The Badlands
​Flatiron Rock Trail & Ancient Juniper Loop
​Hike details:
Mileage: 6.5 mile lollipop loop w/ 238 ft. elevation gain (Flatiron Rock)
3.1 mile loop w/ 175 ft. elevation gain (Ancient Juniper Loop)
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 49 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (Flatiron Rock)
1 hour 20 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (Ancient Juniper Loop)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Trail usage: Low
Highest elevation: 3,750 ft. Lowest elevation: 3,573 ft.
General location: 13.5 miles southeast of Bend - Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Accessible: Year-round
(Best time to go is early May to see high desert wildflowers blooming).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: No
Trail allows: Horses, dogs, rock climbing
Possible dangers: N/A
3.1 mile loop w/ 175 ft. elevation gain (Ancient Juniper Loop)
Approximate hike time: 2 hours 49 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (Flatiron Rock)
1 hour 20 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph (Ancient Juniper Loop)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Trail usage: Low
Highest elevation: 3,750 ft. Lowest elevation: 3,573 ft.
General location: 13.5 miles southeast of Bend - Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Accessible: Year-round
(Best time to go is early May to see high desert wildflowers blooming).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: No
Trail allows: Horses, dogs, rock climbing
Possible dangers: N/A
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Description:The Oregon Badlands Wilderness is one of the newer designated wilderness areas in Oregon (designated by congress in 2009), located just east of Bend. It offers about 50 miles of trail that takes you through ancient western juniper trees, and rolling ridges of lava rock. Most of these easy trails are very underrated and you will generally not see many other hikers out here. This is the perfect area to go explore during the winter and early spring months when the rest of the Central Oregon hikes are still under snow. During the winter it is great to hike when it's sunny out, but during the spring months, an overcast day is best as it can get really really warm and there is little to no shade here.
To begin your hike, take a right out of the parking area on the Flatiron Rock Trail. You will walk 1.2 miles to another junction. If you want to keep your hike short and do the 3.1 mile loop, you will continue on the Ancient Juniper Trail to the left. If you would like to hike to Flatiron Rock, continue to the right on the Flatiron Rock Trail. Shortly after this junction, you will see a T-junction where you will take a left to stay on the Flatiron Rock Trail. |
(a burned tree that was struck by lightning)
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The large juniper trees will become less and the volcanic rocks along the sides of the trail will increase. These rocks are a beautiful grey, sandy and orange color, creating a great contrast against the blue Central Oregon sky. These cracked volcanic pressure ridges are called tumuli. After 1.5 miles you will see a little trail split off to the left that will take you to Flatiron Rock. Because this is the highest point of the trail, you can climb up some of these rocks and on a clear day you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Central Oregon Cascades. Even though many of these rocks aren't very tall, folks come out here to practice rock climbing skills.
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After checking out Flatiron Rock (you can hike a little loop around it), you will head back the way you came. When you reach the first trail junction again, you can head back via the Ancient Juniper Trail this time to see some really large juniper trees. Some of these giants are over 1,000 years old. Because it is so flat out in the Oregon Badlands, many of these big trees show scars from being struck my lightning. After traveling the Ancient Juniper Trail for 1.9 miles, you will arrive back at the parking area.
(one of the many ancient juniper trees along the trail)
The Flatiron Rock Trail and the Ancient Juniper Loop are both awesome trails to explore if you want to hike during the winter or spring in Central Oregon. During the end of April and through the month of May you will begin to see some awesome high desert wildflowers like the tiny shy wallflower and the delicate white sand lily. Whether you're taking the kids out or you just want to enjoy some solitude, the Oregon Badlands is the place to come! Make sure you have sun protection (even on a winter day the high desert sun can easily burn you), and make sure you have the proper footwear as these trails are very sandy.
(shy wallflower - blooming in May)
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(sand lily - blooming in May)
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Directions:
From Bend
- Drive on US-20 E for a total of 13.5 miles, then turn left into the trailhead parking area. (Total of 13.5 miles)
- Total of 143 miles via Sisters and Bend.
- Total of 147 miles via Sisters and Bend.
- Total of 175 miles via Government Camp and Redmond.
- Total of 184 miles via La Pine.
-This trail write-up was last updated March 2023-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer*
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer*
*Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.