Cattle ranches, public land and a reservation surround rural Burns
The residential areas in Burns are surrounded by cattle ranches and farms, as is its southern neighbor, Hines. Combined, the two communities are home to around 60% of Harney County residents, which is larger than six U.S. states in comparison. Outside of both Burns and Hines, there's plenty of open land and rugged hills. “Natural recreation is really what brings people out. Seventy percent of our county is public land. If it falls under outdoor recreation, we have it here,” says Jess Hedges, the Executive Director of the Harney Chamber of Commerce. “What ties this community together is the landscape.” Burns is also immediately south of the Burns Paiute Reservation, home to about 150 members of the Burns Paiute Tribe. “They’re part of our community. They have major partnerships with the cities and the county,” Hedges says. “They’re involved in the schools, education and healthcare.”
Cottages from the 1900s with storage sheds, and farms on acreage
Cottages built throughout the 1900s hide from the sun in the shade of leafy, mature trees. Sidewalks become more common closer to the central stretch of town. Only two homes sold in 2024, with prices ranging from $70,000, for a mobile home with land, to roughly $265,000 for a three-bedroom cottage on a roughly quarter-acre lot. In Burns, lots often come with space for storage sheds and workshops. Farms with between 18 and 440 acres are generally listed for sale at prices ranging from $50,000 to $375,000, with a few much larger farms listed in the seven-figure range.
The CAP Index Crime Score in Burns is 2 out of 10; compared to the national average of 4. Additionally, homes near water may be at a risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
City parks and a converted railroad trail between Burns and Hines
The cities of Burns and Hines maintain several green spaces in the area. East of downtown Burns, picnic tables with their own shaded structures are scattered around a playground in Washington Park. Hines City Park is divided into four quadrants by U.S. Route 20 and Barnes Avenue: one with a soccer field, another with a skate park, a third with several play sets and the fourth containing Hines City Hall. The Burns-Hines Nature Trail, also known as the Harney Wildlife Parkway, is a railroad-bed-turned-trail that runs for more than 2 miles between the two towns, passing a set of wastewater treatment ponds. Parkgoers can observe aquatic bird species while there, including diving ducks and grebes.
Burns’ annual Migratory Bird Festival
Birdwatching is a popular pastime in Burns, particularly when the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival kicks off for the spring migration season. The multi-day event includes bird identification workshops and presentations and tours, among other programming. “Thousands of people come to town for it,” Hedges says.
Food trucks, local restaurants and minimal grocery shopping in Burns
The main stretch of downtown Burns is located along U.S. Route 20, and The Palace is one of its most happening stops. A collective of local retailers, businesses, food carts and a bar with margaritas on tap, the industrial-style food hall has colorful murals, both inside and out. A variety of cuisines — from tacos to Mongolian fusion — can be enjoyed on its patio, which hosts live music from time to time. Across the street, El Toreo Mexican Restaurant serves classics from south of the border, while robust burgers and steaks are served to roomy leather booths at The Pine Room. A Safeway is also nearby.
“We don’t have a Walmart or a Costco in the community, and it’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive to communities that have those, so we are self-contained,” Hedges says. “Some people decide that if the stores in Burns don’t have it, they don’t need it,” she says. For those that do, they will typically travel to larger cities, like Bend.
Football state championship contenders at Burns High School
Children may start their educational journeys at Slater Elementary School and Hines Middle School before concluding at Burns High School. Niche ranks all three schools with C-plus grades. High school students may choose from various extracurricular activities — like the science club or Future Farmers of America — as well as the opportunity to join or tryout for 10 athletic teams, including golf, wrestling and football. In 2024, the Burns Hilanders football team represented the Eastern Oregon League in the state championship game.
United States Route 20 connects Burns to Bend and Boise
Route 20 connects Burns with Hines and leads to other nearby metro areas. It continues west for about 130 miles to Bend and east to Boise, which is roughly 190 miles away. The Harney Hub Transit system maintains a deviated bus route between Burns and Hines. POINT’s long-distance bus service runs from Ontario to Burns and continues west to Bend. Direct flights to cities across the Western United States are available at the Redmond Municipal Airport, about 140 miles away.
