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Three Hikes in the Three Sisters Wilderness

No Permit, No Problem

The Three Sisters Wilderness is a spectacular region of shimmering alpine lakes, old-growth forests and wildflower meadows, including a family of glacier-clad peaks: the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor (formerly, called Brother Jon). It is no wonder the wilderness trails are busy in summer.

In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service initiated a permit system to deal with overuse on the most popular Central Oregon trails. Obtaining an online permit to some of the region’s well-known destinations can be a challenge, especially for a spontaneous hike. So here are three options that don’t require advanced reservations. No planning required, just show up and go!

Matthieu Lake Trail | Photo Adam Mckibben

Scott’s Pass Trail

Named for cattleman Felix Scott who built a trail over the Cascades in 1862 to drive cattle from the Willamette Valley toward eastern Oregon, the Scott’s Pass trail climbs through coniferous forests to the namesake pass and connects to the Pacific Crest Trail near South Matthieu Lake, named for Oregon pioneer Francis Xavier Matthieu. Great views of North Sister await from the shoreline. 

Trail detail: 6.8 mile out-and-back, 650 feet elevation gain  | Scott’s Pass Trailhead: 14.5 miles west of Sisters off Highway 242

Mountain and lake in wilderness
Matthieu Lake | Photo Christian Murillo

Six Lakes Trail

This trailhead provides access to far more than six lakes—it eventually connects to the Mink Lake Basin, home to numerous bodies of water. Nearly a mile from the parking area, the trail passes by Blow Lake, a deep glacially carved lake, visible through the woods. Another mile beyond Blow Lake, the trail passes by Doris Lake, also visible through the trees. On Doris Lake’s eastern shore, at the “day-use only, no camping” area, there is a swimming spot to take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day.

Dog, mountain lake and mountains
Blow Lake | Photo Richard Bacon

The trail past Doris Lake gradually climbs through old-growth hemlocks to a junction. Turn right and the trail leads toward Mink Lake and numerous other lakes. Continue straight and head for Senoj Lake (Jones spelled backwards), a shallow lake within a large meadow. It’s too shallow for a swim, but the muddy shoreline is often rich with signs of deer, elk and other Cascade critters.

Trail details: To Senoj Lake, 7.8 miles out-and-back, elevation gain 660 feet | Trailhead: Six Lakes Trailhead is two miles south of Elk Lake Resort on Century Drive.

Horse Lake Trail

From the Elk Lake Trailhead, just across Century Drive from Elk Lake Resort, this trail leads through lodgepole pine and old-growth mountain hemlock forests, crosses the Pacific Crest Trail, before almost reaching Horse Lake. The main trail does not lead to the lake, rather a “fisherman’s trail” skirts along the western edge of the shore. About halfway around, a prow of basalt juts out into the water making a fine lunch spot to share with the uber-cute golden-mantled ground squirrels.

On the return trip to the trailhead, watch for unmarked signs leading to two other lakes, Colt and Sunset. A detailed map is handy for navigating this trail.

Trail details: 8.9 mile loop, 600 feet elevation gain | Elk Lake Trailhead: 33 miles west of Bend, just across Century Drive from the Elk Lake Resort

Woman walking in meadow in the wilderness
Park Meadow Trail | Photo Christian Murillo

Central Cascade Wilderness Permits

Between June 15 and October 15, Wilderness permits are required for overnight and day use, however, no reservations are needed in advance. Permits, such as the Northwest Forest Pass or one of the Interagency Passes, are required for parking.

Ten of 44 trailheads in the Three Sisters Wilderness require an advanced reservation, with a nominal fee, through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 (TDD 877-833-6777), starting June 5. All other trailheads have free, self-issue wilderness permits at their register boxes.

6 Scenic Snowshoe Trails on a Day Trip From Bend

It’s not just skiers who have wintertime fun on winter trails. Modern snowshoes are now lightweight, rugged and easy to use, making winter adventure more accessible for all ability levels. Throughout the Cascade Range, numerous sno-parks offer excellent opportunities for snowshoers to explore winter wonderlands. So step into some snowshoes and explore these six suggested marked trails, all within a day’s drive from Bend.

Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake averages an amazing 533 inches of snow each year. On a sunny winter day, the 1,943-foot-deep cobalt lake set beneath a snow-covered caldera rivals any vista in Oregon.

The National Park Service maintains the south entrance road up to Rim Village, the starting point to a trek along the West Rim Drive toward Discovery Point. (Note: The rim drives are closed during winter.) Along the way, enjoy incredible views of the snow-capped Wizard Island—a volcano within a volcano—jutting up from the caldera lake. Keep an eye out for “snow rollers,” unique features which start as cylindrical chunks of snow that roll downhill on their own. The rolling action accumulates snow in a similar action to making a snowman.

For those seeking a longer outing, continue to The Watchman Overlook for spectacular views.

Discovery Point: 2.1 miles round trip, easy

The Watchman Overlook: 9.9 miles round trip, moderate to difficult

Snowshoeing Crater Lake
Photo by Christian Murillo

Willamette Pass, Gold Lake Sno-Park

The Gold Lake Sno-Park (milepost 61.5 on Highway 58) is a winter hub for snowshoers to explore old-growth forests and lakes in the Willamette Pass backcountry. The sno-park’s historic Gold Lake Patrol Cabin serves as the base of operations for Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol volunteers.

To reach the Eagle Rock Overlook with its dramatic view of Odell Lake, named for Oregon pioneer William Holman Odell, snowshoers begin the trek up to Pengra Pass, then follow the Pacific Crest Trail to the overlook. Massive Shasta red and Douglas fir trees line the trail, and numerous small mammal tracks may reveal nocturnal activity. The return East Overlook Trail descends through the woods and passes the three-sided Westview Shelter. A half-mile side trip up the Diamond View Loop adds nice views of Diamond Peak to this outing.

Eagle Rock Overlook Loop: 3.25 miles, moderate

Santiam Pass, Ray Benson Sno-Park 

Named after snowmobile advocate Ray Benson, this sno-park near Hoodoo Ski Resort (U.S. Highway 20) offers a multitude of trails for winter enthusiasts.

