2026 Desert 100

[Ridea200]

April 11-12 in Odessa, Wa.

[Chuck78]

I wish I could make it out to the PNW for any kind of riding event, but this one has me curious, desert in Washington state????

[Chuck78]

but this one has me curious, desert in Washington state????

AI search results do occasionally provide me with accurate, believable information, (although not usually on technical questions!), & this is one of them... Interesting!

Yes, there is a high desert region in Eastern Washington, characterized by shrub-steppe, sagebrush flats, and basalt coulees, which exists right near Odessa. The area surrounding Odessa is part of the Channeled Scablands, featuring arid landscapes like the Lakeview Ranch area, with more significant sandy desert areas located near Moses Lake to the west.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (.gov)

Near Odessa: Lakeview Ranch, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), lies just outside Odessa, offering hiking through sagebrush flats, coulees, and basalt cliffs.

The "Desert" Region: A large, 35,000+ acre "Desert Wildlife Area" unit exists southwest of Moses Lake (a short drive from Odessa), featuring sand dunes, wetlands, and shrub-steppe.

Landscape Type: This region is considered part of the Columbia Plateau, known as a cold high desert or shrub-steppe, which is dry, with hot summers and cold winters.


Other Desert Areas: The "Juniper Dunes Wilderness" near Pasco is another notable, albeit more remote, desert area with sand dunes

I learned something new this morning!
The PNW always has a strong allure to it for me. The temperate coastal region climate, denee lush forests, coastal and inland mountains... It's on my bucket list.
Thanks for sharing!