Read MoreWill Thompson, USGS
This action is retired for now. Please sign-up for our e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on all our advocacy needs and thank you for your interest in supporting wildlife in Oregon!
Read MoreRon Larson
Lake Abert is the only hypersaline lake in Oregon, one of three hypersaline lakes in the western U.S., and is the largest saline lake in the Pacific Northwest. This unique […]
Read MoreRon Larson
As Oregon’s only hypersaline lake and one of just three such lakes in the western U.S., Lake Abert is a vital ecosystem within the high desert and an essential stop […]
Read MoreDaniel Arnold
Oregon’s high desert is an exceptional landscape, and the people who love it and protect it are feisty, passionate, and deeply committed to conservation. The high desert is also a […]
Read MoreAuthor: Claire Cekander | Published: November 4, 2022 | Category: Look Back Yes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy winter in the desert, but many of us spend the […]
Read MorePatrick Stoll
Author: Mark Salvo | Published: November 1, 2022 | Category: Coming Up File this under “looming threat”: ONDA has learned that the U.S. Air Force may release its final plan […]
Read MoreGena Goodman-Campbell
For the 2022 Tribal Stewards crew, working in different places and seeing the varied scenery of Oregon was a definite highlight, but the mosquitoes, well … not so much. Tribal […]
Read MorePatrick French
Authors: Renee Patrick and Lace Thornberg | Published: October 25, 2022 | Category: Profile Go out for a long hike in Oregon’s high desert and you will see more pronghorn […]
Read MoreAuthors: Jeremy Austin, Mac Lacy, Gena Goodman-Campbell and Lace Thornberg | Published: October 21, 2022 This is a story about people who noticed a problem and chose to act. It […]
Read More“Nothing in conservation work is ever uncomplicated! But I’m proud of ONDA for working on that conversation, being neighborly, trying to include the human landscape in the natural one as […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer Website
This is the closing day of “A High Desert Year,” an online exhibit featuring 24 works of landscape and nature photography. All images are featured in ONDA’s 2023 Wild Desert […]
Read MoreAllen Tyler
Terry Butler has been exploring and advocating for Oregon’s high desert for over 40 years. He’s participated in numerous ONDA stewardship trips and other volunteer activities, becoming a strong believer […]
Read MoreChris Christie
Author: Lace Thornberg | Published: October 6, 2022 | Category: How-To ONDA’s conservation work occurs on the traditional and ceded lands of the Northern Paiute, Wasco, Warm Springs, Bannock, Shoshone, […]
Read MoreAaron Reddecliffe
Author: Ryan Houston | Published: October 4, 2022 | Category: In The News Another Milestone for the Owyhee Canyonlands It’s not hard to get lost in the deeply forked, meandering […]
Read MoreAuthor: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: October 3, 2022 | Category: Coming Up Desert streams and rivers are the lifeblood of Oregon’s high desert, but many of these essential riparian areas […]
Read MorePublished continuously since 1988, Oregon Natural Desert Association’s newsletter has kept our members informed about public lands news and shared countless intriguing facts about the plants and animals that inhabit […]
Read MoreJames Parsons Website
Author: Jess Beauchemin | Published: September 12, 2022 | Category: Where-To Four amazing hikes with fall colors on Steens Mountain and Hart Mountain I grew up in New England, where […]
Read MoreOur annual Calendar Assembly Party is coming up, and we would love your help! Join us for this fun volunteer event hosted at the ONDA office. Enjoy refreshments and a […]
Read MoreMeet Five Former ONDA Law Clerks and Interns Making the World a Better Place It takes a village to protect, defend, and restore Oregon’s sagebrush wildlands. All of ONDA’s work […]
Read MoreClaire joined ONDA in 2022 as the donor relations manager and is based in our Portland office. She works to deepen relationships with ONDA members by sharing ONDA’s work with […]
Read MoreThe Greater Hart-Sheldon straddles the Oregon-Nevada border and provides essential habitat for pronghorn, as well as hundreds of other sagebrush-dependent plants and animals. In 2016, the region supported more than 8,000 […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer Website
“A High Desert Year,” an online exhibit featuring 24 works of landscape and nature photography will open for viewing. All images are featured in ONDA’s 2023 Wild Desert Calendar. To […]
Read MoreRobert Tilley
Want to make sure you’re using your voice effectively for the desert you love? Join us at our next Conservation Convo event.
Read MoreMark Darnell Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, October 4, 2024 — an unforgettable evening of captivating short films that address pressing environmental issues, highlight […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
620,000 miles — enough to stretch around the earth nearly 25 times. That is the estimated number of miles of fencing currently crisscrossing the American West, according to researchers at […]
Read MoreRobert Tilley
Take part in our Conservation Convo which will feature a presentation by our Conservation Team and learn about critical efforts that are heating up this fall and need your support. […]
Read MoreRobert Tilley
RESCHEDULED Swing by our Conservation Convo event to visit with the Oregon Natural Desert Association and our Conservation Team and learn about critical efforts that are heating up this fall and […]
Read MoreRick Samco Website
Join us on Friday, September 30, 2022 for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, presented by E2 Solar. This year’s festival will be hosted at the Tower Theatre in Bend, […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
Join us in celebrating the release of ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar at Immersion Brewing Barrel Room! Meet photographers featured in the 2023 calendar and pick up desert tips and know-how. […]
Read MoreAuthor: Joanna Zhang | Published: July 20, 2022 | Category: In the news On February 3, 2021, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the River Democracy Act to add […]
Read MoreKevin Clark
Over 1,000 vascular plant species have been recorded at Steens Mountain. And, in mid-summer, you can expect wildflowers to be reaching their peak, with paintbrush, balsamroot, fireweed, stonecrop (uplands and […]
Read MoreBryan Andresen
Author: Anne White | Published: July 7, 2022 | Category: In the News In the far southeastern corner of Oregon lies an undulating sagebrush sea peppered with native wildflowers, carved […]
Read MoreAllen Taylor
Author: Beth Macinko | Published: July 1, 2022 | Category: Profile The 2022 Tribal Stewards crew is in the desert! For a third summer, a motivated group of Indigenous young […]
Read MoreWendy Neal
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Read Morecourtesy of Medina Glenn
Author: Medina Glenn | Published: June 16, 2022 | Category: My Desert Adventure We were in an impressionable state of mind, as we drove south on Highway 31 toward Summer […]
Read MoreBarb Rumer
Click here to download the Lake Abert Avian Species Checklist Thank you for your interest in wildlife habitat and desert conservation! Learn more about Lake Abert.
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Author: Lace Thornberg | Published: June 14, 2022 | Category: In the News Anyone who cares about climate change, biodiversity loss and other environmental issues will at times feel overwhelmed. […]
Read MoreHow far are you willing to hike for conservation? Reid Williams offered to put in more than 20 miles a day, by himself, walking and monitoring fence lines on Beatys […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
Join ONDA to retrofit fence and help us improve an important migration corridor. Barbed wire fences present throughout the Beatys Butte area pose risks to wildlife. Low flying sage grouse […]
Read MoreAaron Tani
This is an exciting and very physically demanding trip. We will backpack to an inholding owned by the Oregon Desert Land Trust within the South Fork Crooked River Wilderness Study […]
Read MoreMichael O'Casey
Join ONDA in a riparian planting effort in partnership with the Burns Paiute Tribe to improve native fish habitat on Beech Creek, a tributary of the John Day River.
Read MoreMark Darnell
Join ONDA to remove two miles of fence along Hay Creek, part of Cottonwood Canyon State Park, to restore wildlife habitat and remove unnecessary materials. The work will involve removing staples and clips, cutting and rolling wire, pulling fence posts and removing wildlife exclosure fencing.
Read MoreAaron Tani
Riparian plantings are a great way to improve fish and wildlife habitat. They provide cooler water for native fish and increase a landscape’s capacity to store and clean water. This […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
Join ONDA to retrofit fence and help us improve an important migration corridor. Barbed wire fences present throughout the Beatys Butte area pose risks to wildlife. Low flying sage grouse […]
Read MoreBLM-Oregon and Washington Website
For a Perfect Summer Day, Head to a Desert River With the sun rising before 6 am and twilight extending after 9 pm, summer days leave plenty of space for […]
Read MoreAaron Tani
Jim Davis Website
Michael O'Casey
Mark Molner
Author: William Sullivan | Published: May 27, 2022 | Category: Where-To For people of all physical abilities looking to explore new trails on the dry side of the Cascades, these […]
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Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
Derek Loeb
There are almost as many ways to support conservation as there are reasons to love Oregon’s desert. Here we highlight five ways to donate to preserve the environment you love […]
Read MoreAnn Hubbard
Author: Ryan Houston | Published: May 5, 2022 | Category: Deep Dive Lake Abert was catapulted onto the front pages in January when in-depth reporting by The Oregonian exposed a […]
Read MoreRegistration Opens June 1 Do you enjoy fall colors? Crisp days and starry nights? You will love the variety of stewardship opportunities ONDA is offering in the high desert this […]
Read MoreEllen Bishop
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: April 29, 2022 | Category: Look Back Each spring, ONDA presents the High Desert Speaker Series featuring intriguing stories, exquisite photography, and fascinating natural history […]
Read MoreAuthor: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: April 27, 2022 | Category: Look Back ONDA’s stewardship director shares a report from a special desert stewardship trip where ONDA celebrated it’s 35th anniversary […]
Read MoreBen Goldfarb
Author: Scott R. Bowler | Published: April 20, 2022 | Category: Species Spotlight The long & short life history of Oncorhynchus mykiss Did you know that the fish we call […]
Read MoreMichelle Alvarado Website
Author: Mark Salvo | Published: April 5, 2022 | Category: Deep Dive After three and half decades of monitoring sage-grouse habitat, sorting through the science, engaging in innumerable federal, state […]
Read MoreBarb Rumer
Author: Scott R. Bowler | Published: April 5, 2022 | Category: How-To What’s to be seen during the vernal hinge of the year? Spring, of course, means snow melts, lake […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Patrick | Published: March 21, 2022 | Category: Profile Meet ONDA volunteer Rachel Kato and learn more about her contribution to help people understand the importance of the […]
Read MoreScott is the director of the water stewardship project portfolio at Bonneville Environmental Foundation, where he develops conservation partnerships that improve water stewardship and offers technical and strategic oversight to […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Author: Mark Salvo | Published: March 1, 2022 | Category: In the News In November 2021, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced the Sutton Mountain and Painted Hills […]
Read MoreCelia Bell
Renee Patrick
Renee Patrick
Aaron Tani
Plant riparian trees and shrubs along a newly restored stretch of Camp Creek to provide critical habitat for salmonids.
