While Malheur National Wildlife Refuge gained national notoriety for its armed occupation in 2016, Central Oregon bird watchers know a Malheur of a different feather. A national birding destination, Malheur is located 150 miles east of Bend in Harney County near Burns. During the spring and summer, the refuge plays host more than 320 species of birds, such as the white-faced ibis, Forster’s tern and the burrowing owl.

Founded in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, Malheur, then called the “Lake Malheur Reservation,” was the 19th of 51 wildlife refuges the conservation-minded president carved out for future generations to enjoy. The refuge now spans nearly 190,000 acres.

Contact: 36391 Sodhouse Lane, Princeton; (541) 493-2612 or www.fws.gov/refuge/malheur/

No. 2: Shevlin Park

No. 3: Crane Prairie Resort & RV park

Honorable mentions: Drake Park and Tetherow