There is so much to love about the Oregon High Desert, and we at the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) have stitched existing trails, old Jeep tracks, and historical wagon roads together with stretches of cross-country travel to help create The Oregon Desert Trail. Our aims are to improve access to the wonders of the desert and to let explorers take a choose-your-own-adventure approach to getting to know this region.
Sections of the trail can be explored on foot or on horseback, or by boat, bike, or even skis in the winter. Some sections offer easy walks along well-marked paths. Other areas require GPS skills, significant outdoor experience, and serious preparation, particularly for water sources.
We hope you'll consider heading out for a day trip or hopefully longer on the Oregon Desert Trail in the coming year. This exciting 750-mile desert route traverses absolutely stunning natural features in the high desert like the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, Steens Mountain, and the Owyhee Canyonlands. Sections can be paddled, skied, hiked, biked, and explored on horseback! We can also share opportunities to get involved in trail work and more volunteer opportunies.
Click to learn more about the Oregon Desert Trail and the Oregon Natural Desert Association, including upcoming events. Watch "The Last Darkness: Running 170 miles through the Owyhee Canyonlands" below to learn more about one of the most amazing stretches of the Trail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg1gLmRFKv0