Willamette Week The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. Hike of the Week: The Oregon Badlands Are Vast, Desolate and Stunningly Beautiful The fact that it’s so still and quiet makes it all the more exciting when a jackrabbit suddenly darts across the trail, or a golden eagle passes overhead. Chimney Rock in Oregon Badlands. IMAGE: Shannon Gormley. Updated April 15 at 10:42 PM There are few places left in this state that feel as solitary as the Oregon Badlands. Out in the heart of the wilderness area’s 45 square miles, it’s possible you won’t come across any other hikers. Even in spring—the ideal time to visit a landscape that’s snowy in the winter and blisteringly hot in the summer—the trailheads are almost never crowded.