Northern Basin and Range ecoregion

The Northern Basin and Range is an ecoregion spanning Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and California, defined by wide valleys nestled between parallel mountain chains. Throughout this high-elevation desert landscape, natural springs and wetlands supply water that sustains both wildlife and agricultural operations despite the arid climate.

This ecoregion lies south of the former shoreline of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, which once inundated vast areas of the Great Basin. The terrain here was profoundly shaped by this ancient water body that reshaped the landscape thousands of years ago.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees extensive public lands where livestock grazing represents the primary human activity in this high-elevation desert region.

This terrain is accessible on foot in elevations, with open sagebrush plains that are relatively easy to navigate for visitors. Most activities take place across open spaces and natural pathways, though local conditions can be variable.

The western side of this region features internal drainage where water remains trapped in basins, while the east drains outward through the Snake River. This creates two distinctly different ecological zones with contrasting water patterns and habitats.