Oregon Desert Trail, Desert trail system in Oregon, United States.
The Oregon Desert Trail is a 750-mile network extending from Oregon Badlands Wilderness to Lake Owyhee Reservoir across varied landscapes. The route passes through grasslands, subalpine zones, and deep river canyons with shifting elevations throughout.
The Oregon Natural Desert Association established this route in the early 2000s under the guidance of Brent Fenty to highlight eastern Oregon. The project grew from efforts to bring attention to this remote and often overlooked region.
The trail passes through territory where local ranchers and residents have adapted to remote desert life for generations. Visitors experience how people maintain traditional practices and deep connections to this rugged landscape.
Successful travel requires strong navigation skills and careful water planning since the route combines existing trails, old roads, and cross-country sections. The terrain offers few standard trail markers, so preparation and self-reliance are essential.
Hikers encounter pronghorn antelope, wild horses, and mule deer roaming across the landscape along the way. These wildlife encounters reveal the biological diversity hidden within this seemingly barren region.
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