Alvord Desert, Oregon – Northwest Wildflowers

Wildflower Destinations > Southeastern Oregon

Alvord Desert

Harney County, Oregon

Bureau of Land Management

Fees: none

Activity: drive + walking

Elevation: 4000'-4400'

Current status (as of 2/22/25): not blooming

Notes: First things first: The Alvord Desert itself does not have any wildflowers in it; it's a barren playa covered in tire tracks. But a lot of the surrounding areas in the dry, salty rain shadow of Steens Mountain have some interesting desert wildflowers — mostly small ephemeral stuff that you have to look closely for. Bring lots of water, and keep an eye out for horned lizards.

Peak wildflower bloom at Alvord Desert is typically from early May through late June, but there may be some flowers blooming from late April until early July.*

Typical year:

Info links:

Photo albums: 2022

NWS weather forecast

Wildflowers in this area:

WildflowerSearch.org

iNaturalist observations

Consortium of PNW Herbaria

Featured plants: Ionactis alpina, Calochortus bruneaunis, Lupinus brevicaulis, Chylismia claviformis, Gilia

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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.