Badlands (Deschutes County, Oregon)

The Badlands of Deschutes and Crook counties in the U.S. state of Oregon are a wilderness study area of convert|32221|acre|km2 located about fifteen miles southeast of Bend, Oregon. The BLM-administered land is a proposed designated wilderness area. cite web
url = http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=298447
title = Wyden announces wilderness legislation for Badlands in Deschutes County
work = Press Release of Senator Wyden
publisher = U.S. Senate newsroom
date = 2008-05-27
accessdate = 2008-07-10 ] It is the northwesternmost part of the Northern Basin and Range ecoregion, described as Pluvial Lake Basin, and shares many characteristics of the Great Basin.

The area is known for igneous castle-like rock formations, harsh terrain, ancient Juniper trees, sagebrush, and extensive arid land. Desert wildflowers, dry river canyons, and Native American pictographs can be found. [ cite web
url = http://onda.org/defending-desert-wilderness/badlands-proposed-wilderness/badlands-proposed-wilderness
title = Badlands Proposed Wilderness
publisher = Oregon Natural Desert Association
accessdate = 2008-07-10 ] The blind iditarod racer Rachel Scdoris trained in the area.

The Deschutes County commissioners disagreed over designating the area as wilderness since doing so would exclude vehicles. [ cite web
url = http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/News_Badlands_DeWolf.htm
title = Deschutes County Commissioner DeWolf supports Badlands Wilderness
date = 2005-03-30
author = Tom DeWolf, Chair, Deschutes County Commission
accessdate = 2008-07-10 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.gimpslice.com/Hiking/Oregon_Hiking/The_Badlands/index.html hiking the Badlands]
* [http://onda.org/defending-desert-wilderness/badlands-proposed-wilderness/more-info-on-badlands/Badlands%20Petroglyphs_Page_1.jpg/view Badlands petroglyphs] page 1
* [http://onda.org/defending-desert-wilderness/badlands-proposed-wilderness/more-info-on-badlands/Badlands%20Petroglyphs_Page_2.jpg/view Badlands petroglyphs] page 2
* [http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/News_Badlands_BLM_Brochure.htm BLM map]