ORBDR Route Updates
Updated September 4, 2025
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Visit the official ORBDR Facebook Group page for ride reports, photos, and discussions with other riders in your area HERE
Sections 1-3: High Fire Danger – Travel Restrictions now Imposed
With extreme heat in southern Oregon, travel restrictions around Hart Mountain Refuge and Lakeview BLM may be imposed during the summer.
Please do your part to keep wild landscapes and rural communities safe from fire!
Remember you can be held financially liable for wildfire ignition, even if accidental. Know the risks and act accordingly.
- Avoid Dry Grass: Never park, drive, or idle on dry grass or brush, especially during the hot, dry months.
- Carry a Fire Extinguisher in your vehicle and know how to use it.
- Stay on Established Routes & Roads: This is especially important in hot and dry conditions.
- Tow Responsibly: Prevent metal tow chains or car parts from dragging and throwing sparks.
- Mind Your Butts: Make sure to avoid smoking, dropping ash or butts in vegetated areas.
During periods of extreme fire risk, there are specific requirements you must follow.
- When In Place, Respect Fire Restrictions HERE
- Campfires: Campfires may be completely prohibited during the summer and fall.
- Route Choice: During periods of high fire danger, driving on roads with a vegetated center strip may be prohibited.
- Fire-prevention Supplies: Seasonal restrictions may require each vehicle to carry a shovel and gallon of water.
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All motorized vehicles – including vehicles and ORUVs and motorcycles – must comply with the attached Public Use Restriction regulations while operating on Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon and Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada. The restrictions apply to all Lakeview District Bureau of Land Management administered lands as well (Lakeview Interagency Fire Center (scofmp.org)). Failure to comply may result in civil or criminal penalties.
Conditions in this part of the state are Extreme and risk to wildfire is significant.
- Click HERE to learn more about current closures and restrictions/requirements.
- See attached Public Use Restrictions (PUR) sheet for rules and regulations.
- We realize it would be nearly impossible for a motorcycle to meet these requirements.
- As such, Sections 1-3 of the ORBDR may be considered CLOSED during periods of high fire danger to protect this fragile landscape in a critical time.
- Riders should consider starting in Sunriver.
September 4, 2025
Section 1: Closures for Herbicide Spraying
The Hart Mtn Wildlife Refuge is conducting aerial herbicide application and intermittent closures may be in effect from September 8th – November 15th
- Riders are urged to visit the website and call the Refuge staff before their trip to see if closures will be in place that day along Hart Mtn Road.
Fall 2025 Closure Areas for Aerial Herbicide Application to Combat Invasive Grasses
From September 8th – November 15th, the Refuge will temporarily be closing areas for aerial herbicide application by a fixed-winged aircraft. Before entering spray areas, please confirm that no active herbicide application will be taking place for your safety and for the safety of the pilots. For updated information on active spray areas, please stop by our visitor center, check our website, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hart-mountain-national-antelope, or contact Refuge staff (*see contacts below).
Look for new weekly updates during these days on the website for locations the pilots are expecting to fly over to avoid that region while recreating. Signs will be posted at the entrance of the refuge, the visitor center, and in the campgrounds.
The targeted lands that are being rehabilitated for habitat improvement are in the fire scars from the Poker Fire (2019, 3,789 acres), Warner Peak Fire (2024, 45,612 acres), and Black Canyon (2025, 1,656 acres). These aerial herbicide applications are applied to decrease the spread of invasive annual grasses, reduce wildfire threat, and facilitate fire recovery across about 51,000 acres of lands managed by the USFWS.
Refuge Contacts
LP Mancini, Invasive Species Biologist, 541-576-9780
Josh Loew, Refuge Manager, 541-576-9547
Jamie Bertram, Visitor Services, 541-576-9551
Further Information about Treatment
This fall, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will conduct aerial herbicide applications to decrease the spread of invasive annual grasses, reduce wildfire threat, and facilitate fire recovery across about 51,000 acres of lands managed by the USFWS. The treatments will target burned areas, including those burned by the Poker Fire in 2019, Warner Peak Fire in 2024, and Black Canyon Fire in 2025. For recent fires, such as the Warner Peak Fire and Black Canyon Fire, these treatments are part of an Emergency Stabilization plan facilitating the recovery of native plant communities by suppressing invasive annuals, particularly cheatgrass. In addition to supporting fire recovery, these projects improve wildlife habitat by restoring native plants and reducing fuels that increase wildfire threat to nearby communities.
These treatments target invasive species such as cheatgrass, medusahead rye, and North Africa grass, which can outcompete native vegetation and lead to grass-dominated landscapes more vulnerable to wildfires.
The herbicides planned for use include Imazapic (e.g., Plateau®), a pre-emergent, selective herbicide, and indaziflam (e.g., Rejuvra®), a non-selective, pre-emergent herbicide. These herbicides will be used individually, or tank-mixed, depending on site conditions. Established native perennial grasses and forbs are dormant this time of year and generally unaffected by these applications.
Signs will be posted at Refuge entrances, the Visitor Center, campgrounds, and the Plush store. The USFWS encourages the public to avoid traveling through areas during active operations to allow crews to complete treatments safely and efficiently.
August 18, 2025
Use Caution: Barbed Wire Fences
There has been a recent report of closed, unmarked, and unexpected barbed wire fences that can cause potential accidents, specifically reported for Section 2.
- An updated version of the June2025 tracks has been posted with a new ‘caution’ waypoint. This signifies one know possible fence, there may be others in this region.
- Although ranch fences and gates are often marked, sometimes they are not and can be very difficult to see. Always ride slowly in these ares and pay attention for unexpected gates or wire fences.
See attached screenshot for reference.
Purchase the official map for the ORBDR HERE
Always download the latest version of the GPS tracks just before you go HERE
June 23, 2025
New Tracks Available for Download
A new version of the ORBDR is available labeled ORBDR-June2025
This update includes a few minor refinements and a few new updates:
SECTION 3:
- A revision has been made to the tracks at the end of Section 3 to avoid a permanent forest road closure. See attached screenshot for reference.
SECTION 7:
- A revision has been made to the tracks to add a portion of the historic Barlow Road which was an intended portion of this route and has finally reopened.
Purchase the official ORBDR map HERE
Always download the latest version of the GPS tracks just before you go HERE
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