Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads • Entered by Rynda Clark on April 1, 2023
Ancient Juniper/Flat Iron Trail (Badlands Wilderness)
February 15, 2023
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 3 |
| Post Admin hours | 2 |
| Activity Hours | 6 |
| Participants | 8 |
| Total Hours | 53 |
Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Key Partners: Bitterbrush Broads
Landscape/area: Badlands Wilderness (64144 acres)
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Event Attendees (8 people)
Outcome 2: Hiked (5 miles)
Short Description of Activity
Ancient Juniper/ Flat Iron Rock Trail This hike in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness takes you on a somewhat meandering route through a rugged lava landscape that resulted from a major “leak” in a lava tube known as the Badlands Volcano, a “rootless” shield volcano about 80,000 years old (The small crater is about 3/4 mile west of the loop; the actual source of the lava flow is much farther to the south near the Newberry Volcano). The lava formations along this loop include cracks, small pressure ridges (tumuli), and ropy blocks (pahoehoe). The sandy soils are the remains of ash deposits from the eruption of Mount Mazama 7,700 years ago. A key feature of this desert hike are the many old-growth western juniper trees (Juniperus occidentalis), some over 1,000 years in age: junipers with a beautiful reddish bark will probably be at least 250 years old.
Reflection/Evaluation
To learn about ancients junipers, the role the play in healthy landscapes, historic lava flow, and desert ecosystems
Yes met goals
Photos/Uploads
Upload 1 |
Upload 2 |
Photo Captions
1. Old growth juniper in Badlands Wilderness
2. Lava formations- Badlands Wilderness