The South Loop trail passes through mixed coniferous forests en route to the Brandenburg Butte Shelter. Visual peeks of Mount Washington, Three-Fingered Jack, Hoodoo Butte and the unique Hayrick Butte abound along the trail. Hayrick, known geologically as a “tuya,” is a volcano that erupted beneath a glacier. The lava filled the mold formed by the melted ice.

The Brandenburg Shelter offers a nice spot for lunch or respite from the weather. Several return options exist via the South Loop or Claypool Butte trail, both of which intersect with the Pacific Crest Trail. An après-snowshoe warm up at Hoodoo Ski Resort is a great spot to relive the adventure.

South Loop Trail: 6.1 miles, moderate

Tumalo Mountain Snowshoe Day Trip
Photo by Sofia Gavrishov

Tumalo Falls, Skyliners Sno-Park

The Skyliners Sno-Park, located west of Bend, is a local’s hot spot. In 1927, the Bend Skyliners Ski Club formed and eventually built a lodge and winter ski complex, complete with two large ski jumps, near this sno-park.

On the trail to Tumalo Falls, snowshoers pass by the historic lodge, now leased from the Forest Service by the High Desert Education Service District, and a young forest that continues to regenerate after the 1979 Bridge Creek Fire. After several miles, the trail reaches the Tumalo Falls parking lot where a short trail leads to an overlook of the falls, often frozen in winter and plunging 100 feet over a lip of lava. Snowshoers may follow another short trail uphill to a second viewpoint at the top of the falls.

Tumalo Falls Loop: 6.1 miles round trip, moderate

Edison Sno-Park

The AC/DC Snowshoe Trail is a new reroute trail to the Edison Sno-Park’s AC/DC shelter. Named for Alternating Current and Direct Current, not the popular Australian rock band, it will provide snowshoers with a new opportunity to access this warming shelter. Originally proposed by Dr. Jim Davis (also known as Dr. Snowshoe), volunteers and Forest Service staff established this reroute in 2023 that climbs more than 525 feet from the sno-park to the shelter.

Snowshoers will pass by massive ponderosa pines and gain views of Mount Bachelor along this new trail. Sno-park trail maps are available on the Willamette and Deschutes National Forest websites.

AC/DC Trail: 3.2 miles round trip, moderate.

Snowshoe Ray Benson Sno Park Mt. Bachelor Oregon
Photo by Christian Murillo

Cascade Lakes Highway, Mt. Bachelor Nordic Area

The Mt. Bachelor snowshoe trails, which originate from the Nordic Lodge, wind through old-growth mountain hemlock forests and cross the Nordic area’s ski trails multiple times to form a loop trail that is well worth the effort. The well-marked trails are color-coded: red, orange and yellow. A long loop is possible by heading west from the lodge on the orange snowshoe trail, then connecting to the red snowshoe trail which passes by great vistas of Mount Bachelor and South Sister before reaching the warming hut known as Bob’s Bungalow.

From the warming hut, snowshoers return on the red snowshoe trail northward toward the Cascade Lakes Highway (closed in winter), then connect to the orange snowshoe trail back to the lodge. Along the trail, listen for the plaintive cries of Canada jays (also known as Camp Robbers) and watch for tracks of the elusive Sierra Nevada Gray Fox which hunts for small rodents and birds in this snowy paradise. Snowshoe Mt. Bachelor trails here.

Red and Orange Snowshoe Trail Loop: 3.6 miles, easy 

Read more about the history of snowshoeing, what gear to wear and some additional nearby snowshoe trails. Or read more about our local snow sports scene here. 

Hiking the Deschutes River Trail

Segments for all Seasons on the Deschutes River Trail

The Deschutes River Trail (DRT) connects people to nature, history, neighborhoods and businesses as it courses through the heart of Bend. Locals know the 12-mile-long “river trail” offers opportunities to get outside and get in a walk, run, dog walk, bike ride, and, when the conditions are right, a cross-country ski. While an additional section of the DRT goes all the way from the Good Dog Park to Sunriver, passing Benham Falls and the Big Eddy rapids, there are five segments especially attainable from downtown Bend.

Bend Park and Recreation manages the section of the trail closest to Bend and breaks it into five reaches: South Canyon, Old Mill, Pioneer, River Run, and Awbrey. Remember: trail etiquette is to stay right and be alert for the call, “On your left!”

Fat tire biker pulling sled on South Canyon Reach Trail - Deschutes River

South Canyon Reach

Access for this loop begins by heading south from Farewell Bend Park, named for John Todd, who purchased the Farewell Bend Ranch in 1877 for $60 and two saddle horses. This stretch has the most “natural” feel of the entire DRT, as ponderosa pines and riparian thickets line the trail. Occasional breaks provide nice views of the river as it cascades over rapids or slips around boulders.

After crossing the South Canyon Bridge, the west side trail connects to the Haul Road Trail, historically used to haul logs to a point where they were off-loaded into the river and floated to the mills. A newly constructed landing downstream of the bridge provides access to the river and has interpretive panels honoring the Native Americans who inhabited this region for thousands of years.

Distance: 3 miles round trip
Hiking Time: 1.5 hours
Seasonal access: Year-round, but prepare for ice and snow in the winter.

Friends walking the Old Mill Reach on the Deschutes River Trail

Old Mill Reach

This popular urban stretch of the river trail is a contrast in time. Walk north from the spot of the original settlement at Farewell Bend Park to see the area that at one time launched the heyday of the logging industry, when two mills produced millions of board feet of lumber. Today, that spot is known as the Old Mill District, a vibrant hub of shops, restaurants, galleries and more.

Primary access is from Farewell Bend, Riverbend, and McKay Parks. The level, paved trail consists of two loops: Mill A Loop (1.5 miles) and Logger Loop (1.3 miles). The Old Mill Flag Footbridge, the halfway point, is a prime spot to watch paddlers during the annual Holiday Lights Paddle Parade. In winter, numerous waterfowl line the river.

Distance: 2.7 miles round trip
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Seasonal access: A paved path is cleared year-round.

Pioneer Reach

Bend’s early history links McKay Park (honoring pioneer Bendites Olive and Clyde McKay and their sons) to Pioneer Park on this section of the DRT as it passes through neighborhoods and Drake Park.

