Andrews/Steens Field Office

The Andrews/Steens Resource Area within the Bureau of Land Management’s Burns District in southeastern Oregon is a vast and striking expanse of high desert and rugged mountain terrain managed for multiple uses, conservation, and recreation. Encompassing roughly 1.68 million acres of BLM-administered land, this southern portion of the Burns District includes both the broader Andrews Management Unit and the iconic Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (CMPA). The landscape here is dramatically varied, from sagebrush-covered basins and rolling rangelands to the towering fault block of Steens Mountain, whose steep slopes and glacier-carved gorges rank among Oregon’s most spectacular natural features. Within the CMPA are deep canyons, designated wilderness areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers like the Donner und Blitzen and its tributaries, and rich habitats supporting elk, pronghorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, wild horses, and diverse plant communities. The region offers solitude and wide-open spaces, with recreational opportunities ranging from hiking, horseback riding, camping, and wildlife viewing to fishing, hunting, and scenic driving along the Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway. Management goals balance sustaining ecological integrity, protecting cultural and natural resources, and providing public access for enjoyment and traditional uses.