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Denny Jones Ranch is a conservation property, east of Juntura, owned by the Burns Paiute Tribe. ONDA has been working with the Burns Paiute Tribe to achieve their restoration goals […]
Read MoreThis trip is full and accepting volunteers for the waitlist.
Read MoreBryan Andresen
Bryan Andresen
Join ONDA to help us improve an important migration corridor in the Trout Creek Mountains. This trip will start a fence-line monitoring project to document barbed wire fences in the […]
Read MoreEleanor Burke
Join us for another spring season of tree planting on the South Fork Crooked River. We will be using our brains more, and our backs less, to plant 5,000 trees […]
Read MoreDeigh Bates
Author: Anne White | Published Date: February 2, 2022 | Category: In the News Following The Oregonian’s investigative reporting about the State of Oregon’s mismanagement of Lake Abert, many people […]
Read MoreONDA’s 2021 Conservationist of the Year Often the most important contributions to conservation are not the flashiest actions, but quiet acts of service. Luckily, people like Reid Williams see the […]
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Read MoreAuthor: Allison Crotty | Published: February 2, 2022 | Category: Profile ONDA’s 2021 Alice Elshoff Award Recipient Mary Powell is a woman of many talents. Need to spruce up an […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
In the southeastern corner of Oregon, a hidden wonder shimmers — Lake Abert. When full, Lake Abert covers 65 square miles and is the sixth largest lake in Oregon. It […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Author: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: January 31, 2022 | Category: Profile At the end of 2021, we lost a former staff person and longtime member of the ONDA community, Devon […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
This essay was written by Devon Comstock in June of 2010 while she was working for Oregon Natural Desert Association, following a trip into the West Little Owyhee. Special thanks […]
Read MoreGeorge Wuerthner
John Waller Website
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: January 14, 2022 | Category: Where-to A month-by-month guide to appreciating Oregon’s high desert As the tenth largest state in the union, Oregon offers […]
Read MoreJoin the winter tradition of harvesting willows at the Clarno Nursery for use in restoration projects this spring!
Read MoreJoin the winter tradition of harvesting willows at the Clarno Nursery for use in restoration projects this spring!
Read MoreRichard Eltrich
In the finale of ONDA’s 2022 High Desert Speaker Series, professor Arthur Middleton will cover the basic ecology of ungulate migrations in the western United States. He’ll then profile threats […]
Read MoreEllen Bishop
Continuing ONDA’s High Desert Speaker Series, Ellen Bishop will present “Small Splendors, Vast Landscapes.” Oregon’s deserts offer serene and yet provocative landscapes that invite contemplation. Yet sometimes, in viewing their […]
Read MoreSteve McBurnett
Kicking off ONDA’s 2022 High Desert Speaker Series is a conversation with filmmaker Faith E. Briggs. For years, Faith would run through the streets of Brooklyn each morning, before turning […]
Read MoreKarina Diaz
In 2021, ONDA launched the Hillis Internship, a paid internship program that offers young people a more equitable pathway to become our next conservation leaders. Lily Pifferini-Carter started in October […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
Every year, the steadfast and tenacious support of desert advocates like you makes it possible to reach new milestones and realize long-term conservation goals. With 2021 coming to a close, […]
Read MoreVince Ready
Author: Lace Thornberg | Published: November 22, 2021 | Category: In the News November is Native American Heritage Month In Oregon and throughout the Americas, Indigenous communities’ connection to the […]
Read MoreJohn Waller Website
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: November 17, 2021 | Category: Look Back Choose your desert immersion adventure It’s officially “shoulder season.” Autumn is past its prime; winter hasn’t fully […]
Read MoreTyson Fisher Website
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: November 11, 2021 | Category: Look Back The results of our most recent member survey This fall, we asked you — ONDA members — what’s […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
On November 3, 2021, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced the Sutton Mountain and Painted Hills Area Wildfire Resiliency Preservation and Economic Enhancement Act in Congress today. This legislation […]
Read MoreDavid Sherril
Author: Renee Patrick | Category: Where-to Getting ready to go on a day-long, week-long or month-long adventure on the Oregon Desert Trail? You can learn so much by seeing how […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer Website
A Captivating Year in Oregon’s High Desert is now closed.
Read MoreKevin Clark
Save the date for the premiere of our newest short documentary, “Essential.” Oregon’s high desert is an arid landscape, defined by the scarcity of water, but that does not mean […]
Read MoreKevin Clark
As golden aspen leaves and frosty mornings mark the arrival of fall in Oregon’s high desert, welcomed rains are bringing fire danger down and allowing volunteers to resume work on […]
Read MoreThe time period to comment on this item has now closed. Please subscribe to ONDA’s newsletter to learn about upcoming opportunities. Military training threatens remarkable wildlife, wildlands and waterways across […]
Read MoreAuthor: Joanna Zhang | Published: September 28, 2021 | Category: Profiles “I guess I would describe myself as an urban dwelling nature lover, an advocate for native ecosystem conservation, and […]
Read MoreAuthor: Lace Thornberg | Published: September 28, 2021 | Category: Profile Many people contribute their time, talent and passion to make desert conservation successful. Today, we introduce you to two […]
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Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreKarina joined the ONDA team in 2021. As development coordinator, she maintains community engagement and fosters a connection to Oregon’s high desert, coordinates office volunteers and plans events. If you are […]
Read MoreJames Parsons
Author: Joanna Zhang | Published: August 27, 2021 | Categories: Uncategorized Four Stories That Will Inspire You to Protect Oregon’s Rivers Late summer is synonymous with days in and along […]
Read MoreCourtesy of Carly Swisher
Carly “Quill” Swisher started a thru-hike of the Oregon Desert Trail in the late spring of 2020, but had to get off in McDermitt, Nevada. Undeterred, she went back June […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Hello, you! Did you know that the Oregon Desert Trail was made for you? ONDA crafted this route connecting all the most beautiful places in the high desert with this […]
Read MoreDave White
Each season in Oregon’s high desert, a new world unfolds. From spring blooms to autumn’s migrating birds, this virtual presentation will teach you a bit about what you’ll find year-round […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Author: Renee Patrick | Updated: August 24, 2021 | Category: Where-To Curious about where to find a shower, meal, or museum while you are exploring the high desert? The extensive […]
Read MoreSteve Vidito
Author: Renee Patrick | Updated: August 17, 2021 | Category: Where-to Intrigued by the Oregon Desert Trail but don’t have the time or inclination to hike all 750 miles? These […]
Read MoreCorinne Handelman
Author: Renee Patrick | Updated: August 17, 2021 | Category: How-to Hiking may be the most common way to approach the 750-mile Oregon Desert Trail, but there are many other […]
Read MoreCorinne Handelman
Author: Renee Patrick | Updated: August 17, 2021 | Category: How-to Longing for an adventure that will have you away from home for several nights? In this post, we are […]
Read MoreJoin us on Friday, October 1, 2021 for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, presented by E2 Solar. This year’s festival will be a virtual, streamed-in-HD showcase of films that […]
Read MoreTyson Fisher Website
The recording of this event is available on ONDA’s YouTube channel. Would you know what to do if you were injured while exploring the desert? In April 2019, Oregon Desert […]
Read MoreAuthor: Renee Patrick | Published: August 12, 2021 | Category: How-to The Alvord Desert Wilderness Study Area is an iconic attraction in Oregon’s high desert. The 50-mile long Steens Mountain […]
Read MoreONDA’s 2022 Wild Desert Calendar virtual exhibit, “Envisioning Wild,” opens on November 10! Tour our virtual gallery of wild, wonderous and inspiring images of Oregon’s high desert landscapes and wildlife […]
Read MoreOlivia Guethling
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: August 2, 2021 | Category: Profile Exploring creative ways to advance desert conservation For John Bauman and Jenny Zimmerman, retiring to Central Oregon felt like […]
Read MoreBeth Macinko
Tribal Stewards reflect on the 2021 season In early July, we introduced you to the 2021 Tribal Stewards crew. Now that they have wrapped up their five-week session of restoration […]
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Read MoreNate Wilson
Author: Lace Thornberg | Published: July 14, 2021 | Updated: September 17, 2021 | Category: In the News National Public Lands Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday in […]
Read MoreCraig Miller
Author: Jeremy Austin | Published: July 13, 2021 | Category: In the News Each morning, as Google populates my inbox with news stories from across the Sagebrush Sea, one word […]
Read MoreScott Erickson
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: July 7, 2021 | Category: Profile These five members of ONDA’s staff keep you connected to desert conservation year-round. Allison Crotty, Development Director What I […]
