The Oregon Badlands Wilderness holds a number of remarkable and exciting landforms and geologic features. Most of the area includes the rugged Badlands volcano, which has features of inflated lava. Windblown volcanic ash and eroded lava make up the sandy, light-colored soil that covers the low and flat places in these fields of lava. Dry River, active during each of several ice ages, marks the southeast boundary between two volcanic areas—Badlands volcano and the Horse Ridge volcanoes. Earth movements along the Brothers Fault Zone have faulted and sliced up the old Horse Ridge volcanoes, but not Badlands volcano. The Badlands formed in an unusual way. The flow that supplied lava to the Badlands apparently developed a hole in the roof of its main lava tube. This hole became the source of lava that built a shield volcano that we call the Badlands (technically, a rootless shield volcano). An irregularly-shaped pit crater at the top of the shield marks the site where lava flowed in all directions to create the Badlands.
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Map of the East Fort Rock OHV Trail System in Deschutes National Forest (NF) in Oregon. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Trails Brochure and Map of Oregon Badlands Wilderness in the BLM Prineville District area in Oregon. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Oregon Badlands Wilderness
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/oregon-badlands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Badlands_Wilderness
The Oregon Badlands Wilderness holds a number of remarkable and exciting landforms and geologic features. Most of the area includes the rugged Badlands volcano, which has features of inflated lava. Windblown volcanic ash and eroded lava make up the sandy, light-colored soil that covers the low and flat places in these fields of lava. Dry River, active during each of several ice ages, marks the southeast boundary between two volcanic areas—Badlands volcano and the Horse Ridge volcanoes. Earth movements along the Brothers Fault Zone have faulted and sliced up the old Horse Ridge volcanoes, but not Badlands volcano. The Badlands formed in an unusual way. The flow that supplied lava to the Badlands apparently developed a hole in the roof of its main lava tube. This hole became the source of lava that built a shield volcano that we call the Badlands (technically, a rootless shield volcano). An irregularly-shaped pit crater at the top of the shield marks the site where lava flowed in all directions to create the Badlands.
OREGON BADLANDS
A venture into the Oregon Badlands Wilderness
is an experience of ancient junipers, volcanic vistas, and sand underfoot. You can explore cracked
volcanic pressure ridges, called tumuli, or walk
narrow moat-like cracks in the ground. Traces of
human history are visible to the careful observer.
At 29,000 acres, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness represents an outstanding example of ancient western juniper woodlands atop Columbia River Basalts.
Almost 50 miles of trails offer the
visitor many opportunities for hiking
or horseback riding loops of various
lengths. As a designated wilderness,
the Oregon Badlands Wilderness enjoys the highest level of permanent protection, giving visitors the opportunity to experience nature
at its wildest, while leaving any mechanized uses
behind.
Badlands Rock Trail
• In-and-out hike or horse ride
• 6.0 miles, round trip
• Elevation gain/loss: 75 feet
• Trailhead coordinates: 43.95387N, 121.01476W (WGS 84)
The Badlands Rock Trail is a wide trail that traverses
the Oregon Badlands Wilderness to a large rock outcrop
with 360-degree views of Central Oregon. Two longer
looping options via either the Castle Trail (7.7 miles) or
the Tumulus Trail (12.3 miles) can be used to return to
the trailhead. Trailhead access is located at the Badlands
Rock Trailhead, approximately 18 miles southeast of
Bend, Oregon. From Bend, drive 17.9 miles east on State
Highway 20. Turn left at the large gravel piles, cross a
cattle guard, and proceed one mile northeast along a paved
road. Park at the Bureau of Land Management kiosk
and proceed 3 miles north to Badlands Rock. A map is
available at the trailhead.
Flatiron Rock Trail
• In-and-out hike or horse
ride with shorter looping
options
• 5.0-6.0 miles, round trip,
depending on route taken
• Elevation gain/loss: 60 feet
• Trailhead coordinates:
43.95771N, 121.05186W (WGS 84)
The Flatiron Trail is a two-track trail that skirts the flank of
the relatively nondescript Badlands shield volcano and gently
descends to an unusual rock outcrop known as the Flatiron.
Here, one can walk in an oblong-shaped moat, or crack for a
lunar-like hiking experience. The trail continues to the north
boundary of Oregon Badlands Wilderness. Trailhead access
is located at the Flatiron Trailhead, 16 miles east of Bend,
Oregon on State Highway 20. Trailers are not advised.
• In-and-out hike or horse ride with shorter looping options
• 5.0-15.0 miles, round trip, depending on route taken
• Elevation gain/loss: 75 feet
• Trailhead coordinates: 44.04703N, 121.03192W (WGS 84)
The heart of the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is reached by
travelling the remote Tumulus Trail. This serpentine trail
winds around large lava blisters with hidden alcoves, moats
and open woodlands. Off trail in this area, it’s easy to get
turned around, so sound navigation skills are essential.
Trailhead access is located adjacent to a gate along the
main area canal. From Alfalfa, drive ¼ mile west on Alfalfa
Market Road, turning south on Johnson Ranch Road for
1 mile to the transfer station. Here the pavement ends and
you continue along a rough road south along the canal for
1.2 miles. Park at the wide area east of canal; do not block
the canal road. Trailers are not advised.
Other
Activities
Target shooting,
rock hounding,
vending, and the
use of paint ball
guns are prohibited
within the
Oregon Badlands
Wilderness, as is the
cutting of trees or vegetation. Some activities, particularly
special events, organized group outings, and those that are
commercial in nature, require a Special Recreation Permit.
For more information, contact the Prineville Bureau of
Land Management District Office.
Natural History
The Oregon Badlands Wilderness holds a number of
remarkable and exciting landforms and geologic features.
Most of the wilderness includes the rugged Badlands
volcano, which has features of inflated lava. Windblown
volcanic ash and eroded lava make up the sandy, lightcolored soil that covers the low and flat places in these
fields of lava. Dry River, active during each of several ice
ages, marks the southeast boundary between two volcanic
areas – Badlands volcano and the Horse Ridge volcanoes.
Earth movements along the Brothers Fault Zone have
faulted and sliced up the old Horse Ridge volcanoes, but
not Badlands volcano. The Badlands formed in an unusual
way. The flow that supplied lava to the Badlands apparently
developed a hole in the roof of its main lava tube. This
hole became the source of lava that built a shield volcano
that we call the Badlands (technically, a rootless shield
volcano). An irregularly-shaped pit crater at the top of the
shield marks the site where lava flowed in all directions to
create the Badlands. It is located about 1500 feet northeast
of milepost 15 on Highway 20. Highway 20 traverses
the shield along a straight, five-mile stretch between the
intersections with an old section of Highway 20 (between
mileposts 12.6 and 17.5). Soils in the Badlands were
largely formed from ash associated with Mt. Mazama, now
known as Crater Lake.
Oregon
Badlands
Wilderness
A variety of wildlife species inhabit the area including
yellow-bellied marmots, bobcat, mule deer, elk, and
antelope. The southern portion of the Oregon Badlands
Wilderness includes crucial winter range for mule deer.
Avian species include prairie falcons and golden eagles.
Directions to the Site
The Oregon Badlands Wilderness is located about 16
miles east of Bend, Oregon, along State Highway 20.
For More Information
Prineville District BLM
3050 NE Third Street
Prineville, OR 97754
(541) 416-6700
www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville
www.blm.gov/or/resources/nlcs
Oregon Badlands
Wilderness
BLM/OR/WA/GI-10/067+1122.32
Oregon Badlands
Wilderness
10 yr Anniversary
10 yr Anniversary
National La