At McKay Park, enjoy the view from atop the footbridge of Whitewater Park where intrepid kayakers don drysuits and play in the waves in all seasons. The bridge connects to another historic ranch site at Miller’s Landing. Continuing past the landing, the trail follows the sidewalk along NW Riverfront Street through a section of “Old Bend” before reaching Drake Park, named for early 1900s developer Alexander Drake and his wife Florence.

The paved trail continues alongside the calm waters of Mirror Pond, shadowed by towering Douglas fir and ponderosa pines. On the eastern shore of the river, the trail joins a newly constructed boardwalk that arcs along the river to the lower end of Mirror Pond, with access points to divert to downtown Bend before the trail reaches Pioneer Park.

Length: 1.7 miles one-way
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Seasonal access: Accessible, moving from paved pathways to sidewalks.

River Run Reach

This stretch of the trail connects Pioneer Park to Sawyer Park, with another access point at First Street Rapids Park. From Pioneer Park, the trail follows the river downstream, past towering willows and pine trees, and encounters the Tumalo Irrigation Company’s diversion dam and fish ladder before crossing the footbridge over the river to First Street Rapids Park.

On the west side of the river, the level dirt trail passes lush riparian vegetation that lines the river and drier slopes with juniper, wax currants, sagebrush, and bunchgrasses. This quiet stretch of trail is a good spot in winter to birdwatch or to scout for wildlife tracks. Eventually, the trail crosses Mount Washington Drive and slips past the River’s Edge Golf Course to Sawyer Park.

Trail length: 1.7 miles one-way
Hiking Time: 1-2 hours
Seasonal access: Year-round, but it can be icy or muddy during the winter.

Woman running Awbrey Reach portion of the Deschutes River Trail

Awbrey Reach

The Awbrey Reach is a quiet out-and-back stretch from the Robert W. Sawyer Park, named for an early Bendite who moved here in 1912 and eventually became the long-time editor of the Bend Bulletin.

This section of the DRT utilizes the buried water pipeline right-of-way owned by the Tumalo Canal Irrigation Company. The wide trail of crushed gravel follows a somewhat level contour around Awbrey Butte to its end, where views of Black Butte, Mount Jefferson, and Middle and North Sister await. When snowfall is sufficient, this section of the trail is perfect for cross-country skiers. Beyond the intersection of the Archie Briggs Canyon Natural Area to Mount Washington, there is a stunning view of the river as it makes a sweeping bend in the canyon far below. A well-placed bench is accompanied by a plaque that reads, “How perfect is this.” Perfect indeed.

Trail length: 3.9. miles round trip
Hiking time: 2-3 hours
Seasonal access: Year-round with wide trails for cross-country skiing when snow permits.

Summiting in Central Oregon

The words of John Muir—“The mountains are calling and I must go”—echo with every footfall and inspire the goal of reaching a mountain summit. Fortunately, Central Oregon offers numerous opportunities to bag a peak. It takes some effort and energy, but training on the smaller peaks will pay dividends on the taller ones.

So, get inspired to perspire on this quartet of hikes and gear up to undertake the ultimate Central Oregon ascent—South Sister.

Howard Lipin
Photo Howard Lipin

Pilot Butte: The Warm-Up

A volcanic cone rising to 4,142 feet, Pilot Butte is a notable landmark on the Central Oregon skyline. The name’s origin comes from wagon trains using the prominent peak to guide or “pilot” emigrant’s wagons to and from the crossing on the Deschutes River. It also makes Bend one of six municipalities in the United States with a volcano in its city limits.

From the trailhead parking, a dirt trail spirals up and around this ancient cinder cone past gnarled junipers and fragrant sagebrush. The trail gains about 500 feet in elevation, but offers an excellent training trail to get legs ready for steeper climbs. The mountain finder at the summit’s Summer Plaza provides identification to a tantalizing array of surrounding peaks. This is a great warm-up hike that can be done, up and down, multiple times and can be combined with the 1.7-mile hike around the butte’s base to increase mileage.

Trail distance: 1.8 mile round trip; 3.5 miles with base trail.

Elevation gain: 500 feet. 

Difficulty: Easy

Tumalo Mountain: The Training Peak

Located 21 miles west of Bend along the Cascade Lakes Highway, Tumalo Mountain is a popular hike that starts at the Dutchman Flat Sno-Park. The trail begins and passes through a forest of hemlocks, pine and fir, and does not stop climbing until reaching the summit.

Beyond the start of the trailhead, several switchbacks provide some relief from an uphill grind. Soon the trail begins to wind through mountain meadows with late vestiges of wildflowers such as lupine, Newberry knotweed and catspaw. The stunted or “krummholz” trees have been shaped by the fierce winter conditions that hammer this peak.

On the broad 7,755-foot summit that historically housed a Forest Service fire lookout, the trees thin out to reveal exceptional views of Mount Bachelor, especially the glacial cirque carved into the mountain’s northeast slope and the string of scattered cinder cones associated with its eruption. A clear day reveals Mount Thielsen, the “Lightning Rod of the Cascades,” to the south. Continue the hike to the summit’s north end for well-earned views of South Sister, Middle Sister, Broken Top and the surrounding region.

Trail length: 4.0 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 1,425 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Photo Adam McKibben
Photo by Adam McKibben

Mount Bachelor: The Workout Peak

Mount Bachelor is the 15th highest peak in Oregon with a summit at 9,065 feet. Though the ski resort’s chairlift operates in summer, hikers can bag this overlooked peak via a well-marked trail that starts at the resort’s West Village Lodge (note: download the trail map from the resort’s website).

The trail skirts across the mountain’s base through a forest of old-growth mountain hemlocks, home to pine martens and the elusive Sierra Nevada red fox.

Geologically, Mount Bachelor is the youngest prominent stratovolcano in the Three Sisters area, formed between 18,000 and 8,000 years ago.

Eventually, the trail leaves the forest and begins an exposed, steady climb up the volcano, passing over and around volcanic rock and loose soil above the timberline, so remember to pause before looking up!

Once on the summit, the 360° views of lakes and peaks in the Cascade Range are incredible.

Trail length: 7.1 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 2,750 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Photo Christian Murillo
Photo by Christian Murillo

South Sister: The Ultimate Ascent

The tallest of the Three Sisters and third highest peak in Oregon (10,358 feet), bagging this massive volcano is a real challenge but well worth the effort.