Read MoreThis summer, a determined crew of Indigenous young adults is gaining professional experience in conservation, restoration and natural resource management, as our second season of the Tribal Stewards initiative, run […]
Read MoreJacob Stanfield
Author: Joanna Zhang | Published: June 24, 2021 | Category: Where-to Take your outdoor dining experience to the next level with one of these scenic picnic spots in the Owyhee […]
Read MoreDonna Raynalds
Author: Beth Macinko | Published: June 21, 2021 | Categories: Look Back ONDA volunteers plant thousands of willow and repair fences in the Malheur watershed The native bull trout and […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Author: Ryan Houston | Published: June 18, 2021 | Category: In the News, Looking Back, Looking Ahead Today, our country is observing Juneteenth as a federal holiday for the first […]
Read MoreRick Samco Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Join us for an evening of short films showcasing our earth’s natural wonders and the amazing stories of activists working […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Reaction to the Biden administration’s 30 by 30 report In May 2021, the Biden administration published “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful,” a highly anticipated report on the president’s commitment to […]
Read MoreCody Hess
Author: Joanna Zhang | Published: June 3, 2021 | Category: Profiles “While I was out there, I didn’t see a single person, didn’t hear an airplane or truck. There was […]
Read MoreJason Houston
Author: Caelin Weiss | Published: April 28, 2021 | Category: Look Back Each spring, ONDA presents the High Desert Speaker Series to share knowledge about intriguing aspects of high desert […]
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Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreBLM
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Read MoreAuthor: Ben Groeneveld & Kevin Briggs | Published: April 16, 2021 | Category: Where-To; Profile “Where’s all your food?” the concerned sheriff asked, as he examined my packed bike near […]
Read MoreAuthor: Caelin Weiss | Published: April 14, 2021 | Category: Profile As we are all more acutely aware than ever, healthcare professionals and other frontline and essential workers play an […]
Read MoreONDA
Is your school or community group, hiking club, or business interested in volunteering with ONDA? Fill out the interest form below to let us know a little more about your […]
Read MoreAuthor: Hana Sant | Published: April 5, 2021 | Category: Profile ONDA’s members come to us from a wide range of backgrounds, each with a unique path that has led […]
Read MoreAuthor: Ajay Sapre | Published: April 2, 2021 | Category: Profile A Portlander comes to understand that a trip down the Owyhee is about more than chasing rapids — it’s about […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer
We received a curious letter recently and wanted to share it with our desert conservation community. Dear Human News Media, April has arrived and I am cringing because I know […]
Read MoreAuthor: Joanna Zhang | Published: March 26, 2021 | Category: Profiles An avid rafter and river restoration specialist, Victoria Fischella has always been fascinated by the importance of rivers.
Read MoreAll in for Haaland By now you’ve probably heard that the U.S. Senate confirmed former Congresswoman Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. The bipartisan vote on March 15, 2021 […]
Read MoreTara Lemezis
Spring is fast approaching in the high desert. As the daylight hours grow longer, signs of the shifting season can be seen popping up across the region. The desert will […]
Read MoreNate Wilson-Traisman
“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 […]
Read MoreChristof Teuscher
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Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreJim Davis
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreOregon Natural Desert Association takes a holistic approach to conservation in Oregon’s high desert, pairing efforts to protect large landscapes with intensive on-the-ground restoration. Here are recaps from a few […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Your gift to Oregon Natural Desert Association conserves lands, waterways and wildlife in the high desert. A gift of any size will begin or renew your ONDA membership.
Read MoreScott Bowler
Scott Bowler When we reached Scott to let him know that we wanted to acknowledge him as ONDA’s 2020 Conservationist of the Year, he was out on a hike along […]
Read MoreAuthor: Corinne Handelman | Published: January 19, 2021 | Category: Profile Meet John Cunningham Like many ONDA volunteers, John Cunningham is up for any challenge — and his positive attitude […]
Read MoreChris Christie
A photographer’s collections helped inspire the effort to save native trout in the Malheur rivers by Mac Lacy The sagebrush sea lost a fierce champion when Chris Christie passed away […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: January 10, 2021 | Category: How-To Fresh Ideas for your New Years Resolutions If living through 2020 taught us anything, we have reinforced lessons on […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Each new year presents new opportunities to pursue our vision for Oregon’s high desert as a place where eight million acres of conserved public lands provide essential habitat for fish […]
Read MoreJim Yuskavitch via ODFW
By Scott Bowler What’s there to do in the desert in the winter? Watch wildlife! In many ways, especially at lower elevations, winter’s cold weather can provide some great hiking […]
Read MoreA Conservation Leader in the Making Please allow us to introduce our newest staff member, Joanna Zhang, who will be serving as our Conservation Fellow for the next two years. […]
Read MoreMonica brings three decades of leadership experience working for federal agencies — the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) […]
Read MoreJoni Kabana
“One of my biggest personal feelings of loss for this terrible pandemic is that I had to give up these ONDA field trips.” When ONDA had to cancel our field-based […]
Read MoreKyle Williams
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: Dec. 15, 2020 | Updated: Dec. 21, 2021 | Category: Phenology Winter may seem harsh, and it is indeed a difficult time to live outdoors, […]
Read MoreDavid Rein
You’re invited to celebrate desert conservation and all your accomplishments. In 2024, Oregon Natural Desert Association will host two year-end celebrations. Join ONDA board, staff and supporters in celebrating the […]
Read MoreThe “Greater Hart-Sheldon: Sagebrush Stronghold” story map is a science based, user driven exploration of one of the last sagebrush strongholds on the planet. Check out the resources and content […]
Read MoreAuthor: Lace Thornberg | Updated: November 16, 2021 | Category: How-To One Gift For Everyone on Your List Looking for a gift that is … beautiful, non-perishable, one size fits […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: November 25, 2020 | Category: In the News Desert conservationists, did you know … That Oregon’s high desert lands and waters are the traditional lands […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Devin Dahlgren
Author: Corie Harlan | Published: November 20, 2020 | Updated: May 13, 2021 | Category: How-To The Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act provides Malheur County with vital economic development […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer Website
“A Year in Oregon’s High Desert” offers escapism you can feel good about Feeling stressed? A dose of natural beauty could help. Studies have shown that spending time in a […]
Read MoreGrowing up in Wyoming and Utah, Natasha gained an early appreciation for wild and open spaces. Cultivating a love of the desert by roaming the canyon lands of southern Utah, […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act was enacted twenty years ago, on October 30, 2000. As the Steens Act “turns 20” in 2020, here is a top twenty […]
Read MoreZavi Borja
By Zavier Borja, Latino Outdoor Engagement Coordinator for Children’s Forest of Central Oregon The Painted Hills of eastern Oregon are one of the seven wonders that we have here in […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer
Author: Jeremy Austin | Published: October 13, 2020 | Category: In the News The numbers are in. Oregon’s sage-grouse population essentially remained flat in 2020. Following years of steep declines, […]
Read MoreJames Parsons Website
by Senior Attorney Mac Lacy Steens Mountain is an extraordinary place. Known to the Northern Paiute as Tse’tse’ede, “the Cold One,” the mountain covers an ecologically distinctive, half-million acre landscape […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Known by the Northern Paiute as Tse’tse’ede, the Steens is both a historic homeland and an unparalleled treasure in Oregon’s high desert. The largest fault block mountain in North America, […]
Read MoreMark Darnell Website
Join us on Friday, October 2, 2020 for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, presented by E2 Solar. This year’s festival will be a virtual, streamed-in-HD celebration of the best […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
The Owyhee Canyonlands are the wildest stretch of Oregon’s high desert. It is the largest unprotected expanse of public lands in the Lower 48. And, the time to protect this […]
Read MoreJohn Alyward
Autumn is a time of transition in Oregon’s high desert. The cooler days and cooler nights bring a wave of rust-red and brilliant yellow hues into this generally sage-green and […]
Read MoreRick Samco
Author: LeeAnn Kriegh | Published: September 15, 2020 | Category: Species Spotlight Why Aspen Quake The day I fell in love with Central Oregon, I woke to the sound of […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Did you know that, in addition to rivers, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act can also protect creeks, streams and lakes? Wild and Scenic desert waters take many forms and […]
Read MoreBill Sullivan
