EXPLORE NEW TRAILS IN THE CROOKED RIVER CANYON
If you're not going skiing, you might try a new eastside hike to burn off that sweet corn pudding. The BLM has just completed three new trails in a system beyond Crooked River Ranch near Terrebonne - less than a one-hour drive from Bend.The hiker-only trails (Scout Camp, Pink and Lone Pine) into the deep canyons are narrow, with uneven footing, while the Otter Bench and Opal Canyon trails are much easier and thus for hikers, mountain bikes and horses.
"The weather in these canyons is milder than Bend and usually5-10 degrees warmer, so they often provide a lovely hike, even when Bend is blustery. The river, canyon, and mountain views are stunning," said trails specialist John Schubert.
"The project has been a gratifying, if complex, collaboration among the BLM, Forest Service, ODF&W, and Crooked River Ranch residents. The labor has been provided by BLM, Northwest Youth Corps, COIC alternative high school, numerous great volunteers including some from ONDA, and especially, Forest Service road and trail crews. The BLM budget and an Obama stimulus grant have provided the funding. Native plants were provided by Clearwater Natives and Debra Burke of Wild & Scenic Nursery."
Restoration work in these areas is making a huge difference. If you'd like to help with restoration on Friday December 4,please contact Jefferson Jacobs of ONDA at[email protected] or call 330-2638, or e-mail John Schubert at [email protected] to get on a list for future volunteer opportunities.
Directions to Otter Bench Trailhead from Bend:
Travel north on Highway 97 approximately 24 miles, through Redmond and Terrebonne. Just north of Terrebonne, turn left on to Lower Bridge Road (Sign with left arrow says "Crooked River Ranch").
Go 2 miles and turn right on 43rd St.
Go 1.7 miles and turn left on Chinook Dr.
After 5 miles, go straight on to Horny Hollow Rd.
Go 1.7 miles and park at the end.
From the trailhead, the Lone Pine Trail heads northeast down into the inner Crooked River Gorge to the river in 0.75 miles. The Otter Bench Trail heads west 2.5 miles along the side slope with nice views of the canyon. At the end of the Otter Bench Trail you can descend on Pink Trail 0.75 miles to a lovely spot along the Crooked River or continue out to the three-mile Opal Canyon loop.
Directions to Scout Camp Trailhead from Bend:
Same as above up to Chinook Drive. But after 2.3 miles, turn left on Mustang.
Go 1.1 miles and turn right on Shad Rd.
Go 1.4 miles and turn right on Peninsula Drive.
Go 3.2 miles and turn left on Meadow Rd.
Go 0.5 miles and turn right on Scout Camp Trail.
Go 0.2 miles and park at the end.
The Scout Camp Trail heads over to and then down into the canyon for a 2+ mile loop.
HIKE ALDER SPRINGS
I hiked the Alder Springs trail nearby in the Crooked River National Grasslands a couple of weeks ago. It's another good hike for burning off that cornbread sausage stuffing and enjoying some canyon scenery. Bring trekking poles, because the 6.2-mile journey to the Deschutes River and back involves a fun, brisk, knee-deep crossing of Wychus Creek.
To find the trailhead, travel north on Highway 97 through Terrebonne and turn left on Lower Bridge Road. Several miles further turn left on Holmes Road and then two miles later turn right on Forest Road 6360. Stay on the gravel road for 4.1 miles and then turn right at an "Alder Springs" pointer, and take a rough gravel road 0.8 miles to the end.
IMAGINE PEACEFUL WALDO
OK, so you probably won't be paddling at Waldo Lake to burn off the cranberry quiche, but you could paddle there next summer, peacefully, without motors! The Oregon State Marine Board is seeking comment by December 15 on whether it should ban gas-powered boats and float planes from Waldo Lake.
Please take a moment to support the ban of gas-powered boats on Waldo.
By e-mail: [email protected]
By mail: Send letters to June LeTarte, OSMB, P.O. Box 14145 , Salem , OR 97309
By fax: (503) 378-4597