The South Sisters Climber Trail starts out at Devils Lake, a turquoise-colored shallow body of water along the Cascade Lakes Highway.

The trail starts as a steady uphill through a dense hemlock forest, giving way to a sandy, open plain composed of volcanic ash and pumice. After this section, the trail climbs in earnest and encounters sections with loose cinders and pumice, so careful footing is advised. Plus, multiple trails near the top make it challenging to navigate; pick the “trail most traveled” and aim for the top.

From the peak, hikers are rewarded with exceptional views of the other Sisters, Mount Jefferson and Mount Hood. The summit crater is filled with crystal-blue water—the highest lake in Oregon, called Teardrop Pool. High fives all around to those who reach the summit.

Trail length: 12 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 4,986 feet

Difficulty: Difficult


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Exploring Crater Lake’s Lightning Springs Trail

The Lightning Springs trail offers a spectacular shoulder season hiking opportunity to explore the western flank of ancient Mount Mazama in Crater Lake National Park. Historically, the trail was once a fire road, built in the 1930s for Park Service fire crews to access the lightning-prone area. Today, Nature has reclaimed portions of this two-track but plant growth is slow at this elevation where winter lingers.

The trailhead, located about 2.5 miles north of Rim Village, has a graveled parking area and sits at 7,175 feet in elevation. From here, the 8.4-mile round trip hike begins its descent snaking past old-growth mountain hemlocks and Shasta red firs interspersed with patches of pumice leftover from the mountain’s eruption some 7,700 years ago. 

As hikers follow the trail’s meanders and gentle descent, they may hear the trumpet-like “yank, yank” calls of red-breasted nuthatches or the grating metallic-sounding “kraaks” of Clark’s nutcrackers. Grazing mule deer or elk may be viewed from a safe vantage, and hikers may encounter tracks along the trail such as those of black bear, coyote or mountain lion indicating the passage of these large predators through the area. Overhead, be on the lookout for migrating raptors such as golden eagles, red-tailed hawks or sharp-shinned hawks as they fly south for winter.

Less than a mile down the trail, hikers reach the emergence of Lightning Springs. Though one might think they’ve found the Crater Lake leak, these springs are fed by melting snow and emerge above lake level. Several backcountry campsites here invite campers to enjoy this mountain oasis.

Beyond the refreshing springs, the trail contours beneath the 500-foot-high Watchman Lava Flow before descending to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. The intersection, located in a recovering lodgepole pine forest burned over by one of the Bybee Creek wildfires, represents the turnaround point for day hikers. In summer, you might encounter a PCT through-hiker at this junction and hear tales of their trip but this late in the season, you’ll probably have solitude as your trail companion. 


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3 Spring Wildflower Hikes in Central Oregon

A bounty of spring and summer wildflowers blesses Oregon. Early in the season, wildflowers arise and unfurl their petals much to the delight of wildflower enthusiasts and pollinators, alike. Some of these plants are perennials, those that live more than two years, while others are annuals which race through their life cycle in one season, setting seed for future generations before they fade. Certain shrubs also contribute to the color of the season, with cloaks of flowers scented to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Here are three spring hikes to observe and appreciate this bright and colorful petalous performance.

photo Leon Werdinger / Alamy Stock Photo
Deschutes Land Trust’s Whychus Canyon Preserve | photo courtesy deschutes land trust/Joan Amero

Whychus Canyon
Preserve Rim Trail

South of Sisters

Named after a native Sahaptin word meaning “the place we cross the water,” Whychus Creek is a spectacular tributary of the Deschutes River. In 2010, the Deschutes Land Trust protected 930 acres of riparian (streamside) and high desert habitat and created the Whychus Canyon Preserve. Over seven miles of trails provide access to this scenic area and the Rim Trail offers excellent views of the Cascades and showy wildflowers in spring. Colorful blooms of arrowleaf balsamroot, Western columbine, sulfur buckwheat, two-lobe larkspur, desert paintbrush, Oregon sunshine, prickly phlox and Western blue flax paint the desert landscape with vibrant colors. Foothill death camas, named for its toxic bulbs, bears dense clusters of cream-colored flowers. Volunteers for the Deschutes Land Trust lead informative and fun spring wildflower walks along the Rim Trail. See deschuteslandtrust.org for trail status updates and current hike schedule.

Rim Trail: roughly 2.1 miles long and fairly level.

Fall River Trail

West of Sunriver

photo George Ostertag / Alamy Stock Photo

West of Sunriver along South Century Drive, the spring-fed Fall River arises and meanders twelve miles to its confluence with the Deschutes River. From the headwaters near the Fall River Guard Station, the river courses through mature pine forests and wet meadows where wildflowers such as triangular-leaf senecio, yellow monkey-flower, white bog orchid, scarlet gilia and blue-eyed grass hug the banks. In the drier uplands, a mix of wildflowers and shrubs such as western wallflower, Brown’s peony, Columbia puccoon, mountain trumpet, antelope bitterbrush, wax currant and green manzanita, named after its “little apples,” bloom along the trail. Visit fs.usda.gov for more information.

Trail length: 5 miles out-and-back from the Fall River Guard Station, relatively level. 

Gray Butte

Northeast of Smith Rock State Park

Framing the skyline above Smith Rock State Park is Gray Butte. The origin of this ancient volcano’s name is shrouded in mystery—some say it’s for the grayish-colored rocky outcrops—but Lewis “Tam” McArthur, author of Oregon Geographic Names, uncovered another possibility, that the butte is named for Dr. Asa Gray (1810-1888), the “Father of American Botany.”

Gray Butte is part of the Crooked River National Grasslands and offers trails for hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers to explore this high desert environment. The Cole Loop trailhead departs off Forest Road 57 across the road from the McCoin Orchard, a homesteader’s orchard planted in 1886, and contours around the west and south sides of Gray Butte before descending to the Skull Hollow Campground. Spring wildflowers abound along the trail and include Cusick’s elkweed with its light-blue four-petaled flowers, rough eyelashweed, yellow desert daisy, parsnip-flowered buckwheat, Douglas’ brodiaea and daggerpod—a member of the mustard family that bears slender daggerlike seed pods. Exceptional views of the Cascades compliment this hike. A vehicle shuttle from Skull Hollow Campground back to the trailhead is recommended. Visit fs.usda.gov for more information.

