Unit 50 Desolation
High, timbered Elkhorn-and-Greenhorn wilderness unit — 87% public, a difficult but genuine backcountry bull-elk and summer mule deer hunt.
Blue Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
670
sq mi
Public land
87%
approx.
Elevation
3,400–8,100
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Desolation Unit (Unit 50) sits in the heart of Oregon's Blue Mountains straddling Grant, Umatilla, and Baker counties, running from Dale on US 395 southeast along the North Fork John Day River and up into the Greenhorn and Elkhorn ranges. It is one of the most public units in the state at roughly 87 percent, dominated by the Umatilla and Malheur National Forests and the North Fork John Day Wilderness, with Prineville BLM and Oregon Dept of Forestry parcels mixed in. The country is high, steep, and heavily timbered, holding Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer (largely summer range), black bear, cougar, and even mountain goat and bighorn in the high rock. Rifle and archery hunters take respectable 5x5 and 6x6 bulls each fall, but the terrain and limited roads keep success honest.
Terrain
Mountainous, heavily timbered Blue Mountains country. River canyons along the North Fork John Day near 3,400 feet climb into the Greenhorn Mountains (Vinegar Hill ~8,100 ft) and the western flank of the Elkhorns. Much of the high core lies within the North Fork John Day Wilderness, roadless and rugged.
Cover: Mixed-conifer forest of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, grand fir, western larch, and lodgepole, with subalpine fir and whitebark near the peaks. Open ridgetop meadows, huckleberry fields, riparian stringers, and old burns and logged units break the timber and provide the feed and edge that concentrate elk and deer.
Landmarks: North Fork John Day River · North Fork John Day Wilderness · Greenhorn Mountains / Vinegar Hill · Elkhorn Mountains (western flank) · Granite and the old mining district · Desolation Creek
Access
One of Oregon's most public units at ~87 percent, so access is rarely the limiting factor — effort and terrain are. Forest roads reach much of the unit, but the North Fork John Day Wilderness core is closed to motorized travel and demands foot or stock access. Respect seasonal road closures and travel-management restrictions on USFS ground. ODFW John Day office: 541-575-1167.
Managers: USFS - Umatilla National Forest, USFS - Malheur National Forest, BLM - Prineville District, Oregon Department of Forestry
Access points: US 395 corridor at Dale (north boundary) · North Fork John Day River road system · Granite and Forest Road 73 (Blue Mountain Scenic Byway) · Ukiah-Granite Road / Forest Road 52 · North Fork John Day Wilderness trailheads (foot/stock)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe unit's signature hunt. Herds hold in the timbered high country and wilderness, and hunters take a good number of mature 5x5 and 6x6 bulls each year. Success is tempered by steep, roadless terrain that keeps elk in security cover.
- →Hunt the timbered benches and north-slope security cover adjacent to meadows and old cuts
- →Be willing to hike into the North Fork John Day Wilderness where road-hunting pressure drops off
- →Glass ridgetop parks and huckleberry openings at first and last light
- →During archery, work wallows and springs in the high timber and call in the security stuff
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe Desolation is primarily summer and early-fall mule deer range; most deer drop to lower winter range outside the unit, so populations counted in winter understate what is present during hunting seasons. Bucks are available for hunters who climb into the high open country.
- →Glass high ridgeline meadows, burns, and timber edges at dawn and dusk
- →Focus on open parks and rocky benches above the timber where bucks summer
- →Still-hunt timber pockets and creek heads midday
- →Get high early in the season before weather pushes deer off the unit
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are well distributed through the timbered drainages and berry country, with a spring hunt and fall opportunity while chasing elk and deer.
- →Glass green south-facing slopes and old logged units in spring
- →Hunt huckleberry fields and riparian brush in late summer and fall
- →Watch open meadows and burn edges at dawn and dusk
Cougar
common opportunityCougar range throughout the unit's deer and elk country and may be taken on a general tag while pursuing other game.
- →Cut fresh tracks on snow along forest roads and ridgelines
- →Hunt where deer and elk concentrate
- →Call near rimrock and canyon breaks in winter
Pro tips
- →The wilderness core is the unit's ace — a backpack or stock trip past the road-hunt zone puts you on less-pressured bulls
- →Because deer are mostly on summer range, hunt them high and early rather than expecting valley concentrations
- →Learn the USFS travel-management map; open vs. closed roads dictate where pressure falls
- →Old burns and logged units are elk and bear magnets — mark and hunt the regrowth edges
- →Have a plan to get animals out of steep, roadless country before you pull the trigger
Watch out for
- !Steep, timbered, roadless terrain makes both hunting and packing out physically demanding
- !North Fork John Day Wilderness is closed to motorized and mechanized travel — know the boundary
- !Early snowstorms can close high roads and strand rigs
- !Scattered private and mining inholdings near Granite and the river — verify boundaries
- !Remote unit with no cell service; carry navigation and communication backup
Logistics
Remote, high-country unit with limited services — fuel up and stock groceries in John Day, Ukiah, or Baker City before heading in. Dispersed camping on the national forests is the norm; developed sites cluster near Granite and along the North Fork John Day. Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent in the interior and wilderness.
Nearest towns: Dale, Ukiah, Granite, Long Creek, John Day, Sumpter
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Oregon sources:
Research sources: ODFW Desolation Unit 50 · USFS North Fork John Day Wilderness / Umatilla NF · GoHunt Oregon Unit 50 Desolation profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 50 in Oregon?
- Unit 50 (Desolation) covers about 670 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,400 to 8,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 50?
- Approximately 87% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS - Umatilla National Forest, USFS - Malheur National Forest, BLM - Prineville District, Oregon Department of Forestry. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 50?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Oregon agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 50 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.