Sherman County is the only county in Oregon without natural forestation. The landscape is defined by rolling hills and steep narrow canyons. Elevation ranges from 185 feet above sea level along the Columbia River to 3,600 feet on the highlands in the south. The county experiences 4 distinct seasons. Winters are generally mild with heavy snowfall rare.
Summers are warm and dry.
Annual temperatures may range from below zero to over 100 degrees, but extremes are seldom prolonged. Situated in the rain shadow transition zone between the Cascade Mountain Range and the Oregon High Desert, the area experiences frequent windy days. Biggs Junction and Kent comprise the two unincorporated areas. Interestingly, each of the towns is about 9 miles apart, the distance a team and wagon would have traveled between water stops. However, in the 1870 s stockmen returned to take advantage of the abundant bunchgrasses.