Trail length: roughly 6.2 miles, one-way, with 1,550 feet of elevation change.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in May, 2020.

Spring Hiking on the Crooked River Trail

While mountain trails are buried beneath blankets of snow, what better way is there to enjoy spring than hiking along one of Central Oregon’s many river trails? Try this option that will have you singing, “Take me to the river.”

Crooked River Trail

This well-named river bends and twists on its crooked, 125-mile path to the confluence with the Deschutes River. One popular hiking stretch is a section of the river within Smith Rock State Park, located less than five miles from “downtown” Terrebonne. 

The Crooked River carves its way past various volcanic rock layers, some more than 30 million years old, as it courses through the park. To reach the river trail, one has to descend from the rim, hiking a short, steep section before crossing the river on a wooden footbridge. Here, hikers may be serenaded by the descending whistled notes of a canyon wren or the “on belay” calls of climbers. Keep an eye out for the park’s peregrine falcons as they hunt for swifts and swallows above the trail or watch for the occasional garter snake slithering across the trail. Eventually, the trail rounds the prow of Smith Rock and past Monkey Face, a prominent, 350-foot rock tower. This hike ends at the lower intersection with the Mesa Verde Trail, which is the turnaround point unless one wants to undertake a longer and steeper hike up Misery Ridge or the Summit Trail. 

 

Round trip: 5.5 miles, steep for the first (and last!) 0.25 mile. 


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Five Cozy Fire Lookouts and Ranger Station Rentals for a Winter Stay in Central Oregon

Have you ever dreamed of being a forest ranger or a fire lookout? Even if you never made that career happen, you can play make-believe with this popular winter activity: rent a forest lookout or ranger cabin for an overnight adventure. Because of remote locations, road closures and plenty of snow, these winter wonderland sites are sometimes only accessed by cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling. Scoring this particular night in the woods requires some advanced planning, but a little perseverance on Recreation.gov can result in awesome rewards, such as beautiful winter vistas, brilliant night-skies, a warm winter shelter and a truly unique winter experience.

Some of the structures are still used as fire lookouts or for seasonal staff during the fire season, but off-season, the lookouts and cabins are available to rent because of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Collected fees go into preservation of these historic structures, which would otherwise be decommissioned and possibly torn down. Each rental offers different amenities such as propane stoves, stocked kitchens, solar-powered lights and woodstoves, so peruse each site online to know before you go.

Here are a few of the fire lookout and forest cabin rentals to add to your bucket list.

Inside of a fire lookout
photo Elena Pressprich

Hager Mountain Lookout

Perched atop Hager Mountain at 7,195 feet, the Hager Mountain Lookout is used during the summer as a fire lookout and in the winter as a rental. Located in the Fremont-Winema National Forest 15 miles south of Silver Lake, the six-to-eight-million-year-old volcanic dome is known for its summer wildflower blooms and inviting solitude. In winter, the trail to the lookout follows the closed road; the four-mile-long stair-master ascent for skiers or snowshoers gains 2,200 feet. The summit’s viewshed is spectacular, stretching from Mount Shasta north to Mount Hood and east across the Basin and Range. The indigenous Klamath People called the peak “Chock-chock-lisk-se,” which translates to “bald faced rock,” a reference to the rocky summit and another early name for the peak—Bald Mountain. Early settlers also called the peak Hagerhorst Mountain after a local pioneer rancher from the Silver Lake Valley; that name has been shortened to Hager Mountain. No matter the name, be prepared to be blown away by the brilliance of the night sky.

Fivemile Butte Lookout

Twenty miles west of Dufur (almost rhymes with obscure—as in the middle of nowhere), this 14- by 14-foot lookout is perched atop a 40-foot-tall tower in the southeast corner of the Mount Hood National Forest. Accessible in winter by ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile, on a clear day, one can view numerous Cascade peaks from Mount Rainier to the Three Sisters and south to Mount Thielsen. Two trails loop to the cabin and though their distances seem short, three and four miles respectively, the ascent can still be a challenge due to weather. A 1960s-era lookout, Fivemile Butte has received several upgrades inside. Outside is a metal catwalk with a pulley system to lower and raise supplies such as firewood from the ground-level woodshed up to the lookout. The only downside is that the outhouse is at ground level.

Ochoco Ranger Cabin

Located along Ochoco Creek in the Ochoco Mountains east of Prineville, this ranger cabin was built in 1940 and has had several upgrades. The two-story house has the luxury of indoor plumbing that the lookout rentals lack. Nestled amongst towering ponderosa pines, the cabin offers excellent opportunities to explore Big Summit Prairie and winter trails originating from the Walton Lake Sno-Park. Skiers, snowshoers, sledders, and snowmobilers will all find terrain and trails that suits their passions. After a fun day exploring the snow and surrounding forests, the warmth of the cabin allows for folks to stretch out in the living room or snooze in one of the several bedrooms. Don’t be surprised if your party is serenaded by howling coyotes or hooting owls at night.

Hall House, Fish Lake Remount Depot
Hall House, Fish Lake Remount Depot, photo Bill Sullivan

Fish Lake Remount Depot

This Willamette National Forest site, located at Fish Lake near McKenzie Pass, brings history to life. Indigenous peoples used the area to hunt, fish, and forage for plants and berries for thousands of years before fur trappers and settlers began exploring the area or following the Santiam Wagon Road over the Cascades to the Willamette Valley. A way station at the site housed overnight travelers and, once the area became part of the National Forest system, rangers and mule packers. Today, the depot’s Commissary Cabin and Hall House, both constructed in 1924, are two rentals available in winter. Renters can take advantage of trails right out their front door or visit seven different sno-parks within a 20-minute drive. Numerous marked Nordic ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile trails offer miles of winter fun through deep forests and open meadows. A group of retired Forest Service personnel formed Friends of the Fish Lake to help preserve this historical treasure and keep alive the echoes of freighters, indigenous peoples, and pioneers who passed through this region.