Hike to Hole in the Ground, one of author William L. Sullivan’s favorite high desert destinations! This weird, half-mile-wide pit really looks like a meteorite crater, but it is in […]
Read MoreMatt Wastradowski Website
Author: Matt Wastradowski | Published: August 20, 2020 | Updated: November 3, 2021 | Categories: Where-to; In the News You may have heard about the new proposal to establish a […]
Read MoreONDA turned 33 this year, and more than a few of our members have been with us ever since our founding in the mid-eighties. We love the perspective that those […]
Read MoreSheila Dunn
Even if you are not an artist, you’ve probably wished you could somehow capture the way that sunlight paints the desert in subtle hues. For the six artists profiled below, […]
Read MoreSenator Ron Wyden is looking to add more Wild & Scenic Rivers to Oregon’s legacy of protected waterways and you have the chance to conserve 825 miles of desert rivers […]
Read MoreSean Bagshaw Website
In Oregon’s high desert, water is life. Rivers, streams, creeks and lakes are critical to everything Oregonians value about desert public lands, from fish and wildlife to recreation and clean […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Wow, it’s hot out there in the high desert! At least much of the time … not so much at night … and not every day either. (I can clearly […]
Read MoreDennis Hanson
Author: Scott Bowler | Published: July 2, 2020 | Updated: June 3, 2021 | Category: Phenology Across Oregon’s high desert, plants and animals spend the summer months “searching” — for […]
Read MoreElisa Cheng grew up in California and Hawaii. She launched her web design career in 2002 spending a few years at an eCommerce company before realizing that her passion was […]
Read More“ONDA helps me stay tethered to a part of the world that means a great deal to me personally and is critically important to Oregon’s biodiversity and history.” – ONDA […]
Read MoreMichelle Alvarado Website
By Renee Patrick, Program Coordinator for the Oregon Desert Trail When ONDA looked east in 2011 with the thought of establishing a desert hiking route that would connect into the […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Taking stock of these unprecedented times and all that our communities and the country have experienced in recent months, it is difficult to believe the year 2020 is only half […]
Read MoreJim Stratton grew up in Oregon, but his career unfolded in Alaska. At the National Parks Conservation Association, he served as the Deputy Vice-President for Regional Operations and ran the […]
Read MoreTyson Fisher Website
Dear ONDA members: The recent, senseless murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd and the threat of violence against Christian Cooper have shaken all of us. The protests […]
Read MoreA new book about the Oregon Desert Trail debuts this month: Walking the High Desert: Encounters with Rural America along the Oregon Desert Trail, written by Ellen Waterston, published by […]
Read MoreJames Parsons Website
Author: Claire Cekander | Updated: November 22, 2022 | Category: How-To Eastern Oregon is home to extraordinarily intact sagebrush steppe, rushing waters that support abundant wildlife, a night sky studded […]
Read MoreSteve Roelof Website
Renee Patrick
Please use caution with any Oregon Desert Trail plans due to COVID 19. Last updated on February 1, 2021. Oregon cases of COVID-19 are still high in 2021, and even […]
Read MoreAnne joined ONDA in 2016 as an intern in the first year of our Sage-Grouse Habitat Monitoring Program and fell in love the high desert. She’s held a number of […]
Read MoreCliff Website
Whether you’re learning about restoring streams and rivers for the first time, or you’re a life-long beaver believer, this list of resources will provide additional information on both how and […]
Read MoreTim Neville
In a recent editorial, The Bulletin asked a good question: “how much land does Oregon have that is appropriate for wilderness?” The answer is a lot. A heckuva lot. In […]
Read MoreChris Christie Website
By Scott Bowler Hey, what’s that cool flower? After leading wildflower discovery and identification trips for 40-plus years, I can tell you that people’s most common reaction upon encountering a […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
Five Ideas Admittedly Not as Good as Being in the Desert Standing in the middle of a vast sagebrush plain, kicking over lichen-crusted rocks, with nothing more to do than […]
Read MoreWhen Sen. Ron Wyden invited Oregonians to nominate rivers and creeks for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in fall 2019, hundreds of people spoke up to nominate […]
Read MoreOne day in spring of 2014, I started drawing bird nests. I didn’t stop for almost a year. These drawings began as a way for me to explore my curiosity […]
Read MoreJon Lee
Earlier this year, we highlighted Ten Superlative ONDA Volunteers. While it’s National Volunteer Week, we’d like to introduce you to fifteen more unique and highly dedicated members of ONDA’s desert […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Conditions on the ground in Oregon’s high desert can change rapidly and recreational facilities can become partially or fully closed due to any number of circumstances, including snowfall, wildfire — […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Last Updated: April 14, 2020 It’s mid-April 2020 and we are seeing a positive response to Governor Brown’s stay at home order that is helping to keep COVID-19 cases at […]
Read MoreBruce Couch
Mark Darnell
If you have been following the development of the Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) over the past few years, you are probably aware that one of its primary goals is to […]
Read MoreVince Ready
Welcome to our digital event community ONDA launched this digital events series in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. When everyone was following directives to stay close to home, […]
Read MoreBLM
An Oregon Desert Trail Thru-hiker Recounts a Decision To Get Off the Trail post by Riley Manning It’s a scary time right now. As the flowers bloom and the days […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
By Scott Bowler and Lace Thornberg After months of rejuvenating itself in subtle ways, Oregon’s high desert begins pulsing with undeniable signs of spring’s arrival in March, April and May. […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
The sun on our faces, the scent of sagebrush carried by a breeze, a distant call of raptors flying overhead, and the crunch of bare earth below our feet. We […]
Read MoreMichael O'Casey
Oregon’s high desert is a unique place, full of magic and wonder. The same could be said of those people who give their time and attention so generously to its […]
Read MoreAre you taking part in one of ONDA’s stewardship trips, or thinking about it? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. How much does it cost to volunteer? […]
Read MoreThank you for your commitment to ONDA as a member! In appreciation, we’d like to give you a running start at registering for 2020 trips. While trip registration opens to […]
Read MoreONDA Archive
Susie Defazio
Michael O'Casey
Greg Burke
Devlin Holloway
Greg Shine, BLM Website
Aaron Tani
Susie Defazio
ONDA respects gender identity. We understand that we cannot assume to know each others’ pronouns by our names or appearance. For some of us, it is a privilege to not […]
Read MoreOlivia Guethling
What is the National Environmental Policy Act? The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is the federal law that requires federal agencies to plan carefully for conservation and management of […]
Read MoreAs Conservation Director, Mark Salvo is responsible for supporting Oregon Natural Desert Association’s dedicated conservation staff and empowering our members to advance campaigns to protect, defend and restore wildlands, wildlife […]
Read MoreRecreation meets conservation along the Oregon Desert Trail! Come to one of these talks in the Willamette Valley to get ideas for hiking, biking or boating your way through Oregon’s high […]
Read More“I knew the forests of Central Oregon really well, but the desert was all new to me. The colors of the landscape and the views … just wow.” –ONDA member […]
Read MoreMichelle Bauer
An Owyhee Canyonlands Champ If you take solace in knowing that wild places like the Owyhee Canyonlands exist, then you’ve benefitted from Corie Harlan’s work at ONDA. You can get […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Maria Mudd Ruth, author of “A Sideways Look at Clouds,” is fascinated by clouds. In this post, she identifies the clouds seen in the stormy skies over Oregon’s high desert. […]
Read MoreBend Senior High Environmental Club
The following Wild and Scenic River nomination was written by the Bend Senior High School Environmental Club. Whychus Creek: a Nomination as a Wild and Scenic River We rely on […]
Read MoreJoin the winter tradition of harvesting willows at the Clarno Nursery for use in restoration projects this spring!
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Author: Renee Patrick | Published: January 2, 2022 | Category: In the News Dear Senator Wyden, Thank you for your visionary leadership to preserve Oregon’s wild rivers, clean water, and […]
Read MoreAndrew Sambuceto
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying that New Year’s resolutions are a thing. In “8 Reasons We Really Do Need to Make Resolutions,” Dr. Theo Tsaousides concludes that […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
“The deeper truth is that anybody who knows Mary knows she is an original and unforgettable force of nature — fierce on behalf of Oregonians, bold in her problem-solving, always […]
Read MoreBruce couch Website
ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar is chock full of desert beauty, and, each year around this time, we hear from members who simply can’t bear to just throw last year’s calendar […]
Read MoreLooking for more ways to support high desert conservation? Your gift to Oregon Natural Desert Association conserves lands, waterways, and wildlife in the high desert.
