Pauline + Trenton – An Alvord Desert Adventure Engagement
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you landed on another planet—without leaving Oregon—the Alvord Desert might be your place. It’s flat, cracked, weirdly beautiful, and somehow manages to be dramatic and peaceful all at once. Basically, it’s the perfect spot for an adventure engagement session that’s anything but basic.
Imagine twirling barefoot across a dry lakebed, watching the light change over Steens Mountain, and cuddling up with your person as the stars come out in full force. Whether you’re into jaw-dropping scenery, wild wide-open skies, or just want something totally unique for your engagement photos, the Alvord delivers big-time desert magic.
Land Acknowledgement
This dreamy, remote corner of Oregon sits on the traditional homelands of the Northern Paiute people. They’ve lived here for thousands of years—long before Instagram discovered the beauty of the Alvord—and their deep connection to the land continues through the Burns Paiute Tribe today.
When we adventure, photograph, or simply exist in these landscapes, it’s important to remember who came before us. Acknowledging Indigenous stewardship is more than a footnote—it’s part of showing up with respect and intention. So let’s tread lightly, stay humble, and carry gratitude for the people who’ve cared for this place for generations.
Where is the Alvord Desert?
Ok, so, it’s way the f**k out there. Let’s be honest. It’s about a 4 hours drive from Bend, through some pretty remote sections of the Oregon Desert.
The unique landscape is a product of some interesting geology… (I think most geology is interesting, though…)
Let’s get nerdy for a second. The Alvord Desert is actually the dried-up remains of a prehistoric lake—kind of like Oregon’s version of the Bonneville Salt Flats, just with fewer tourists and more sagebrushy around the perimeter.
Today it’s a playa (that’s a fancy word for “dry lakebed”), and it stays cracked and crunchy most of the year unless there’s a rare rain that turns it into a giant mirror.
Looming just to the west is Steens Mountain, which looks like someone tilted a mountain sideways and called it a day. It’s one of the largest fault-block mountains in the country, and if you’re into geology (or just dramatic backdrops), it’s a dream.
Glaciers once carved the bejeezus out of its ridges and canyons, so now you’ve got these sweeping alpine views towering over the high desert floor. Translation: it’s a photographer’s paradise.
If you reach waaaay back, into your sixth grade Earth Science class, you might remember something called the “rainshadow effect.” This is where clouds and precipitation largely get stuck (so to speak) on mountains, and dump most of their precipitation on the slopes closer to the ocean– in the case of Oregon, the Western slopes.
The Cascades create a rainshadow, which is largely why Eastern Oregon is so much drier… Steens Mountain creates a second little rain-catcher for moisture that manages to reach inland. The Alvord Desert is directly east of Steens Mountain, so yeah… there’s a geology lesson that you didn’t ask for…
Arriving Early – Scouting and setting up camp
Pauline and Trenton put a ton of trust in me to plan this thing. First of all, who the heck knows their way around the Alvord? And second, how are we going to communicate out there? It’s so remote…
Well, I’ve got a bit of an advantage. I used to live out in Burns, OR, which is the nearest sizable town. I moved there in the middle of COVID, and before I could start my job as an ecological field tech, I had to quarantine in Harney County for 2 weeks. Luckily, Harney County is enormous, and so I just camped and played in the wilderness.
I spent a week camping up at Pike Creek, which overlooks the playa. It backs up against the eastern slopes of the Steens, which are far more rugged than the western slopes.
When Pauline and Trenton asked me for recommendations with desert and possibly mountains too, I was stoked they chose this spot.
I drove out a day early to refamiliarize myself, but made sure to give excellent directions and instructions. I had no idea when they were going to ultimately arrive, so I woke up early to scout our sunrise hike spot, then chilled by the car. I wanted to intercept them on the road so they wouldn’t have to roam around looking for me… again, it’s VERY remote.
Even in the desolate-seeming landscape surrounding a dry, cracked lakebed, the area teemed with life. The early mornings filled with the winnowing calls of the Wilson’s Snipe, and the hollering of cranes. I enjoyed the solitude while getting camp all set up for Pauline and Trenton’s arrival.
Day One – Playing on the Playa
Once they arrived, it was still midday. Not ideal temperatures, not ideal light. We chilled in hammocks by the creek and climbed around on rocks, waiting for the sun to drop a bit lower in the sky.
The evening was our time to go play on the playa. It is a seriously crazy landscape. There are access points that you can take a car through… just drivin’ all around. I want to go back with a bicycle and pedal all over… I think that’d be so much fun.
Pauline and Trenton frolicked and played with their dog, Wally. Spent some tender moments together in the rabbitbrush and sagebrush along the lakeshore.
Day Two – Sunrise hike
I do love a sunrise hike.
My normal life functions do not naturally wake me up for many sunrises, but when there’s a vista on the menu, I wake up.
In the cold, morning desert air, we trudged up the hillside where I’d seen a herd of bighorn sheep a year before. We watched as the sun peaked over the hills waaaay across the valley.
Alvord Desert Elopement Photographer
As an elopement photographer who specializes in off-the-beaten-path locations, I have to say: Eastern Oregon is one of the most underrated landscapes on the West Coast. The Alvord Desert, in particular, is unlike anywhere else in the state—or even the country. Wide open skies, a cracked playa that stretches for miles, and the dramatic backdrop of the Steens Mountain make it feel more like another planet than just another Oregon elopement spot.
My background in outdoor education and backcountry guiding means I don’t just show up with a camera—I help you plan an entire experience that feels true to you. Whether that means camping under the stars, soaking in nearby hot springs, or simply running barefoot across the playa at golden hour, I’m here to make sure your Alvord Desert elopement is safe, seamless, and stunning.
If you’re dreaming of an intimate, adventurous wedding in a place that feels truly wild—I’m your person. I’ll help you navigate everything from when the playa is dry enough to access, to how to handle the wind, to the best stargazing spots for a late-night toast. Let’s plan something unforgettable in the heart of Oregon’s high desert.
Planning an elopement can be overwhelming– perhaps not AS overwhelming as a traditional wedding, but still. When it comes time to embark upon that journey, I’d be honored to be your guide. Likewise, I’d be happy to just answer any questions you have about eloping in Oregon.
Here’s some more resources to aid you in your planning efforts:
Best Spots on the Oregon Coast
How to elope in the Columbia River Gorge
How to elope at Smith Rock (Oregon’s desert gem)
Untraditional elopement at Wahclella Falls
Get in touch here, and let’s start dreaming together.