Fire lookout in the winter
photo Tyler Roemer

Clear Lake Cabin Lookout

This tower cabin sits on Clear Lake Butte, a 4,454-foot gently sloped hillside covered with fir trees, on the south side of Mt. Hood. Overlooking Clear Lake and Timothy Lake in the distance, views are readily on hand, as is fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing nearby. One of three Forest Service watchtowers on Mount Hood, Clear Lake Cabin is still used to spot fires during summertime each year. Originally 100 feet tall when it was built in 1932, the tower was replaced with the current 40-foot building in 1962. The cabin is atop a 40-foot tower and is surrounded by a wooden catwalk. The 14-by-14 room is furnished with a small bed, a wood stove and a propane cook stove. The lookout can only be accessed by skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing four miles from a parking area at the Skyline Sno-Park. 

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Three Winter Ski and Snowshoe Adventures in the Willamette Pass Backcountry
Above Photo:  Franziska Weinheimer owner of Hike Oregon

Oregon State Highway 58 climbs over the forested slopes of the central Cascade Mountains from the east side logging town of Crescent to Willamette Pass before descending along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River to Eugene. The road passes sparkling Diamond Peak, an 8,774-foot mountain that dominates the southern skyline, Crescent and Odell lakes, Salt Creek Falls, and the Willamette Pass Ski Area. For a winter retreat, the Willamette Pass area has it all: sno-parks from which to Nordic ski or snowshoe, snowmobile trails, a ski resort, overnight lodging and restaurants, plus a whole lot of wild places.

My wife and I spent a mid-week winter retreat at the Odell Lake Lodge and Resort. Built in 1903, making it one of the oldest lodges in Oregon, the lodge is located on the southeast end of the lake adjacent to the lake’s outlet. This cozy and laid-back resort offers rustic cabins with kitchens and gas heat, as well as rooms upstairs in the main lodge, which is what we chose. Downstairs is the Fireside Room, a communal space for enjoying the wood-fire warmth or sharing stories with fellow travelers on a cold winter night. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining (during the summer) serving delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner meals, as well as dessert specialties: marionberry cobbler or mud pie. 

Our days were spent visiting nearby sno-parks where we strapped on snowshoes or Nordic skis to explore miles of marked trails. Back at the lodge, we enjoyed after-dinner strolls along the lake’s edge. In the Willamette forests, we found beautiful and rugged scenery, spectacular views, dense forests and uncrowded trails. 

Gold Lake Sno-Park Shelter
Gold Lake Sno-Park Shelter | Photo agefotostock/Alamy Stock Photo

Gold Lake Sno-Park

Nearly seven miles west of the resort along Highway 58 is the Gold Lake Sno-Park, a hub for many ski and snowshoe trails. At the sno-park, the Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol volunteers operate out of a warming hut, providing information and rescue services. The volunteers shared great trail and history tips, including filling us in on early settler William H. Odell, for whom the lake was named.

On our first morning, we crossed back over the highway from the sno-park and struck out on snowshoes for Gold Lake. We passed through dark forests of Douglas fir, western hemlock, subalpine fir, and western white pine, all laden with fresh snow from the night before. The occasional “whump” of snow hitting the ground reminded us to beware of overburdened branches overhead. Blue diamonds marked the route and we enjoyed breaking trail to the lake and some side trails to the Marilyn Lakes, as well as having lunch in the three-sided Gold Lake Shelter, built in the 1940s, as snow continued to fall.

Pengra Pass

The next day, we returned to the Gold Lake Sno-Park and this time put on our Nordic skis and headed south towards Pengra Pass and Eagle Rock, an overlook of Odell Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail. Pengra Pass honors B.J. Pengra, a 19th-century pioneer who promoted Willamette Pass as a military road and railroad route across the Cascades. 

Though the trail intersections were well signed, we had to pay close attention to few-and-far-between trail markers. “We ain’t in the Deschutes anymore, Toto,” became a refrain regarding the difference between the Willamette and Deschutes national forests in terms of trail signage.

Skiier in the woods

Although a low-cloud ceiling covered the high peaks as we reached the pass, we were graced with outstanding views of Odell Lake in a short while. Our snowy descent through the hemlock and fir forest resembled the slash marks of Zorro rather than the graceful curves of a calligrapher’s pen. I made a note to myself: stick with snowshoes.

Salt Creek Falls
Salt Creek Falls | Photo Greg Vaughn/Alamy Stock Photo

Salt Creek Falls

We began our final morning by driving about eleven miles west of Odell to the Salt Creek Falls Sno-Park. We hadn’t done much research into the falls, but we’d heard they were impressive; that turned out to be an understatement.

On snowshoes, we followed the closed road from the sno-park to the summer parking area and overlook. Salt Creek, which is also the outflow from Gold Lake, weaves through the forest on its way to the confluence with the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. At the overlook, the creek plunges nearly 300 feet over a lip of basalt. The scene was both beautiful and surreal at the same time.

Originally, we had planned to continue on our snowshoes to do the Diamond Falls loop, but the recent snowfall and road conditions made us rethink our time and our drive back to Bend. We opted to save this loop for another day, along with trails to Fuji Mountain, Fawn Lake, and Maiden Peak—an excuse to return. 

For our next trip, perhaps we will try staying at Shelter Cove Resort, Crescent Lake Lodge or the Willamette Pass Inn, excellent options for overnight accommodations in the area. Nearby Manley’s Tavern, located in Crescent Junction along Highway 58, looks a little funky from the outside but the staff is friendly, and the tavern is known for its delicious fried chicken dinner. A little farther away from Willamette Pass is the town of Oakridge, about thirty miles west of Odell Lake, where visitors find more choices for lodging or eating, such as the Westfir Lodge or the 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse, as well as Ray’s grocery store. Oakridge, once called the Shangri-la of the Cascades, also describes itself in winter as “above the fog line and below the snow line.”

For folks in Eugene, the Willamette Pass winter wonderland is an easy jaunt up Highway 58. For Bendites, it’s a bit more of a trek, but one worth making. 


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5 Hikes to Try at Crater Lake
photo Christian Murillo

Oregon’s spectacular Crater Lake National Park has a short summer window during which time visitors may drive the park’s thirty-three-mile-long Rim Drive and gaze into the surreal blue of the nation’s deepest lake. While the majority of park visitors enjoy only the overlooks and viewpoints along Rim Drive, trail lovers will find much to rejoice here. Numerous trails lead to dramatic views, unique geologic features, or meadows bursting with wildflowers.