Read MoreJim Davis
The results of our most recent member survey This fall, ONDA sent you, our members, a note with a question: what matters most to you? Almost 500 of you responded […]
Read MoreGena Goodman-Campbell
Escape the Black Friday crowds and #OptOutside to a wild river near you! Sen. Ron Wyden is asking Oregonians to help him develop legislation to protect Oregon’s most special rivers, […]
Read MoreONDA’s stewardship program connects eager volunteers with meaningful projects to improve fish and wildlife habitat across eastern Oregon. Beyond the satisfaction of seeing a job well done, each volunteer gains […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
ONDA launched our Tribal Stewards program in 2019 to provide paid opportunities for Indigenous youth and young adults to work on restoration projects and gain experience in conservation and stewardship […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Located on Lower Whychus Creek, Alder Springs is an oasis in the high desert. The trail starts at the top of the Whychus Creek Canyon, where you’ll enjoy wide open […]
Read MoreAn impressive and critically important swath of sagebrush steppe habitat in eastern Oregon poised to gain protection as Wilderness On November 7, 2019, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden introduced the Malheur […]
Read MoreSean Bagshaw
Each year, ONDA’s High Desert Speaker Series highlights the wildlife, geology, culture, history, recreation and other unique and worthy-of-protection elements of Oregon’s high desert. In 2019, we were amazed by […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
ONDA’s Badlands Challenge prompted discovery, exploration, and a lot of math In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Oregon Badlands Wilderness designation, ONDA hosted a six-month-long exploration challenge. After ONDA […]
Read MoreThe difference that ONDA volunteers can make in just a few hours or days of working together is pretty incredible. Here are a few before and after pictures to give […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
Oregon can already claim to be the state with the most Wild and Scenic Rivers, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has a not-so-secret goal to make Oregon the state with […]
Read MoreDavid Rein
Join Oregon Natural Desert Association board, staff and supporters in celebrating the many high desert conservation successes you achieved in 2022! Come to Aspen Hall in Bend on Friday, December […]
Read MoreBLM
Having a hard time keeping up with public lands news lately? We can’t blame you. The instability in the White House certainly makes all issues hard to track and follow, […]
Read MoreAmy Wilkins
Earlier this summer, we sat down for a conversation with Tia Hatton, just as she was wrapping up her service as a Wildlands Intern for Oregon Natural Desert Association. Tia […]
Read MoreKyle Meck
Passionate desert advocate Since moving to Oregon in 2016, Felice Kelly discovered Oregon’s dry side and was immediately inspired, saying, “Once I made it out to the high desert, I […]
Read MoreGreg Shine, BLM
One of Oregon’s 58 officially designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. Located in southeastern Oregon and reaching across the corner of Idaho to its headwaters in northeastern Nevada, 35 percent of […]
Read MoreDave Kohli
Spring, summer and winter are all strong contenders, but there’s mounting evidence that autumn could be the very best season to visit Oregon’s high desert. Consider … Temperature – Daytime […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
When a young David Rumsey’s car broke down in the far reaches of the Owyhee Canyonlands in the late 1970s, he didn’t have any of the devices we’ve come to […]
Read MoreBLM
The Bureau of Land Management’s new acting director, William Perry Pendley, is a longtime proponent of selling off public lands and waters The Trump administration’s move to appoint William Perry […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
Anderson Crossing is at the start of Section 21 of the ODT. This can be accessed by high clearance vehicles (high water years may make the trip impossible as you […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren
From the Birch Creek Ranch, follow an old road/trail that heads upstream for about a mile before the path disappears. If you want to continue hiking, stay on the east […]
Read MoreIn early July, a crew of young adults – CeCe Andy (Warm Springs and Yakama), Monique Moody (Wasco and Northern Paiute) and Dakota Pablo (Pima and Navajo) led by Tiyana […]
Read MoreYou might think of forests when you think “wildfire,” but, as OPB reported in May, nearly 75 percent of all acres burned in the west over the past two decades […]
Read MoreI wonder if butterflies might get annoyed by all the poetic language they attract. They’re “tiny rainbows,” “flying flowers,” or “ephemeral angels.” We use them as metaphors for transformation and […]
Read More“I find enjoyment in the peaceful wide open spaces, geology, and rich history of Oregon’s high desert,” says Mary. Reflecting on volunteering, she continues, “If you have the ability and […]
Read MoreTim Neville
“Oregon’s Owyhee reminds me a lot of Southern Utah’s red rock country… only dipped in fudge.”
Read MoreRestoration is hard slow work. It takes hold, or it doesn’t, in fits and starts. The immensity of the need can be discouraging, but we must carry on. I am […]
Read MoreSo proud of ONDA and its members and volunteers. Such hard work gets done. To use an overused word, this is patriotism!
Read MoreYou 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 […]
Read More“If I have to pick a favorite place in Oregon’s high desert, it would be Sutton Mountain, but I’m excited about all of the Wilderness Study Areas,” says Terry, adding, […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for Sagebrush Sippers happy hour this summer. Mix and mingle, learn about new aspects of Oregon’s high desert, and find opportunities to […]
Read MoreJoin Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for a casual happy hour in our office this summer. Mix and mingle, learn about new aspects of Oregon’s high desert, and […]
Read MoreCorinne Handelman
Author: Corinne Handelman | Published: May 14, 2019 | Category: How-To | Updated: December 28, 2021 Tips to plan your desert rafting trip Rafting the lower Owyhee River is a once-in-a-lifetime […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Mark Darnell
Jim Davis Website
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge lies at the center of the Greater Hart-Sheldon Region in southeastern Oregon. Few established trails cross this vast region. Instead, desert enthusiasts have endless opportunities […]
Read MoreBrent Fenty
From the base of Hart Mountain you can access this beautiful canyon complete with wildflowers, wildlife and waterfalls. Various hiking options from an easy walk to difficult climb can be […]
Read MoreJ. Hertz
Oregon’s high desert is a land of many superlatives. You’ll find North America’s fastest land mammal here, as well as its largest fault block mountain. Perhaps most intriguing are the […]
Read MoreSean Bagshaw Website
During our 2019 High Desert Speaker Series, ONDA’s Hart-Sheldon Coordinator Jeremy Austin presented in both Bend and Portland. Here’s the “CliffsNotes” version of his for Hart Mountain Revealed talk. Where […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
A Tale of Two Wilderness Areas: Badlands and Spring Basin On March 30, 2009, President Obama signed a massive public lands package into law, with the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and […]
Read MoreGrant Tandy
Author: Kody Osborne | Published: March 29, 2019 | Categories: Where-To, How-To For those of us who have spent time in Oregon’s high desert, there is no need to explain […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association is proud to work alongside businesses, large and small, to accomplish our conservation goals. These business members contribute to our mission by providing funding, product donations, […]
Read MoreFollowing these suggestions will help you travel safely through the high desert of eastern Oregon and enjoy fragile places responsibly. Desert Safety: Drink plenty of water. Eastern Oregon is arid, […]
Read MoreMichelle Alvarado Website
In the spring of 2014, ONDA released a basic map-set for an ambitious route we’d started to call the “Oregon Desert Trail.” It wasn’t long before a few hikers set […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
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 […]
Read MoreONDA Volunteer Extraordinaire Over the past few years, Mary McCord went from being newly introduced to ONDA to becoming a frequent volunteer in Bend. Mary and her husband, Tom, attended […]
Read MoreBarb Rumer
Current Status Victorious! On appeal, the Ninth Circuit threw out BLM’s unlawful travel plan and critical wildlife habitat on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon has been protected from motorized disruption. […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
A Funny Little Owl By LeeAnn Kriegh Pronghorn are perhaps the most graceful animal native to the high desert country of Central and Eastern Oregon. Golden Eagles are the most […]
Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreMark Darnell
Videos can tell stories, convey ideas and immerse the viewer into an environment in ways that are difficult to achieve with photographs or the written word. And, with many video […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
Did you already read How to Shoot a Desert Video – Part 1 that covers planning for and shooting your video? If so, check out this post to get some pointers […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreSam Hartman
Sam Hartman
Aaron Tani
Shey Hyatt
Mark Molner
Goal Improve the chances for sage-grouse survival by monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Sage-Grouse Plan and ecological conditions of sage-grouse habitat in southeast Oregon. Timeline Project Start Year: 2016 […]
Read MoreBen Gordon
Dave Rein
Jim Davis Website
Home to rare desert wildflowers and more With 10,000 acres of undulating terrain, secluded canyons and spectacular vantages of the John Day Country, Spring Basin is magnificent to explore. This […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
For the Paiute of the Great Basin of the American West, winter is storytelling season. Around the fires of Paiute camps and villages, storytellers passed on tribal visions of the […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Julie Weikel, a longtime ONDA member, wrote this essay about the wild waters of the Pueblo Mountains to nominate them for protection under the Wild and Scenic River act. Read […]
Read MoreAuthor of a dozen books of poetry and prose, Kim Stafford is Oregon’s Poet Laureate for 2018 to 2020. He follows after Elizabeth Woody, who served as Oregon’s Poet Laureate from […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Do you set resolutions for yourself to celebrate the new year? In 2019, let ONDA help you bring a bit of Oregon’s high desert into your plans for the year. […]
Read MoreGive yourself a pat on the back! You accomplished so much for Oregon’s desert this year! Flip through this year in review for just a handful of the many great […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
At Oregon Natural Desert Association, we are creating a more inclusive conservation community by actively welcoming, engaging and collaborating with people of all backgrounds, perspectives, races, genders and ethnicities to […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Native lands first America’s public lands, including those in present-day eastern Oregon, are filled with signs of the Indigenous people who inhabited those areas since time immemorial. Rock art, artifacts […]
Read MoreChase Jablonski
ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar Goes Abroad Giving a Wild Desert Calendar as a gift has become something of a tradition among a number of ONDA members. So, where do all […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
Gaining the summit of Sutton Mountain is attainable for hikers with moderate fitness and offers a reprieve from the snow-laden Cascades during most of the winter. Topping out at 4,694 […]
Read MoreOver the course of two decades in the nonprofit sector, Ryan Houston has developed a reputation as a committed and effective leader in Oregon conservation, well known for strategic vision […]
Read MoreA desert advocate in profession and passion An Oregonian by choice and attorney by trade, Lizzy Potter has supported ONDA for about 10 years and feels a deep connection to […]
Read MoreBarb Rumer
Hear about events and relevant conservation initiatives in your area. If you are a current ONDA member or you already receive our mail to your home, please fill out all […]
Read MoreMarshal Hedin
Racing pronghorn. Soaring golden eagles. Charging salmon. Oregon’s high desert pulses with the movement of these great creatures, but it’s good to remember that the desert’s iconic animals, birds and […]
Read MoreRyan stepped into ONDA’s executive director role in 2018, with 20 years of experience in the conservation sector under his belt. While serving as the executive director of the Bend-based […]
Read MoreAn ONDA volunteer recounts her first taste of field work during a South Fork Crooked River riparian restoration trip in October 2018. By Eleanor Burke
Read MoreWhat’s the story behind Oregon’s identification with this huge rodent? You may have heard Oregon referred to as the “Beaver State.” The American Beaver, Castor canadensis, is Oregon’s official state […]
Read MorePublic lands are one of our nation’s greatest assets. You have both the right and opportunity to share your thoughts on how public lands and resources should be managed during […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
As the days cool down and our thoughts turn to cozy campfires and the first few flakes of snow, Oregon Desert Trail Coordinator Renee Patrick has rounded up a few […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
ONDA’s Owyhee Canyonlands Coordinator Corie Harlan shares a lesson learned from a particularly epic trip into the Owyhee. Three hours into our drive to Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, the AC quit […]
Read MoreKevin Briggs
If you’ve ever dreamed of a desert bike trip circling Steens Mountain, this post from Central Oregon Wheelers members Ben Groeneveld and Kevin Briggs won’t do anything to dissuade you.
