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The photo at left shows a typical view seen along the Ancient Junipers Trail of sandy ground dominated by western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and rabbitbrush. Horse Ridge is the high ridge in the distance. The photo at right shows sand lilies (Leucorinum montanum) blooming along the Ancient Junipers Trail..........May 12, 2018.
Directions:
Drive east of Bend on US Highway 20 for about 16 miles. Turn left (north) into the Flatiron Rock trailhead. No restrooms, no water, no picnic tables. No fee. Pleas pack out dog wastes and trash and bury human wastes. Stay on the trails to help preserve spring wildflowers that will be dormant and not visible in the sandy soils between the shrubs the rest of the year. If the weather is hot, bring plenty of water.
From the parking lot, head east a short distance to the signed trailhead. The Ancient Junipers Trail proceeds to the left (north) from this trailhead while the Flatiron Rock Trail proceeds to the right (east and quickly to the north). By itself, the Ancient Junipers Trail is about 1.9 miles long with some elevation gain (perhaps 75'). The trail varies from loose sand to hard rock and it passes through stands of approximately 1000 year old western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). The trail undulates up and down through the juniper forest, with views north towards Gray Butte and Pine Mt. to the north, Pine Mt. (with the obervatory at its summit) to the southeast, and Horse Ridge to the south.
At its north end, the Ancient Junipers Trail joins the Flatiron Rock Trail which can then be walked back to the trailhead for a hike of about 3.25 miles.
Wildflowers:
From mid- May to mid-June, expect the following in bloom along the trails here:
Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), woollypod milkvetch (Astragalus purshii var. lagopinus), dustymaidens (Chaenactis douglasii var. douglasii), anderson's larkspur (Delphinium andersonii), yellow desert fleabane (Erigeron linearis), cushion buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium), strict buckwheat (Eriogonum strictum var. anserinum), rough wallflower (Erysimum capitatum), mission bells (Fritillaria atropurpurea), sand lily (Leucorinum montanum), woolly groundsel (Packera cana), threadleaf phacelia (Phacelia linearis), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), and showy townsendia (Townsendia florifer). The gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) and green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus) and sagebrush will late summer and early fall color.
Plant Lists:
Partial Flora of the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, Horse Ridge RNA, Sand Ridge & Millican Valley
May 12, 2018: Wildflowers of the Ancient Junipers and Flatiron Rock Trails (Oregon Badlands Wilderness)