With a winter snowfall of more than forty-four feet, summer is the short season here, and snow remains in the high country for a long time. Day hikers may obtain current information about trail conditions at the visitor center or online through the park’s website (nps.gov/crla). Here are a few of our favorite hikes—plus one cycling route and some lodging ideas as a bonus.

Trails Aplenty

Hiking Mount Scott Trail
Hiking the Mount Scott Trail | photo Toni Toreno

Mount Scott

5 miles round-trip, 1,250-feet elevation gain 

The highest point in the park at 8,938 feet, Mount Scott, named for Oregon pioneer Levi Scott, is a 420,000-year-old volcano that once stood along the lower flank of Mount Mazama. Far enough away when the volcano erupted, Mount Scott survived the cataclysmic eruption that occurred some 7,700 years ago. One of the classic hikes in the park, it’s rated difficult primarily due to its elevation gain and height. The trail switchbacks across pumice fields and through coniferous forests before gaining the ridge, then traverses past patches of Western anemone (affectionately called Hippy-on-a-Stick due to the “hairy” seed heads) to the summit’s fire lookout. The views of the lake and surrounding mountains, from Mount Shasta to the Three Sisters, reward the effort.

Discovery Point

2.2 miles round trip, 100-feet elevation gain 

From Rim Village, the epicenter of park activities on the caldera’s lip, a trail strikes west along the rim to Discovery Point offering outstanding views of the lake and the volcano within a volcano, Wizard Island, at various points. A second volcano within the caldera named Merriam Cone, which also erupted post-Mazama event, lies beneath the quiet waters of the lake. 

The Watchman 

1.6 miles round trip and 415-feet elevation gain 

Hikers can either continue from Discovery Point to the Watchman, a volcanic outcrop that sits high on the caldera’s western rim, or drive to the trailhead for a shorter hike. The Watchman is a block of 50,000-year-old
volcanic rock with a 1930s-era fire lookout on the summit and fantastic sunset views. Please don’t feed the raucous Clark’s nutcrackers that might show up—these seed-caching machines are intricately tied to the survival of the whitebark pine and don’t need a handout.

Castle Crest Wildflower Trail

0.4 miles round trip

This forest trail crosses over spring-fed wildflower meadows that erupt with color during the summer. Lupine, monkey flower, bog orchid, paintbrush, shooting stars, elephant head, and bleeding hearts are just some of the many species that bloom along this trail. 

The Pinnacles

1 mile round trip, 50-feet elevation gain

From the Pinnacles Overlook, a trail follows the rim of Wheeler Creek past ash-laden spires. These pinnacles are the result of fiery-hot ash and rock fragments that flowed like an avalanche down the mountain’s flanks during the eruption. Known as pyroclastic flows, these fast-moving flows obliterated all life in their path. When the ash settled, gases escaping through vents welded the debris into pillars or “fumarole chimneys” which erosion has exposed.

Hiking along Cleetwood Cove Trail
Cleetwood Cove Trail | photo paul christian Gordon, Alamy Stock Photo
Cleetwood Cove boat dock at Crater Lake
Cleetwood Cove boat dock | photo John Trax, Alamy Stock Photo

Cleetwood Cove

1.1 mile, 700-feet elevation loss 

During normal, non-pandemic times, the Cleetwood Cove trail is the way to access the docks to embark on a scenic boat tour of Crater Lake. Unfortunately, boat tours (along with trolley tours) have been cancelled for the 2021 season. Visitors can still descend from the rim to reach the lake for a unique vantage point of the caldera and the 1,943-foot-deep-lake. The lake’s depth and excellent water quality enhance the light-absorbing qualities of the water, resulting in the oh-so-blue color.

A Spectacular Bike Route

An alternate way to explore Crater Lake is by cycling the Rim Drive during the Ride the Rim event, scheduled for two Saturdays in 2021: September 11 and September 18. The Park closes the East Rim Drive, a twenty-four mile segment, to vehicles so that cyclists, walkers, and runners may experience the park vehicle free. Visit ridetherimoregon.com for more information and to register.

Getting There

Crater Lake is located north of Klamath Falls and east of Union Creek. Access to the park is via the North Entrance (Highway 138) or the South Entrance (Highway 62) in the summer (the North Entrance is closed in winter). Entrance fees for private vehicles are $30 for a seven-day pass or $15 per individual for hikers or cyclists. An annual park entrance pass, good for all national parks, is $80—a good investment if one plans to visit various parks or monuments.

A view of Crater Lake
photo Toni Toreno

Places to Stay

For overnight stays, the park has two developed campgrounds, renovated cabins in the Mazama Village, and one of the most spectacular lodges in the National Park Service system, Crater Lake Lodge. Originally built in the early 1900s and renovated in the 1990s, staying overnight in this gem requires advanced booking or getting a lucky open date. Other nearby accommodations in the Union Creek, Fort Klamath, Chiloquin, and Klamath Falls areas include numerous nightly vacation rentals, motels, hotels and the premier Running Y Resort along Upper Klamath Lake.  

4 Spring Hikes in Central Oregon
photo Danita Delimont/Alamy-Stock Photo

Raise your hand if you’re ready to get outside and explore! Spring can be tricky—what trails are free and clear of snow? Try these four shoulder season hikes located in the high desert or Cascade foothills while waiting for hot summer days to open up the high-country trails.

Christmas Valley/Fort Rock
photo Alex Jordan

Crack in the Ground | Christmas Valley

105 miles southeast of Bend off County Highway 5-1

Of the many interesting geologic features in the Fort Rock/Christmas Valley area, one provides a “cool” spring experience. Crack-in-the-Ground, located about seven miles north of Christmas Valley, is a narrow, two-mile-long tension fracture in a portion of the Four Craters Flow. From the trailhead, an old two-track leads to the head of this narrow, 70-foot-deep fissure. The trail descends into the fracture’s shady recess which may be twenty degrees cooler than up on the rim. 

In spots, hikers need to scramble over and around some of the boulders that have fallen into the fracture. These obstacles may need a rear spotter or occasional “butt boost,” so know your traveling companions well! 

A few segments terminate at dead ends but offer glimpses into subterranean chambers where only lizards and small rodents tread. 