Read MoreAlan Majchrowicz Website
If you’ve ever looked out over the desert and wondered what type of clouds were filling the sky, you’ll love this post. We invited Maria Mudd Ruth, author of “A […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Donate today to begin your ONDA membership and preserve your favorite high desert wild lands and waters. Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy, resilient public lands. Thank you for making high […]
Read MoreWill Nepali punk rocker Sareena Rai bag a first ascent? How does renowned climber and filmmaker Renan Ozturk define success? Where is the highest concentration of National Wild & Scenic […]
Read MoreIt’s Owyhee October, and Patagonia @ Bend is teaming up with the Owyhee Coalition, ONDA and local brewers to celebrate Oregon’s iconic Owyhee Canyonlands! Join us on Thursday, October 18 […]
Read MoreChuck Gates
Bluebirds of Happiness By LeeAnn Kriegh Is there any bird that inspires more passion and poetry than bluebirds? Henry David Thoreau, for one, wrote eloquently of the bird that “carries […]
Read MoreCorinne Handelman
We hear a common refrain from people when they get back from a trip in the Fremont: “I wish I’d gone hiking in the Fremont years ago! If only I’d […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Al St. John
UPDATE: Long-nosed snakes confirmed in the Owyhee! On August 19, 2018, ONDA shared this blog article about the possibility of Long-nosed Snakes in southeastern Oregon, requesting documenting photos of sightings […]
Read MoreBy any measure, 2020 was a challenging year. Do you cherish your experiences your on public lands even more now? Are you interested in sharing your experiences exploring public lands […]
Read MoreONDA has protected millions of acres of public land throughout Oregon as a result of winning or successfully settling more than 85 percent of our federal actions since 2001. We […]
Read MoreGreg Shine, BLM
The Wild and Scenic Rivers of Oregon’s Sagebrush Steppe. America’s rivers face many threats — dams and alteration, excessive use and pollution among them. Thankfully, the Wild and Scenic Rivers […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Escape the heat, or at least take your mind off the dog days of summer, with these 10 adventures found around Oregon’s high desert and along the Oregon Desert Trail […]
Read MoreONDA member Robin Kaai recently took part in a stewardship trip in the John Day River Basin. Here she offers you her recap. Dear fellow ONDA members, When registration for ONDA’s […]
Read MoreAaron Tani, an ONDA member since 2016, regularly volunteers on stewardship trips and contributes monthly as part of the Sage Society. A Central Oregonian since 1986, Aaron has grown […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
About the Pueblo Mountains Part of the Great Basin, the Pueblo Mountains are a remote north-south oriented mountain range in southeastern Oregon and northwestern Nevada, just south of Steens Mountain […]
Read MoreCraig Miller
Author: Scott Donahue | Published: May 23, 2018 | Category: Species Spotlight Every year, dozens of beloved bird species migrate from their part-time homes around the world back to the […]
Read MoreThank you for signing up for ONDA’s timely email updates with opportunities to take action, event invitations and conservation news!
Read MoreMeet Terry Butler. A search for information about Sutton Mountain led Terry Butler to ONDA. In 2014, he joined an ONDA stewardship trip in Logan Valley. By 2015, Terry’s volunteering repertoire […]
Read MoreEastern Oregon is an incredible place to live, work and explore, with thousands of stories just waiting to be revealed. ONDA’s popular High Desert Speaker Series features knowledgeable and inspiring […]
Read MoreWhere There’s Cottonwood, There’s Water. We recommend listening to this Cottonwood Canyon Riparian Soundscape while you read this Species Spotlight. At the new Riley Ranch Nature Reserve in Bend, a […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Donate today to renew your ONDA membership and preserve your favorite high desert wild lands and waters. Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy, resilient public lands. Thank you for making high […]
Read MoreLloyd Irwin
Donate today to preserve your favorite high desert wild lands and waters. Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy, resilient public lands. Thank you for making high desert conservation a priority. A […]
Read MoreJohn Schubert
Discover the stories that lie hidden in the desert sagebrush on a hike with the Oregon Natural Desert Association. All are welcome but hike space is limited and pre-registration is required. See more information […]
Read MoreSage Brown
Finding water in the desert can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. If you were hiking 2 million to 10,000 years ago, finding water in Eastern Oregon would be easy […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
ONDA to teach sage-grouse mating dance to all members April 1, 2018 (BEND, Ore.)—What started as a rousing way to open up staff meetings soon spread to board meetings and stewardship trips, […]
Read MoreRenowned for its vast wild lands and world-class wildlife, the Greater Hart-Sheldon features 3.2 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands that span 150 miles, from Fort Rock […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Alan Majchrowicz Website
Alan Majchrowicz
How would you manage a few million acres of public lands in Oregon’s high desert? You will have a critical opportunity to answer that question when the Bureau of Land […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Have the longer days and warmer temps led you to experience bouts of day-dreaming and window-gazing? Put that wanderlust to work! Plan on your trip to the desert, and get […]
Read MoreThese ONDA members gave the classic American West road trip a public lands twist Inspired by a desire to see public lands across the West, Michelle Smith and Sam Beebe […]
Read MoreAlan Majchrowicz Website
Author: Lace Thornberg | Published: March 9, 2018 | Updated: May 5, 2022 | Categories: How-to Five landscape photographers share their advice: knowledge, persistence, patience The arid landscape that covers […]
Read More“It feels good to support ONDA on a monthly basis, because I know they never stop supporting our public lands. ONDA works to help make our lands a better place […]
Read MoreMichael O'Casey
Brittany Leffel hosted a Public Land Leader gathering in December and wrote about her experience “going public”. Behind every beloved trail is a crew of stewards working to preserve […]
Read More“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 […]
Read MoreLeeAnn Kreigh
By LeeAnn Kriegh Trees live their lives on a different timescale than ours, so it helps to slow ourselves down to fully appreciate them. Certainly, a shrubby little tree like […]
Read MoreI love to travel and I love the desert! Supporting ONDA monthly allows me to hit the road without forgetting Oregon’s high desert—even when I’m not there.
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Five for No Snow, Five for Snow. Winter in Oregon’s high desert can look and be quite different from one year to the next. A few years ago, copious snowfall […]
Read MoreONDA Volunteer John Hartog Tells High Desert Stories Through Sounds, Not Words. By John Dulzo Oregon Natural Desert Association volunteers are as diverse as the land they work so hard […]
Read MoreCorie Harlan
If you love adventure and solitude, get ready to experience one of the best hikes in the Northern Owyhee Canyonlands. On the 8.5 mile Painted Canyon Loop (also known as […]
Read MoreUrsula Le Guin, author and desert lover, dies at 88 On Monday, January 22, 2018, author Ursula LeGuin died at her home in Portland, Oregon. Le Guin is best known […]
Read MoreBarb Rumer
Our Efforts to Protect an Imperiled Species Greater sage-grouse, a symbol of the Intermountain West, are in trouble. Despite the clear evidence of the species’ decline the Department of the […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Curious about the High Desert? ONDA’s High Desert Speaker Series Presenters Have Stories and Knowledge To Share Do you know how many officially designated Wild and Scenic Rivers there are in eastern […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
2017 has been somewhat akin to being caught on an exposed rocky outcropping in a lightning storm. But like the heavenly smell of sage after a good rain, there’s a […]
Read MoreONDA members played a big part in the successes this year on the Oregon Desert Trail! Take a look below at some of the accomplishments this year:
Read MoreThe results of our most recent member survey In early November, we surveyed our members to check in on the work that matters most to you. Nearly 300 of you […]
Read MoreRegistration for 2025 Spring Stewardship Trips is now open! For updates, subscribe to ONDA’s e-newsletter. Oregon Natural Desert Association hosts dozens of stewardship trips and independent stewardship projects each year. […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
Welcome to ONDA’s website. Well, hello there reader! We hope this website brings you closer to Oregon’s high desert and inspires you to advocate for its protection.
