Deschutes National Forest
Posted inOutside

Warning: Wildlife on Highway

Project to protect wildlife passage across Hwy. 97 sees a reduction in collisions between vehicles and animals
Damian Fagan

Many Central Oregon drivers fall into two categories: those who have hit mule deer and those who know someone who has. Fortunately for both deer and driver, a 4-mile section along Hwy. 97 south of Lava Butte now provides both with safe passage. In June 2012, the Oregon Department of Transportation completed the Lava Butte […]

Posted inBend Nest

Make it a Special Occasion

Holiday Tree Hunting in the High Desert
Avatar photo K.M. Collins

With the holidays fast approaching, many Central Oregon families soon will be wanting an evergreen yuletide centerpiece for their home. Weather a visit to the national forest or to a corner lot fits the bill, this guide to finding the perfect timber (plus post-mortem options) should set everyone on their way to finding that ideal […]

Posted inOutside

Trail Champion

A longtime advocate for Oregon trails wins a statewide award
Avatar photo K.M. Collins

During the 2018 Oregon Trails Summit in October, Bruce Ronning considered the idea of leaving early to head to the coast for vacation. He’s now happy he stayed, because after lunch, the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council presented him with the annual Doug Newman Memorial Award. Among his career accomplishments, Ronning served for eight years […]

Posted inOutside

Crowds in the Backcountry

As national forest leaders consider quotas for local wilderness areas, some local wilderness advocates weigh in
Brian Jennings

Sarah Cuddy coordinates conservation efforts in the Ochoco National Forest for Oregon Wild. She’s worried about increased foot traffic in the woods. “With our population increase we’re seeing an increase in recreation. The sheer volume of people on the trails now is way more than we’ve experienced in the past.” Central Oregon’s population growth bears […]

Posted inOutside

Scarred McKenzie Pass Reopens

Brian Jennings

Update:  McKenzie Pass is closed at least through Thursday at milepost 70 eastbound and milepost 81 westbound due to mud over the highway after Wednesday’s storms. Check ODOT’s website for up to date information on when the pass will reopen.  Peter Murphy at the Oregon Department of Transportation loves McKenzie Pass. “You can’t get this […]

Posted inOutside

Shooting, Dumping and Cleaning Up

Another purge effort for China Hat—and a push to change rules around shooting in the area
Brian Jennings

Brent Jenkins likens the national forest to a play area. “It’s our playground. I love being out in the forest and I love seeing it clean. I know people, myself included, never go out in the forest without bringing back some trash.” Jenkins works for the Deschutes National Forest, and often has his eye on […]

Posted inNews

Safety Concerns Close Shooting Area

The McKenzie storage area west of Sisters in now closed to target shooting
Chris Miller

The McKenzie storage area west of Sisters is now closed to target shooting Shooting enthusiasts in Sisters will have to find new digs, now that the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest closed the McKenzie storage area, a shooting area near the Crossroads subdivision off Forest Service Road 400. Officials from the Ranger […]

Posted inOutside

Growing Pains

How not to be a d#*k: Reminders for visitors, area noobs and hardened locals
David Sword

Bend is getting more popular every day. A study of Deschutes County by Portland State University found that, on average, the city of Bend is growing at a rate of 4 percent per decade. The current population sits at 94,520, according to the most recent U.S. Census estimates. Remember when there was only one Thai […]

Posted inCulture

A Carnival with a K

If your child attends the Kokanee Karnival, don’t be surprised to find a zippered plastic bag of fish in their backpack
Brian Jennings

Of the growing number of outdoor educational opportunities for kids in Central Oregon, one program is something of a rite of passage for a Central Oregon spring. The Kokanee Karnival, held at Bend’s Shevlin Park, welcomes hundreds of 4th and 5th grade students from schools in Bend, La Pine and Redmond each year. As well […]

Posted inOpinion

Set a plan for the wilderness that respects equity, but is also enforceable

Complaints about “loving Bend to death” are nothing new
The Source Staff

Ask a recreationalist about the biggest issues in wilderness areas, and it’s likely you won’t even have time to complete your question before the word “overcrowding” comes spilling out. Complaints about “loving Bend to death” are nothing new, and they come with some verifiable concerns in our great outdoors. It’s no secret that trails such […]

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