Winter Is The Best Time To Explore Oregon’s Badlands

The Oregon Badlands Wilderness encompasses 29,180 acres just east of Bend, and it's a vast area that's full of volcanic rock formations and juniper trees. The Badlands can get pretty hot during the summer months, but in the winter, it's a vast wonderland, and accessible for those who wish to hike, photograph the landscape, or just bask in the beauty of this rugged place.

The Oregon Badlands Wilderness was designated by Congress in 2009, and it's managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. You'll find it about 18 miles east of Bend.

While the area can get some snow during winter months, it remains an easily-accessible area for hikers and nature lovers.

Western Junipers cover the landscape, and many are more than 1,000 years old.

The twisted, gnarled junipers have evolved over time to handle the hot, dry climate here.

One of the best ways to enjoy the Badlands is to take a hike on one of its designated trails.

Some of the trails take you past volcanic rock formations created by lava flow from the Badlands volcano about 80,000 years ago.

The Badlands Rock, Flatiron, and Ancient Juniper Trail Loop is an easy loop trail that takes you 11.3 miles into the wilderness.

During your hike, you'll see many interesting formations, and you'll also want to keep an eye out for the wildlife that lives here. You might see rabbits, sage grouse, mule deer, elk, and perhaps even a coyote.

Sunrises and sunsets are magnificent in this vast place, and you'll want to make sure to have your camera ready to capture them.

At night, thousands of stars fill the sky. The Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a place where you can go to find solitude and peace. Make plans to visit soon!

Have you visited the Oregon Badlands Wilderness this winter? Tell our readers about your trip in the comments!