Oregon Badlands Wilderness Professional Review and Guide

"This route explores the Flatiron Trail and the Ancient Juniper Trail in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness. The hike takes you through a high desert landscape of old growth juniper to the summit of Flatiron Rock where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Central Oregon Cascades. After soaking in the views, you return on the Flatiron Trail to the turnoff to the Ancient Juniper Trail, where you complete a loop through more spectacular old-growth juniper.

The Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a unique wilderness habitat that covers almost 30,000 acres and has over 50 miles of trails to explore. Local citizens rallied and supported Senator Ron Wyden when he introduced the Oregon Badlands Wilderness Act in June 2008, and in March 2009 the Oregon Badlands Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama. This wilderness features a vast, western juniper forest sprinkled with the fragrant-smelling sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush and interesting geologic formations. Wildlife you may see in this wilderness area includes red-tailed hawks, ravens, coyotes, jackrabbits, and quail."

--Adam Sawyer, Best Dog Hikes Oregon (Falcon Guides).