Read MoreEach year Oregon Natural Desert Association hosts a speaker series featuring intriguing stories, exquisite photography, and fascinating natural history from the high desert and across the West. The 2025 High […]
Read MoreGreg Burke
Gabriel Amadeus Tiller Website
Who reads the newspaper? Your elected officials and your fellow concerned citizens! Getting your opinion published in your local paper can help bring important public lands issues to the attention […]
Read MoreBruce Couch Website
ONDA is the only organization dedicated exclusively to protecting Oregon’s high desert public lands. We work across millions of acres of eastern Oregon’s public lands to protect wilderness, conserve essential […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
With 10,000 acres of undulating terrain, secluded canyons and spectacular vantages of the John Day Country, Spring Basin is magnificent to explore. This public treasure, forever protected as Wilderness, offers […]
Read MoreJamey Pyles Website
If you have not already read about ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar, you can do so here. By submitting photos, I agree to the following: I have full rights to the […]
Read MoreMark Molner
ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar showcases the breathtaking beauty of Oregon’s high desert through a collection of stunning images generously donated by talented photographers. In addition to captivating landscapes, the calendar […]
Read MoreMichelle Bauer Website
Craig leads ONDA’s mapping, spatial analysis and field inventory work and plays an advisory role in ONDA’s conservation campaigns. While he officially joined the staff in 2019, his roots with […]
Read More“I support ONDA on a monthly basis as a way I can keep in touch with the root of my conservation ethic and allow for their strong advocacy work to […]
Read More“The desert speaks for itself, but very softly. I support ONDA to promote and enable discovery of the amazing beauty and recreational opportunities of the high desert by much broader […]
Read More“Protecting public land is part of my spiritual being. It’s central to my identity to be in wilderness and to see it protected.” Durlin is proud to protect public lands […]
Read More“I connect with Oregon’s high desert through my feet, my eyes, my sense of smell, and all the things I hear. Getting out there is a whole body experience.” Supporting […]
Read More“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 […]
Read More“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 […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Devlin Holloway
Devlin Holloway
Also known as the Great Basin Rattlesnake, these pit vipers have buff-tan coloring and small, oval blotches to blend into their arid surroundings. Small heat-sensing indentations on each side of […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
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 […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
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 […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
How to use the water chart while on the trail On your smart phone click link: https://goo.gl/GMwXsE When document is open in Google Sheets (you may have to download Google […]
Read MoreBounded by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Blue Mountains to the north, Oregon’s high desert covers approximately 24,000 square miles. Annual rainfall in the high desert varies […]
Read MoreDevlin Hollloway
Devlin Holloway
Sage Brown Website
Devlin Holloway
Daniel Sherman
Devlin Holloway
Devlin Holloway
“To me, it’s a thru-hike in an isolated place that promotes a conversation in land management, ethics and usage. Hiking across a vast and remote landscape and having a random […]
Read MoreThe Oregon Desert Trail ties into two National Recreation Trails: the Fremont National Recreation Trail and Desert Trail.
Read MoreDave Rein
ONDA launched the Oregon Desert Land Trust to support our public land conservation aims by preserving the wild character of ecologically important private lands in Oregon’s high desert. ONDA successfully […]
Read More“ONDA stewardship trips inspire me. I get to learn new things and see new places, and in the process perform important work that improves the wildlife habitat.”
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
There is a point in the Owyhee region, in northwestern Nevada, that is, at 115 miles away, as far away as you can get from a McDonalds in the U.S. […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
Vision We envision a high desert in Oregon where eight million acres of public lands are conserved to ensure that fish and wildlife thrive and wild places exist for all […]
Read MoreTyson Fisher Website
ONDA’s Wild Desert Calendar highlights the beauty of Oregon’s high desert In 2004, a crew of motivated, scrappy and talented Oregon Natural Desert Association supporters dreamed up the idea of […]
Read MoreJeremy Fox
Wildhorse Lake fills the bottom of a deep cirque with high surrounding walls on three sides that give way on one side to an open view of the horizon beyond. […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
On your way to the top of Steens Mountain Summit trailhead, you’ll pass by two amazing viewpoints that involve short walks—Kiger Gorge and the East Rim—and we recommend stopping at […]
Read MoreBruce Jackson Website
Steens Mountain: Oregon’s first desert wilderness On October 30, 2000, Congress passed the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act, finishing the work that had taken ONDA and the other […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
All of the images and short films you see on this website, as well as in the Wild Desert Calendar, throughout our print and digital publications and on social media, […]
Read MoreJames Parsons Website
Live your values with a monthly gift in support of Oregon’s desert public lands, waterways, and wildlife. Sage Sustainers members propel critical conservation efforts alongside a dynamic community of advocates. […]
Read MoreCalling all photographers! Use your creativity and talent to support conservation. Submit your best shots of Oregon’s high desert for a chance to have your photos featured in our iconic […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Legacy gifts are about planning for the future – your future and the future of Oregon’s wild desert lands, waterways and wildlife. Contact Claire Cekander at (503) 703-1006 or email to discuss […]
Read MoreShannon Phifer Website
Each year, Oregon Natural Desert Association shares awe-inspiring photography from Oregon’s dry side in our Wild Desert Calendar. In this publication, you’ll enjoy dramatic eastern Oregon landscapes, captivating portraits of […]
Read MoreMichelle Alvarado Website
The Big Indian Gorge Trail is 8 miles to the headwall of the gorge and passes through meadows as well as cottonwood and aspen groves. It’s easy to follow for […]
Read MoreAn old mining track leads 1.4 miles up the canyon through a rugged rock narrows with wildflowers and views of the desert playa below. Two creek crossings can be difficult […]
Read MoreCregg Large
Spring Basin Wilderness is a scenic remote escape that is ideal for those who love off-trail backcountry exploration. In this wilderness area, designated in spring of 2009, the recreation infrastructure […]
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Most of the hikes in the area ascend Sutton Mountain, but this Black Canyon hike offers a nice change of pace, although you can achieve the Sutton rim by hiking […]
Read MoreLindsay Jones
Sign up for ONDA’s free e-newsletter to stay aware of public lands issues, hear about ONDA events and build your knowledge of Oregon’s high desert landscapes and wildlife.
Read MoreONDA Archive
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. […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Guano Creek is designated as a Wilderness Study Area and Area of Critical Environmental Concern. No trails exist but you can hike across the open country adjacent to Guano Creek. […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
This hike is partially located in Fish Creek Rim Wilderness Study Area and offers great vistas, as well as neat stands of aspen and mountain mahogany. There is a healthy […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
There is no developed trail to the top, so the hike begins when you have found a decent spot to park your vehicle. Beatys Butte at 7,885 above sea level […]
Read MoreONDA
Take this hike to enjoy views not just from the summit, but all along the way. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as well. You can start from the Hot […]
Read MoreFrank Israel
The Scout Camp loop trail on the Middle Deschutes River is one of the most spectacular hikes you’ll find in Central Oregon. About a third of a mile from the […]
Read MoreDan Holz Website
This hike begins at the confluence of three spectacular tributaries of the Owyhee River—the North, Middle and Main forks—and the scenic hot springs at the end, situated beneath a waterfall, […]
Read MoreSteve Vidito
Visit the Leslie Gulch Wilderness Study Area to hike through sandy washes to reach panoramic amphitheaters of stone and sage. Over 200 bighorn sheep live in Leslie Gulch, along with […]
Read MoreMike Stahlberg
The Flatiron Rock trail offers a wonderful introduction to the Badlands, winding through inflated lava and old-growth juniper woodlands for about 2.5 miles to one of the most prominent rock […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
“Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.” – Chief Si’ahl
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
Visiting the Owyhee Canyonlands calls for preparation, awareness, and self-sufficiency. Top off your gas tank when leaving gateway communities like Nyssa or Jordan Valley and carry a spare gas can, […]
Read MoreSean Bagshaw Website
Steens Mountain may look like a small range, but it is actually just one massive mountain. When you visit the largest fault-block mountain in North America, expect extremes. Snow falls […]
Read MoreThis fascinating region offers the opportunity to see pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, greater sage-grouse and more. Visitors of all ages and abilities can find a recreational opportunity to pursue here. […]
Read MoreGena Goodman-Campbell
Over the last two decades, ONDA has engaged volunteers in projects to plant thousands of trees, restore dozens of miles of streams, decommission old roads and remove enough barbed wire […]
Read MoreDavid Hanson
Oregon Natural Desert Association’s independent stewardship projects offers volunteers a self-directed option for promoting a healthy high desert in addition to our structured option of guided stewardship trips.
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
Oregon’s high desert is teeming with a diversity of fish and wildlife, including species that are found nowhere else on the planet. Living in high desert sagebrush steppe, with all […]
Read MoreJeremy Austin
Oregon’s desert lands and waters are home to a rich diversity of fish, wildlife and plants, including species that cannot survive without the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. Oregon Natural Desert Association […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Thanks to the Wilderness Act of 1964, future generations of Americans can experience the same landscapes that we have the opportunity to explore and enjoy today. ONDA campaigns to see qualified desert […]
Read MoreTyson Fisher Website
Following these suggestions will help you travel safely through the high desert of eastern Oregon and enjoy fragile places responsibly.
