Horny Hollow Trail is Now Open
Horny Hollow Trail, managed by Bureau of Land Management, opened on May 28 this year,  after monitoring by BLM biologists for golden eagle nesting found no successful nests in this area this year.  Signage has been temporarily modified to inform visitors that the trail is now open.  BLM encourages responsible, local recreation close to home to avoid putting strain on other communities at this time.

Exciting New Space for FANs!

In the works is a physical location for FANs, besides the great outdoors! In the Crooked River Ranch Clubhouse village is a little building. We will use this rental for our tools and supplies, and also for showing passersby what we do. We will hold some events here, have a window display of scheduled events and things of interest, and whatever else we come up with. Watch this space!  Big thanks to Diane Nunley for coordinating the renovations of the building to make it a great building that will operate as our hub.
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!
THANK YOU for making 2019 a
Year of Great Accomplishments!
FANs Membership and Fundraising:
  • Members:  We acquired member/donor engagement software in 2019, and it improved our ability to capture participation and volunteer hours.  We welcomed 53 new members in 2019, for a total of 444 members.
  • Total Participants in FANs Activities:  848
  • Total Volunteer Hours:  3,536
  • Steelhead Falls Trail Matching Funds Campaign:  We exceeded our goal of $20,000 through member contributions and grants from two of our conservation partners, Bend Paddle Trail Alliance and East Cascades Audubon Society.
FANs Stewardship Projects: 
We now have ongoing projects focused on golden eagles, American kestrels and mountain bluebirds; trail monitoring and maintenance; native plant restoration; and graffiti, trash and weed removal.

FANs Lens on Learning Programs:
In 2019, we offered six programs which were attended by both members and non-members, with topics varying from Recreation and Rivers to Shackleton's Antarctic Nightmare.
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FANs Guided Hikes:
Our hiking schedule in 2019 included 18 hikes.  In addition to trails within the Middle Deschutes and Lower Crooked River canyons, like Scout Camp, Steelhead Falls and Otter Bench, we offered wildflower hikes and birding hikes further afield.

We look forward to working with all of our members and partners in 2020 to further our mission to preserve and restore the wild landscapes of our public lands.
Lens on Learning Series
Bringing Speakers on the Natural World To Crooked River Ranch
Our "What's Blooming Now?" series with
Marilynne Keyser is now available on video:

What's Blooming Now on the Canyon Rim?  May 2020
Learn about plants that grow along the canyon rim above the Middle Deschutes and Lower Crooked Rivers. 
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What's Blooming Now in the Grasslands?  June 2020
Grab your Guide to Common Native Plants of the Deschutes Canyon Area and enjoy this virtual walk through the grasslands around the Deschutes Canyon Area.

​What's Blooming Now in the Riparian Zone?  August 2020
Enjoy a journey through the riparian zone of local rivers and streams that features flowering plants requiring moisture in our otherwise arid shrub steppe habitat.
Picture
Douglas' spirea on Middle Deschutes River | Patricia Kirk
Limited Guided Hikes Start in August
In August, we will offer four free guided hikes open to the public, with temporary restrictions to mitigate COVID-19 risks.  We hope to continue guided hikes through October, as weather and air quality permits.   We believe our program meets all current health authority rules and recommendations, but of course these are subject to change.

Space is limited to 8 hikers, including hike leaders, and registration is required.  In addition to the conditions listed for each individual hike, participants need to abide by the following COVID-19 safety measures:
  • Hikers need to maintain 6 ft distance between each other.
  • Each hiker must bring their own face mask in case social distancing cannot be maintained when encountering other hikers.
  • Bring hand sanitizer to use in parking lot after hiker sign-in process.
  • Carpooling is limited to partners/family members.
  • Outside of partners/family members, no sharing supplies or equipment.
  • In the event of crowded trail indications, hike leader may opt for a near alternative location for the hike.
  • Hikers should stay home if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or if anyone in their household is currently in quarantine or awaiting results of a COVID-19 test. If you do not feel well before the hike, contact the leader as soon as possible to cancel, as we maintain a waitlist.

Visit our Guided Hikes page to learn more and access hike registration:

The Peninsula Hike, Crooked River National Grassland
Wednesday,  August 12, 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Rating: Easy (~2.5 miles of fairly flat, easy hiking; 0.5 mile of cross country hiking)
Guide: Eric Hanson, FANs Trail Monitor
 
Lookout Mountain Wildflower Hike, Ochoco National Forest
Saturday, August 15, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (includes drive time)
Rating: Moderate, 8 miles
Guide: Marilynne Keyser, FANs President 

Big Summit Prairie Wildflower Hike, Ochoco National Forest
Wednesday, August 19, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (includes drive time)
Rating: Easy (driving 10 miles, walking 2 miles)
Guide: Marilynne Keyser, FANs President 

Big Falls Ridge Hike
Tuesday, August 25, 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Rating: Moderate (4 miles, off-trail)
Guide: Jeff Scheetz, FANs Hiking Coordinator
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.
Tom Iraci created a video titled "Beauty in the Canyons,"  featuring images from the Deschutes Canyon Area.
Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area
fansofdeschutes@gmail.com
P.O. Box 2127, Terrebonne, OR  97760
541.771.FANS (3267)