Author: 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 cultural history and uniquely diverse ecosystems.
Deep in Southeastern Oregon lies a vast expanse of High Desert where the mesmerizing beauty of deep rock canyons meets a tranquil river, and the sagebrush stretches as far as the eye can see. Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands offers a story woven through millennia, where geological marvels and diverse ecosystems converge, enchanting all who spend time here.
Geological Wonders: A Land Shaped by Fire and Water
The geological history of the Owyhee Canyonlands is as complex as it is fascinating. Spanning more than 65 million years, the region’s geological legacy rendered a region of silicic domes, calderas, basalt flows, ancient lake beds and welded ash-flow tuffs, dazzling visitors with a palette of vermillion hues and chocolatey browns tinted with brilliant green, yellow and orange.
You’ll find that this stunning array of rocks and minerals makes the Owyhee Canyonlands a hotspot for geological exploration. The region is especially renowned for thundereggs, a distinctive type of geode and Oregon’s state rock, which are found in abundance in the area.
Ecological Richness: Abundant Flora and Fauna
While an arid region, the Owyhee Canyonlands is botanically rich with more than 1,200 species of vascular plants alone. Showcasing remarkable biodiversity from sagebrush communities and grasslands to woodlands, wetlands and meadows, these diverse habitats support an astonishing array of plant life. Look out for endemic species such as Owyhee clover and narrow-leaved monardella.
For wildlife enthusiasts, the Owyhee is a haven teeming with critters. Hundreds of species of wildlife, including mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, California bighorn sheep, mountain lion, pronghorn, greater sage-grouse, pygmy rabbit and Lahontan cutthroat trout call this region home. Birdwatchers marvel at more than 150 species of birds that pass through the area, while insect lovers might spot rare gems like the Andrena winnemuccana bee and the majestic monarch butterfly. For those enchanted by the night, over a dozen species of bats take to the Owyhee’s starlit skies.
Cultural Heritage: A Deep Connection to the Land
The Owyhee Canyonlands has been home to Indigenous people since time immemorial. The Northern Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock people have lived with this land and draw sustenance and spiritual inspiration from its plentiful resources. The Owyhee continues to provide culturally important resources for Tribes today.
Cultural artifacts mark 13,000 years of human use and reverence of this region. Responsible visitors will admire artifacts while leaving them undisturbed.
Recreation Abound: Endless Opportunities
The Owyhee is remote and visiting calls for preparation, awareness and self-sufficiency. But it is worth the effort.
The Owyhee River and its tributaries carved deep, rugged canyons through the region’s extraordinary geology, creating breathtaking vistas in a landscape revered as “Oregon’s Grand Canyon.” As such, rafting the lower Owyhee River is a great way to discover some of the most untouched High Desert landscapes. If you’d rather wade than float, you’ll find phenomenal fly-fishing and riverside hot springs. And the camping, hiking and biking are nearly endless. Come nighttime, the Owyhee is ideal for stargazing, offering some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Protecting the Wonders of the Owyhee
Industrial development such as mining and energy exploration are creeping into the Owyhee Canyonlands, while climate change is warming this landscape faster than almost any other region in the country. While the Owyhee is among the largest intact natural expanses in the country, less than 5% of it is permanently protected, leaving it vulnerable to looming threats.
Communities from across Oregon have been advancing conservation in the Owyhee for decades, and right now the Owyhee Canyonlands is the largest, most dynamic conservation opportunity in the American West. Oregon Natural Desert Association is at the forefront of the effort, and our dynamic campaign has assembled tribal representatives, elected leaders, businesses, organizations representing 22 million individuals, and 70,000 petition signers calling for immediate conservation action.
Urgent, decisive action by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley is necessary to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands. If this campaign is successful and the political stars align to permanently protect the landscape before the end of the year, a trip to the area might just bring you into Oregon’s most recently protected landscape.
Get Out There
Good news: There are abundant resources that can help you experience the remarkable geology and ecology of Oregon’s Owyhee firsthand. ONDA’s How-To guide breaks down the steps to getting started with the planning and offers a proposed itinerary. And our Visitor Guide outlines additional suggestions and includes detailed information on hikes and activities, visitor services and safety tips.
