Black Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern

The rocky outcrops that define the Black Hills Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC) are all that remains of an eroded dome of volcanic tuff, formed 4-7 million years ago near today's Christmas Valley, Oregon. Covered with hardy, low-growing plants, this high desert ecosystem hosts three BLM Special Status Species of plants: Cusick’s buckwheat, Warner Mountain bedstraw, and snowline cymopterus. The site offers great hiking, wildflower hunting, photography, and wildlife viewing. Watch for bobcats, coyotes, golden eagles, pronghorn antelope, and many other large and small mammals, birds, and reptiles who call the Black Hills home.

Know Before You Go

• Open season: Black Hills ACEC is open YEAR ROUND.
• Day use only.
• The access road should only be used by 4-wheel drive vehicles.
• No water or restrooms available.
• No camping allowed.
• Rock and boulder climbing and rappelling are PROHIBITED.
• The area is closed to wood and plant collecting, though scientific plant collection and research permits are available at the Lakeview BLM Office.
• The nearest services are in Christmas Valley, Oregon.

Point of Interest

The Black Hills interpretive site is a popular starting point for day hiking and photography. Accessible by foot or 4WD vehicle, it includes a parking area, fencing, and an interpretive sign.

From Christmas Valley, Oregon, take County Road 5-14F south. When the main roads turns west, continue south on the dirt road to the sign at the north edge of the site. To enter the site, turn east (left) and travel for .25 mile, then turn south up a rough jeep trail to the visitor information sign. This road should only be used by 4-wheel drive vehicles.