The fun exploration of this trail is enhanced by fluting on the canyon walls and the occasional “chockstone” boulder wedged high above making hikers pause before quickly passing beneath. At the fracture’s end, hikers may return to the parking lot along the rim of this high desert adventure.

 

Benham Falls
photo Brandon Nixon

Meadow Camp to Benham Falls | Deschutes River Trail

7.5 miles southwest of Bend off Cascades Lakes Highway

The Deschutes River, known as “Towarnehiooks” by Native Americans or the “Rivièr des Chutes” by French fur trappers, courses more than 250-miles from its headwaters at Little Lava Lake to the Columbia River. 

Historically, the Deschutes flowed around Pilot Butte on its way to the Columbia. About 7,000 years ago, Lava Butte erupted and blocked the river’s channel with a basaltic dam. Ancient Lake Benham backed up to the Sunriver area before the river wore through the dam and created Benham Falls.

Hikers, runners and cyclists enjoy an 8.5-mile stretch of the Upper Deschutes River Trail between Meadow Camp and Benham Falls. Several trailheads, including Lava Island, Aspen and Dillion Falls offer access points to the trail for out-and-back trips. One popular segment connects Dillion Falls to Benham Falls (3.4 miles), slipping past the new habitat enhancement project at Ryan’s Ranch Meadow. 

The Aspen area, which doubles as a whitewater rafting boat launch, connects upstream to Dillion Falls (1.4 miles) or downstream to Meadow Camp (3.7 miles). Along this stretch, observant hikers may spy a river otter or osprey hunting for fish.

Blue Basin Loop | John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

120 miles northeast of Bend along Highway 19

Blue Basin Loop Bridge
photo Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com

The aquamarine bluffs of the Blue Basin area, comprised of volcanic ash and lake sediments dated twenty-five to thirty million years ago, have yielded a treasure chest of plant and animal fossils such as oaks, hackberries, three-toed horses, mouse-deer, sheep-like oreodonts and predatory bear-dogs, as well as turtles from which this geologic layer, the Turtle Cove member, derives its name. 

Exploring this sculptured basin is via two trails. The one-mile round trip Island in Time trail explores the amphitheater-like interior of the formation, providing close-up views of embedded fossils. Several interpretive panels tell the geologic story of fossil preservation and discovery.  

The upper, 3.25-mile round trip Blue Basin Trail climbs up a series of switchbacks to outstanding views of the John Day Valley. What goes up 600 feet, must come down on the
other side. Note: hiking the loop clockwise is easier on the knees. 

Other Sheep Rock Unit trails explore the Foree and Cant Ranch areas. Not to be missed is the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center (check website for hours), which houses incredible fossil displays and colorful murals which portray prehistoric life of this region.

Hiker at Tumalo Falls
photo Jill Rosell

Tumalo Falls to Happy Valley | Deschutes National Forest

14 miles west of Bend off Skyliners Road

During the spring snowmelt, Tumalo Creek thunders over an eight-nine-foot-high cascade, forming the spectacular Tumalo Falls. Leaving the trailhead, it’s a short climb up to the overlook to feel the misty spray of this glacier-fed stream. The viewpoint also provides a glimpse at nature’s recovery from the 1979 Bridge Creek Fire which devasted this valley. 

From the falls, hikers continue up the North Fork trail to Happy Valley (four miles), and pass by numerous waterfalls including Double and Upper Tumalo Falls. The gradual uphill trek crosses over the Middle Fork of Tumalo Creek on a log bridge with a hand rail. The trail continues upwards weaving between the Middle and North Forks before intersecting with the Swampy Lakes Trail which heads south and loops back to the parking lot. This loop crosses over the Bend Watershed into Bridge Creek (no dogs or bikes) and is a better summer hike when the water level drops and the one log crossing (no handrail) isn’t so intimidating. 

Otherwise, hikers continuing up on the out-and-back route to Happy Valley reach an aptly named area: meadows bursting with spring wildflowers that hikers are “happy” to reach. 

Rare Sierra Nevada Red Fox Finds a Home in Oregon’s Cascades

A mystery fox with a white-tipped tail in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains was recently identified through luck and scientific sleuthing. Spoiler alert: the “suspect” is the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) a rare subspecies of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Before 2012, sightings of this secretive fox outside of its home range in the Sierra Nevada were few or attributed to another subspecies, the Cascade red fox (V. v. cascadensis). Nevertheless, the fox had been spotted roaming in and around the Three Sisters Wilderness more and more frequently.

To determine the identity, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and partners conducted a research project from 2012 to 2014 utilizing baited camera stations equipped with trail cameras and hair snagging devices. University of California at Davis conducted DNA analysis on the collected hair samples, and the wily fox’s identity was confirmed.

To gain additional information, ODFW live trapped foxes in 2017 and affixed GPS collars to them. “We trapped a total of seventeen unique individual foxes,” said Jamie Bowles, ODFW assistant wildlife biologist. “The goals of our study were to assess the fox’s home range, habitat use and den site requirements.” Along with the GPS data, Bowles and volunteers spent many hours on the ground tracking and observing collared foxes. 

Some results? These montane foxes range at elevations from 4,900 to 6,500 feet in mountain hemlock and white bark pine habitats in the Cascades. Their fur-lined feet act like snowshoes enabling the animals to easily move across the snow. Adults usually weigh from eight to ten pounds, and their pelage, or fur, color phases are red, silver, black or “cross” (silver with black across the shoulders and down the back). Prey includes rodents, birds, ground squirrels, snowshoe hares, pika and pine martens. 

“We discovered that the foxes have large home ranges for their size, about sixty square miles,” Bowles said. In addition to the forested habitats, the foxes also inhabit high elevation lava flows for hunting prey and denning. Some dens are close to areas of high human use such as Mt. Bachelor parking lots or area sno-parks, which is a concern. 

“The number one mortality that I could determine for the foxes during this study was vehicle strikes,” Bowles said. Also, numerous observations indicate the foxes are using ski and snowmobile trails to access warming shelters, perhaps scavenging for food scraps. 

If you spot a fox while you’re out recreating, count yourself supremely lucky, but return the favor to nature by not disturbing the foxes or their den, and picking up after yourself and keeping a clean camp when you are out in nature. Welcome the new fox to our region by protecting the “wild” in wildlife. 

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