The Steens Mountain is a large fault-block mountain located in southeastern Oregon. It runs north to south for about 50 miles. To its east is the Alvord Desert at 4,200 feet in elevation. The summit of the Steens is 9,733 feet and is the highest drivable road in Oregon. The Steens Mountain is surrounded by The Steens Mountain Wilderness which is 170,166 acres.

The painted hills look like a scene out of a cross between a fairy tale and a Mad Max movie. This possibly are could have been what would be dreamed up as a landscape for that unique cross. Located in Central Oregon near the John Day fossil beds the Painted Hills got their name from the stratification of the layers visible from 360 degrees around. The Painted Hills are one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon.