Oregon’s Best-Kept Secret: The Alvord Desert
Delve deep into Oregon’s rugged outback and you’ll discover the Alvord Desert, a serene, secluded diamond in the rough. Nestled in the southeastern cranny of the state, past the outskirts of Burns, this desert is far from your run-of-the-mill Oregon attraction. It is the very embodiment of solitude, a place where silence embraces the horizon, perfectly fused with the stirrings of nature’s wild symphony.
Nature’s Majestic Silence
An oddity in our evergreen state, the Alvord Desert stretches out its seemingly barren arms across an expanse larger than Portland, reaching out for over 12 by 7 miles. This landscape, however, is anything but desolate. After all, you are in Oregon, where even in aridity, life thrives. Chuckars and jackrabbits are no strangers here, and brave it in style, sporting Camo-Brooks or Saucony’s, Oregon’s beloved kicks.
A Heaven for the Adventurous
Steens Mountain shields the Alvord Desert from the western weather patterns, gifting it clear skies more often than not, making it an adventurer’s paradise. Unlike the city’s iconic Powell’s Books, there are no quiet corners to sneak away for an immersive read. But ask any Oregonian with a taste for something raw and unfiltered, and they’ll tell you that the desert’s sprawling flat terrain is Oregon’s unofficial Bonneville Salt Flats, a playground for land sailors and speed enthusiasts, where 360-degree spinning drives are as iconic as Voodoo Doughnuts’ maple bacon or Morrison Bridge at twilight.
Soak in Your Own Hot Spring
The Alvord Desert comes with its exclusive versions of hot tubs. Alvord Hot Springs, nestled on private land on the desert’s edge, lures in those stiff from their desert adventures. Bubbling forth on the eastern edge of the desert playas are the Mickey Hot Springs, a system of pools, spouts and fumarole. Dip in, and feel the hustle of everyday life dissolve faster than cotton candy on your tongue at the Oregon State Fair.
Dark Skies and Twinkling Stars
Back in Portland, folks often tease about rarely seeing the “Upstairs Blues,” courtesy of our frequent, gloomy drizzle. Down in Alvord though, every night offers a surreal star-gazing opportunity, transforming it into an astrologist’s dream. It’s like staring into an enormous cosmic nightlight. Luna moth green shooting stars streaking across the sky is as regular an affair as spotting a yellow-and-blue MAX Light Rail zipping by in the city.
Breathing in the Beauty of Pure Solitude
An unexpected bonus of visiting the Alvord Desert is the peace offered by its remote and vast solitude. As comforting as a Dutch Bros Coffee, it soothes the chaotic rhythms of our tech-laden present. The desert whispers to us subtly of halcyon ages, eras untouched by Wi-Fi signals, and summons a deep, immersive sense of peace akin to the hush that descends upon Autzen Stadium after a Ducks win.
The Artists’ Retreat
The Alvord Desert is as enchanting as browsing street art in the Alberta Arts District. Photographers, writers, poets, musicians, and all manner of creative souls are drawn to the desert, finding muse amid its vast austerity. Even as summer converts its surfaces into an oven, mirroring heatwaves like a McMenamins Edgefield concert, its spiritual tranquillity provides balm to the ardent artist.
End Note
The CR Morrow viewpoint, standing majestically on a deserted hill west of Fields just off Highway 205, is often the last civilization we come across before descending onto the desert. It serves as a portal, making us pause long enough to appreciate the shift from our routine lives into a world of wonder.
The Alvord Desert is Oregon’s best-kept secret, far from reach but worth every mile. Its paradoxical fusion of solitude with rich sights, sounds, and experiences embodies Oregon perfectly. Plan your trip, fill your flask with Stumptown Roasters, and venture into the wild poetry of the Alvord desert. Be prepared for the desert to etch a little piece of itself into your heart and soul, luring you back time and time again. So gear up, fellow Oregonian, and prepare to uncover the secret that awaits!