Read MoreTyler Roemer Website
With rolling plains of sagebrush, dramatic river canyons and dense forests of old-growth juniper, the Central Oregon Backcountry provides visitors with a wide-ranging introduction to Oregon’s high desert. This wild […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
See for yourself the rugged allure of the John Day River Basin, with its vast expanses of windswept high desert, endless mountains, and picturesque meandering rivers. Within a few hours […]
Read MoreOregon Natural Desert Association connects people to Oregon desert landscapes, issues and conservation opportunities, and we mobilize communities and develop strategic partnerships to expand and deepen our impact. Our community […]
Read MoreThe 27-square-mile ovaline lava flow of Jordan Craters is one of the most recent volcanic flows in Oregon. The origin of the flow is Coffeepot Crater, a deep cavity at […]
Read MoreMark Darnell
At 4,700 feet tall, Sutton Mountain towers over the surrounding landscape. With a steep, craggy west side and a rolling, grassy eastern face, the mountain has an alluring Jekyll and […]
Read MoreGary Miller
Make Your Voice Heard For Public Lands Each day Oregon’s elected leaders and the appointed officials who head land management agencies make decisions about how our lands are managed. They […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Malheur Wild and Scenic Rivers Bull Trout Habitat (ONDA v. U.S. Forest Service) Bull trout populations are beginning to recover in protected corridors along the Malheur and North Fork Malheur […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
ONDA and our partners have worked tirelessly since 2008 to communicate that Steens Mountain is an inappropriate place for industrial-scale energy development.
Read MoreJeremy Fox
Oregon Natural Desert Association developed the Oregon Desert Trail to showcase the most spectacular natural areas of the state’s dry side, including Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, Steens Mountain, and […]
Read MoreWithin an hour’s drive from Bend and just west of Terrebonne, the rugged canyons of Whychus-Deschutes remain astonishingly wild.
Read MoreONDA’s stewardship work often takes us to rugged backcountry locations with no cell reception, and the safety of our volunteers is our number one priority. Stewardship trip difficultly ratings are […]
Read MoreMichelle Alvarado Website
The greater sage-grouse, an iconic species native to Oregon’s high desert and the largest grouse in North America, faces serious threats to its survival due to habitat loss and degradation […]
Read MoreTyler Roemer Website
Deep canyons, remnant old-growth pine forests, and rolling hills covered with juniper, sagebrush, and bunchgrass define the character of the remarkable public lands included in the Horse Heaven and Cathedral […]
Read MoreJim Davis
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 MoreSage Brown Website
The resources you’ll find here can be used in combination to help you navigate the Oregon Desert Trail route and to safely travel through the high desert. Conditions on […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Drawn to the exhilarating rapids, remote canyons, and thriving fishery, more than 10,000 people float the 72-mile long Clarno to Cottonwood stretch of the Lower John Day River each year.
Read MoreJeremy Fox
Hiking in the high desert presents unique rewards … and unique challenges! Travel safely and responsibly along the Oregon Desert Trail with these tips, principles and essentials.
Read MoreDevlin Holloway
The Oregon Desert Trail is an extremely challenging route for hikers, both physically and logistically. ODT travelers need to be aware of the remoteness, lack of cell communication and environmental […]
Read MoreGreg Burke Website
Our work to protect and restore Oregon’s high desert public lands is fueled by the generosity of our members. Every donation, advocacy action, and volunteer hour adds up to an […]
Read MoreBruce Jackson Website
The Little Blitzen Gorge Trail follows the Little Blitzen River up a long, glacially carved canyon. Expect wildflowers, springs, aspen, and waterfalls. From the trailhead parking lot, walk 100 yards […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association is a community of people dedicated to conserving the high desert. It might be the scent of sagebrush, or the desert sun’s warmth. It could be […]
Read MoreONDA believes in your right to privacy. To protect your privacy rights, we have adopted these policies and practices: Donor privacy policy Oregon Natural Desert Association will not share or […]
Read MoreSteve Roelof Website
Michelle Bauer
Renee joined ONDA in 2015 to help develop and promote the Oregon Desert Trail—a 750-mile route that showcases the wonders, and conservation opportunities, of Oregon’s high desert. In her current […]
Read MoreJefferson joined ONDA in 2008. As our Riparian Restoration Manager, he handles all of our riparian restoration activities. Originally from Maine, Jeff graduated from the University of Maine with a […]
Read MoreAs ONDA’s Stewardship Director, Gena engages ONDA’s community in hands-on restoration projects that improve desert habitat in key watersheds and migration corridors. Gena has been a member of the ONDA […]
Read MoreMichelle Bauer
Allison joined ONDA as development director in 2010. Over the course of a diverse, two-decades-long career working with nonprofits, Allison has worked in development for a Massachusetts university, organized international […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Renee Patrick
Be advised! Stretches of the Oregon Desert Trail route are exceedingly remote. Read the Oregon Desert Trail guidebook descriptions in detail and seriously consider any notes on water scarcity or […]
Read MoreDid you know that nearly half of Oregon is high desert? At Oregon Natural Desert Association, we strive to connect people to this incredible region. Come explore eastern Oregon with […]
Read MoreJamey Pyles Website
A Conversation with Scott Bowler Retired science teacher Scott Bowler is a proud member of ONDA’s Sage Sustainers, the community of advocates and donors who live their values by sustaining […]
Read MoreRobert Tilley
Jeremy Austin
Speak up for Oregon’s high desert. Every American owns the public lands, waters and wildlife that make Oregon’s high desert special, and every one of us must be an advocate […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
ONDA
Kristin Wolter
For general inquiries, email onda@onda.org or call (541) 330-2638. See below for a staff directory. Staff Directory
Read MoreTim Neville
ONDA provides interested community members with inspiration to get out and enjoy the desert, and the information and tools necessary to understand what is happening to their public lands.
Read MoreOregon Natural Desert Association sustains and enhances the health of Oregon’s high desert through stewardship and restoration. ONDA takes a holistic approach to conservation in Oregon’s high desert, pairing on-the-ground […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association conserves the most wild, spectacular and ecologically important public lands in Oregon’s high desert, including treasured landscapes such as the John Day River Basin, Steens Mountain, […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Lloyd Irwin
A secret revealed It’s alpine quality rivals Oregon’s better known Cascade peaks, and yet Steens Mountain is largely undiscovered. Once visited, however, Steens Mountain is not easily forgotten. Often mistaken […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Greg Burke Website
The public finally has access to the Trump administration’s report on the review of 27 national monuments, but only because it was leaked to the press. Astonishingly, Zinke’s memo to […]
Read MoreSage Brown Website
Volunteers remove obsolete fence from more than 90,000 acres in the Steens Mountain Wilderness The 97,229 acre cow-free portion of the Steens Mountain Wilderness Area in southeastern Oregon is now […]
Read MoreSecretary of the Interior Zinke undercuts BLM sage grouse conservation plan. The Department of the Interior recently issued a set of proposed changes for sage grouse conservation that will harm […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Oregon Natural Desert Association employee Jeremy Austin realizes a childhood dream, and takes to the sky across southeastern Oregon with LightHawk. Photos by Jim Davis with aerial support by LightHawk. […]
Read MoreThe Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) has made a lot of progress in the past year thanks to the continued support of the hiking community, gateway community partners, ONDA members and […]
Read MoreDan Holz Website
Julie Weikel grew up in ‘ION’ country, the area where Idaho, Oregon and Nevada’s borders meet. She worked for over four decades in the area as a large animal vet, […]
Read MoreFor more than a decade, Kirk Richardson has been a strong voice for protecting Oregon’s high desert. He’s served on the Oregon Natural Desert Association Board of Directors, helped dream […]
Read MoreJim Davis
Dr. Megan Creutzburg is a researcher at Oregon State University’s Institute for Natural Resources, where she provides technical coordination for the Oregon Sage Grouse Conservation Partnership (SageCon). With climate marches happening […]
Read MoreKirk Barnes
ONDA Oregon Desert Trail Coordinator Renee Patrick shares a “water alternate” option to the hiking route on the Chewaucan River. She likes to say, “rivers are trails too” and […]
Read MoreJefferson Jacobs
For three decades, ONDA has been a strong, consistent voice for Oregon’s high desert. It all began in 1987 with extraordinary people concerned about an extraordinary place, and today has […]
Read MoreOver two dozen Oregon craft beer brewers from around the state have joined together to call for the permanent protection of the Owyhee Canyonlands. Ross Putnam, cofounder of Base Camp […]
Read MoreBend resident Sarah Graham has long cherished the outdoors. But this past year inspired her to become active to help protect public lands, aiming to ensure they continue to belong […]
Read MoreBob Jessee
The Oregon Desert Trail’s first fall thru-hiker, Bob “Huck Finn” Jessee, completed the route in 2015. Read about his adventure and tips for getting out in the shoulder season. […]
Read MoreFrom the moment he arrived in Oregon, Elliott Dubreuil felt drawn to its dry side. The Louisiana native moved to Bend in 1993. He picked the small town to avoid […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
Oregon Desert Trail Coordinator Renee Patrick shares her exploratory packraft alternate on the Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) in the Owyhee Canyonlands. Getting to the West Little Owyhee River where […]
Read MoreJim Davis Website
Carol Savonen is a member of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, a group formed initially by older women to champion America’s public lands. Here, she shares the experience the Broads […]
Read MoreRenee Patrick
ONDA summer intern Anne White has spent many hours over the past few months in southeastern Oregon monitoring sagebrush habitat. She and her fellow intern collected data to help determine […]
Read MoreChristof Teuscher
“What I enjoy most about the Oregon desert are the wide open spaces, it’s so fascinating. Since I grew up in Switzerland, I find it very exotic. I’ve always […]
Read MoreDevin Dahlgren Website
Who reads the newspaper? Your elected officials and your fellow concerned citizens! Getting your opinion published in your local paper can help bring important public lands issues to the attention […]
Read MorePublic lands are one of our nation’s greatest assets. You have both the right and opportunity to share your thoughts on how public lands and resources should be managed during […]
Read More