Oregon’s Best-Kept Secret: The Alvord Desert
Nestling in Oregon’s rugged southeastern terrain, away from the beaten path and the bustling city, lies a terrain so serene and secluded, it’s affectionately hailed by locals as the Beaver State’s best-kept secret. The Alvord Desert—an expansive playground of silence and solitude, unblemished skies and caustic lake beds—is a curious and stunning anomaly in the diverse landscape of Oregon.
Southwest Corner of Heaven on Earth
Swipe those visions of lush forests and misty rivers that Oregon is famous for right out of your imagination, for the Alvord is an entirely different kettle of fish. Or should we say a ‘dry cup of sagebrush’? More akin to places like Death Valley, the Alvord desert’s 12 x 7 mile playa is a dried-up relic of the once massive Lake Alvord. This stretched out white canvas—vast, bare, and breathtakingly austere—creates an atmosphere that’s as wonderfully alien as it is fascinating. Known to locals as the land where you “can hear your own heartbeat,” the Alvord desert holds a hallowed spot in Oregonians’ hearts.
Alvord Lifestyle: It’s a Dry Heat!
The Alvord’s climate is contrary to the stereotypical Oregon rain showers that dot so many canvases and have populated many songs. With an average rainfall of less than seven inches annually, this powerful place hails a unique charm. A remarkable contradiction to the rain-soaked fur of the west-side critters we usually associate with Oregon’s diverse biosphere. The most common utterance about the Alvord weather is, “It’s a dry heat!” or the more self-deprecating, “At least you don’t get wet!” And, unsurprisingly, the sunsets here are absolutely breathtaking—it’s like they pull paintbrush swipes right from a color-rich artist’s palette.
Treasures of Alvord: Beyond the Mirage
Peering into the Alvord Desert’s vulnerability, you catch a glimpse of the gem twinkling in the desert hardwood – the Alvord Hot Springs. This historic hot spring business, family-run since the 70s, is adorned by two pools—clothing optional, of course. What better way to beat the ‘dry heat’ than a dip in the 105-degree Fahrenheit soaking pool? Folklore says these waters possess curative properties—and whether or not you believe that, a soak under the star-speckled night is undeniably therapeutic.
Hardly a stone’s throw away from the desert playa, the mighty Steens Mountain stands sentinel. This gigantic fault-block mountain offers jaw-dropping vistas and unbelievable vertical relief. Steens Mountain Wilderness, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is home to over 170,000 acres of untouched high desert terrain. Hiking the Big Indian Gorge trail will get you right up close to its beauty and immensity—it’s a true testament to the wonders of Oregon outdoors.
The Alvord Experience: Bonbon of the Bucket List
Flirting with the borders of Nevada, the Alvord Desert still feels like a world away from the rest of civilization. By day, the boundless dry playa is a haven for land sailors and adventurous photographers. By night, it’s a stargazing sanctuary that rivals the magic of the Milky Way. And don’t think it’s all tumbleweeds and jackrabbits – you haven’t tasted Oregon till you’ve dipped into the tangy Alvord Burger at Fields Station, a pit stop oasis that’s much loved by locals and ravenous desert explorers alike.
If you’ve never spent a bone-chilling October night huddled under the stars, listening to the silence of the Alvord, it’s high time you started packing your bags, or your “rig,” as us Oregonians like to call it. The desert is a sight to behold in winter too, when the playa gets a frosting of snow—oddly, the desert’s very own white Christmas.
Call of the Wild
The solitude and stoic beauty of the Alvord Desert, like the sly strength of an Oregon pine, intrigue the adventurous spirit and call out to the nomads at heart. The desert serves as a stunning reminder of the eclectic quilt that is Oregon – where variety is not just the spice but the sustaining ingredient of life. So, come on, don those hiking boots, drop the tailgate, and let your heart echo in the silence of Oregon’s best-kept secret – the Alvord Desert. After all, its secrets are meant to be discovered, not kept.