Hidden Beauty of Oregon: The Alvord Desert
Out past the Cascades, beyond Bend’s high-desert appeal, tucked behind the evergreens, there exists a landscape, one might say, on the somewhat secretive side of Oregon. This intriguing corner of our everversatile Beaver State is the Alvord Desert – a place of vast empty spaces, mirage-like solitude, and bone-dry climates that could fool anyone into believing they’ve landed in Sahara, not Southeast Oregon.
Location, Location, Location
The Alvord Desert lies quietly at the edge of the state, resting against the eastern walls of the Steens Mountains. It’s a far cry from the rainy sidewalks of Portland’s Powell’s City of Books or the hearty craft breweries of Bend. You won’t find any gas stations or grocery stores for miles. Nearby Fields Station serves travelers decent burgers and sells a few essential supplies, but for the most part, this desert isn’t a place for your standard city amenities. Instead, it offers pure, undiluted tranquility stretching over 76,000 acres and views that stretch even further.
Local Gem – Alvord Hot Springs
Right in the midst of this dry expanse, you will find a local’s treasure – the Alvord Hot Springs. Oregon is known for its abundance of natural hot springs, yet this one stands out for its curious solitude against desert sands as much as for its soothing heat. The Alvord Hot Springs belongs to a private property and comes with a modest fee, but those relaxing pools make every penny well worth it.
Just as you come from a bone-chilling night under desert stars, imagine soaking in those warm waters at the foot of the Steens Mountains – a silent sentinel watching over the desert sands. Now, if that doesn’t get your Oregon heart pumping, I’m not sure what will.
Reach for the Stars
Ever looked up at a clear Oregon sky and lost yourself in a sea of stars? If you felt that was a sight to behold, the brilliance of the Alvord Desert’s Night Sky would blow your mind away. This place is what they call a “dark sky area” with little to no light pollution, making it practically an observatory. You’ll catch the Milky way spiraling across the night, glowing like Tillamook creamery butter on a Fire on the Mountain wing.
Desert? In Oregon?
Now that might throw a few off. A desert? In rain-soaked Oregon of all places? But it’s no joke. The Alvord Desert experiences less precipitation a year than some wait times for Saturday brunch in Portland. The desert lies in the rain shadow of the Steens Mountain, causing all the moisture to fall on the mountain side, leaving the Alvord Desert high and dry.
Quirky realities
Oregonians are no alien to a different kind of alien: UFO spotters are perennially drawn to the Alvord Desert. Their shared myth is the desert’s potential as a landing spot for extra-terrestrials, ostensibly due to its widespread emptiness and erratic terrain. Yet, a more believable reason for visits could be the conviction in the connected experiences between befriending a landscape’s solitude and contemplating life’s unknowns.
An Ending Note
Every place in Oregon has its own beauty and mystery to it. Whether you’re skipping rocks across Crater Lake or feeling the spray from Multnomah Falls, each of these places carry a magic of their own. And yet, the Alvord Desert is different, it’s an otherworldly allure.
The Alvord Desert is not just a desert, neither just a remote part of Oregon prone to extreme weather changes and eerie quiet. It’s Oregon’s best-kept secret, an untouched landscape that epitomizes the wild, raw beauty of our state in a way only nature can.
So, consider leaving your rainy corner of Oregon behind for a bit, and make your way to our state’s best-kept secret. Pull up your bootstraps, or rather your sandals, prepare your sunglasses, and wear your sunblock. This is the Alvord Desert, Oregon’s very own patch of Sahara.