Only 15 miles east of Bend, the 30,000-acre Bend Badlands is a fascinating place to explore, with pockets of soft sand, lichen-covered lava and 1,000-year-old ancient junipers. Within its canyons, carved in stony seclusion, you will find tenajas, carved by water and stone, holding precious desert water and a rare perspective on time. Volunteers have been working with local ranchers, conservationists and more than 140 local businesses to protect the Badlands as wilderness.

Spring Basin is one of Central Oregon's premier wild areas. Overlooking the John Day Wild and Scenic River, the rolling hills of Spring Basin burst with color during the spring wildflower bloom. The area is important habitat for populations of Mule Deer and Rocky Mountain Elk, as well as many bird species. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, local landowners, the County Commission and the federal Bureau of Land Managment all support Wilderness designation for Spring Basin.

For more information about Spring Basin and the Badlands, please visit www.onda.org.