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Central Oregon’s outdoor spaces are our playground — and they’re also our responsibility. In the last year, we have seen extraordinary growth in recreation across our Public Lands. Hundreds of thousands of new users are accessing trails, learning new sports and spending time outside. That means it’s up to all of us to do our part in keeping ourselves, our communities and the land we play on, safe.
We’ve teamed up with Travel Oregon, Visit Central Oregon and our Forest Service partners to spread the word and help adventurers Take Care Out There! No matter where you call home, how you recreate or who you are, we are glad you’re here. We invite each of you to help preserve the Public Lands in Oregon for generations to come by following these responsible recreation values:
Prepare. Care. Connect.
Joanne Richter, co-leader of the Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads has spent years working to protect wilderness and wild lands. Wilderness areas are incredibly special places that require special care. From double checking regulations to respecting wildlife, we can all contribute to keeping our wilderness wild.
Zavier Borja – Program Coordinator for Vámonos Outside and newly elected member of the Bend Park & Recreation District board is here to discuss Dispersed Camping. If you’ve ever tried to plan a last minute camping trip during the busy season, you know that having a backup plan is a good idea. From fire prevention to best practices, there’s a lot to take into consideration when finding the right location for your overnight outdoor getaway.
Oregon Adaptive Sports board member Bruce Creager is here to remind us all of the importance of accessibility to our Public Lands. While many of us feel at home and welcomed into outdoor spaces, many others do not. In this video, Bruce shares ideas for both big and small ways that we can all promote accessibility and provide a more welcoming environment to those with abilities that might be different from our own.
Getting out in the backcountry is one of the most unique and beautiful ways to experience the awe of National Forests. With increasing numbers of visitors exploring these remote areas, safety and preparedness are more important than ever. Allison Hartz, Board Member from the Central Oregon Avalanche Center, shares in this video ways to stay safe, avoid injury and prevent the need for search and rescue efforts.
With more and more people visiting our caves, trailheads and visitor facilities, we are seeing an increase in vandalism. In this video, Dave Nissen of Wanderlust Tours shares why it’s so important to leave our forests as we found them, and ideas for what you can do if you see vandalism taking place.
Perfect trail condition days come along often here in Central Oregon. We all have our favorite trails – and during the busy summer months, it can feel like they happen to be everyone else’s favorite trails too. Lev Stryker, owner of Cog Wild, shares some tips for finding space, planning ahead and being prepared
In this video Dan McGarigle, owner of Pine Mountain Sports, talks about the importance of practicing respect on our Public Lands. From sharing trails with others to appreciating wildlife from a distance, being welcoming and respectful to those who we share our outdoor spaces with is vital. If we all work together, we can build an inclusive outdoor space where everyone is safe and welcome.
Toni Toreno, local photographer and owner of Bend Photo Tours is here to talk about litter. Everyone knows that litter isn’t pretty, but more importantly, it’s dangerous! Human trash can dramatically change and harm the ecosystems that we are visiting. To keep our wild places beautiful, a little effort from all of us can go a long way.
Did you know that hiking off trail can lead to trampled vegetation, harmed ecosystems and soil erosion? Taking care of Central Oregon’s trails is in everyone’s best interest. Executive Director of the Deschutes Trails Coalition, Danielle MacBain, talks to us about trail etiquette and how to be prepared before your adventure begins.
Over the last five years, people have flocked to the Central Cascades wilderness areas. Some trails have had visitation levels increase 300 to 500 percent. To keep these wildernesses “wild” the United States Forest Service has implemented a wilderness permit system. To learn more about how the new Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System works watch this video.