Originally designated as a Wilderness Study Area in 1980, The Badlands, located just 15 miles east of Bend, is a 30,000 acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers.  This area was named for its harsh terrain and fantastic rock formations.  Within this landscape, one can find incredible displays of desert wildflowers, dry river canyons, castle-like rock formations, and Native American pictographs.

Volunteers worked for over two decades to protect the Badlands as Wilderness. An  economic study showing that Badlands Wilderness would be good for Central Oregon's economic health. 

(Click here to view report)

Backed by recreation and conservation groups, a number of the region's top employers and almost two hundred local businesses, Badlands became Central Oregon's first desert Wilderness. 

In June of 2008, Senator Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced S. 3088 the Oregon Badlands Wilderness Act of 2008. The bill proposed to designate 30,000 acres of The Badlands as Wilderness. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing in July, 2008 ONDA's executive director, Brent Fenty, submitted testimony to support the legislation, along with dozens of other supporters. Read testimony here.

On March 30th, 2009 President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which created the Oregon Badlands as Wilderness.