Friends and Neighbors of the
​Deschutes Canyon Area: What We Do
Tom Iraci, FANs member and professional photographer, created a video that shows some of our work and play, along with the beauty of the Deschutes Canyon Area public lands.  Enjoy!
Guide to Common Native Plants of the
​Deschutes Canyon Area
written by FANs President Marilynne Keyser

This field guide includes the most common native plants on public lands near Crooked River Ranch in Central Oregon.  This guidebook is small (8.25 x 4.5 inches) and durable, so you can take it on your hikes to identify native shrubs, bunchgrasses and wildflowers on the many trails around Lower Whychus Creek, the Middle Deschutes and Lower Crooked Rivers.  Organized by bloom time, this field guide is especially helpful in February through September.

FANs of the Deschutes Canyon Area member price is $10 and non-member price is $12.  Your purchase helps support FANs projects that preserve and restore public lands in the Deschutes Canyon Area.
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CLICK HERE to learn more and order Guide to Common Native Plants of the Deschutes Canyon Area.

​Our Lens on Learning series is available on video:

What's Blooming Now on the Canyon Rim?  May 2020
Presentation by Marilynne Keyser
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What's Blooming Now in the Grasslands?  June 2020
Presentation by Marilynne Keyser

​What's Blooming Now in the Riparian Zone?  August 2020
Presentation by Marilynne Keyser

Common Weeds of the Deschutes Canyon Area  Sept. 2020
Presentation by Marilynne Keyser

Mysteries of the Belted Kingfisher  Oct. 2020
Presentation by Marina Richie

Wildfire Myths & Realities:  How Can We Protect Our Communities in the Era of Climate Change  Jan. 2021
Presentation by George Wuerthner

Beautiful Birds of Central Oregon  Feb. 2021
Presentation by Chuck Gates
Tom Iraci created a video titled "Beauty in the Canyons,"  featuring images from the Deschutes Canyon Area.
Join a FANs Spring Guided Hike!
All guided hikes are free. To help reduce damage to the trail, minimize social impacts on other visitors, and protect wildlife habitat, group size is limited to 8 hikers, and pets are not allowed. Registration  opens one month before each hike.  If the hike is full, sign up on the wait list, and you will be notified if a space becomes available.  If you have to cancel, send us an email at fansofdeschutes@gmail.com.  This will open up the space for another hiker.  Standard Covid precautions will be in effect.  Maintain 6 feet of distance from other participants and bring a face mask to wear if temporary physical spacing requires it.
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Gray Butte Hike
Saturday, May 15, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Rating: Easy, 4 to 5 miles
Guide:  Marilynne Keyser 
Gray Butte offers an opportunity to see some wonderful middle elevation native wildflowers not found on the Deschutes and Crooked River canyon trails. We will stop often to learn about the native plants at 3,000 to 4,000 feet of elevation.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.

Crooked River National Grassland Nest Box Trail  Hike
Sunday, May 16, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Rating: Easy, 2 miles
Guide:  Diane Randgaard 
This easy, level hike will include stops to monitor eight bluebird and two kestrel nest boxes.  We may see nests, eggs, baby birds, and some surprises!
Learn more and sign up for this hike.

Alder Springs Trail Hike
Tuesday, May 18, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Rating:  Moderate-Difficult, 6 miles total with Whychus Creek crossing.
Guide:   Jeff Scheetz
This hike starts along a scenic ridgeline and steeply descends into Whychus Creek canyon. After crossing Whychus Creek, the trail follows the creek to the confluence with the Deschutes River. 
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
 
Big Summit Prairie Drive & Hike
Friday, May 21, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Rating:  Easy with 10 miles of driving and 2 miles of walking
Guide:   Marilynne Keyser
Big Summit Prairie occupies several thousand acres of the middle portion of the Ochoco Mountains. The prairie is privately owned, but most of the perimeter is in Ochoco National Forest and easily accessed by public roads. This will be a drive and hike trip, looking at native plants, circumnavigating the prairie (ten miles).
Learn more and sign up for this hike.

Smith Rock State Park Interpretive Hike
Tuesday, May 25, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Rating:  Easy to moderate, 2 miles
Guide:   David Vick
Experience magnificent scenery and wildlife viewing at Central Oregon’s premiere state park. We will hike down into Crooked River canyon, cross the river on the boardwalk and head upstream on Wolf Tree Trail. Learn about the dramatic geological events that formed the park, view nesting eagles and identify native plants and their traditional uses.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.

Chimney Rock Wildflower Hike
Thursday, May 27, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Rating:  Moderate, 4 miles
Guide:   Marilynne Keyser
This hike will focus on native plants, including early summer wildflowers.  The trail takes us from the banks of the Crooked River to the geological marvel called Chimney Rock on the canyon rim. We will go slowly and stop often to examine the native wildflowers we encounter and enjoy the incredible vistas along the rim.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area
fansofdeschutes@gmail.com
P.O. Box 2127, Terrebonne, OR  97760
541.771.FANS (3267)