North Bank Habitat Management Area | Oregon

Welcome to the North Bank Habitat Management Area (NBHMA). NBHMA provides visitors with opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding along extensive roads and trails. The area features diverse landscapes, including creeks, ridgelines, oak-savannah woodlands, and forested canyons, which offer numerous scenic views. There are two main access points to NBHMA: the Comstock Day-Use Area (east Main Entrance) includes amenities such as a pavilion, picnic tables, barbecue grill, and vault toilet, while the West Entrance Day-Use Area also offers picnic tables and a vault toilet, in addition to direct trailhead access.

Formerly known as the Dunning Ranch, the NBHMA was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1994 through a land exchange to secure habitat for the federally endangered (at the time) Columbian white-tailed deer (CWTD). The property encompasses 6,581 acres located northeast of Roseburg, Oregon. Recognizing its importance as habitat for CWTD, Koehler’s rockcress, and red root yampah, 6,221 acres were designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), with timber production emphasized on the remaining 360 acres (USDI-BLM 2000). In addition to CWTD, visitors may observe other species including Columbian black-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, black bear, numerous bird species such as purple martin and great gray owl, several reptiles including the northern alligator lizard, western skink, northwestern garter snake, and western rattlesnake, amphibians such as the yellow-legged frog, as well as the federally endangered rough popcornflower.

Visitor Guidelines

The NBHMA supports many types of recreation, and visitors may encounter hikers, bikers, horseback riders, hunters, and other users throughout the year. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, visitors are encouraged to be respectful, remain aware of their surroundings, and follow all posted guidance. 

Maintain safe distances, be aware of your direction and activity, and avoid actions that could affect high use areas. Follow yielding practices: hikers yield to horses, bikes yield to hikers and horses, and downhill riders yield to uphill riders. When meeting someone on the trail, communicate and ask the safest way to pass, especially around horses. Call out a friendly greeting when you see an equestrian and keep your distance as horses can startle easily. 

Owners are expected to leash dogs and pick up after their pets. Leashed dogs reduce disturbance to wildlife, protect sensitive habitats, and help prevent conflicts with other visitors. 

Good trail etiquette supports safety and resource protection. These practices help ensure safe, welcoming, and memorable experiences on the NBHMA.

Know Before You Go

• BLM host on duty at main entrance.
• Main entrance gate hours: Open Friday through Monday, 8am to 8pm.
  • Seasonal Restriction: Closed to vehicles June 1–July 15 for deer fawning season. Non-motorized access (foot, bike, horse) remains open.
• West Entrance: Can accommodate 4-5 horse trailers or 10 vehicles, and has a small Informational kiosk.
• Comstock Day-Use Area: Can accommodate 6-8 horse trailers and 8 vehicles.
• There is no potable water at North Bank so be sure to bring your own.
• North Bank is closed to unauthorized motorized use.
• Hunting is a popular activity in spring and fall. Use caution if recreating during these times of the year.

Hunting Opportunities

The NBHMA offers regulated hunting opportunities. Game bird hunting is permitted during specific seasons, with bag limits set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). However, it is unlawful to hunt or trap furbearing or unprotected mammals within NBHMA (ODFW, n.d., OAR 635-050-0210). Big game hunting is allowed through controlled hunts, restricted to hunters who have an area-specific controlled hunt tag. Baiting game mammals on NBHMA is not allowed (ODFW, n.d., OAR 635-065-0625). For further information regarding hunting, please call the ODFW at 541-440-3353.