Limited Guided Hikes Planned for August - October 2020
Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area is pleased to offer free guided hikes, 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. If you are interested in any hike, you can learn more and sign up using the links below. In addition to the conditions listed for each individual hike, participants need to abide by the following COVID-19 safety measures:
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
This easy hike includes great views of the Lower Crooked River gorge, Middle Deschutes River gorge, historic homestead remnants, wildlife guzzler, wildflowers and a discussion about the past, present and future of this very special and unique landscape.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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
This round-trip loop ascends over 1,000 feet through open meadows, stands of beautiful old growth ponderosa and mixed conifer forests. The first 4 miles will be gaining elevation and the second 4 miles will be downhill. The summit is a rocky plateau with sweeping views of the Ochoco Mountains.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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 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 Ochoco National Forest and easily accessed by public roads. This will be a drive and hike trip circumnavigating the prairie (ten miles). We will make at least six stops along FS Road 42, driving in a caravan.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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
This area of gently rolling hills accesses the high point of Big Falls Ridge, located northwest of Big Falls on the Deschutes River. The ridge offers a view of the southwest portion of Crooked River Ranch after a meandering climb of about 300 feet. There will be some fences to negotiate, as this public land was once grazed. This is a good area to practice backcountry navigation, so you may wish to bring a map, compass, and GPS receiver.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
Space is limited to 8 hikers, including hike leaders, and registration is required. If you are interested in any hike, you can learn more and sign up using the links below. 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.
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
This easy hike includes great views of the Lower Crooked River gorge, Middle Deschutes River gorge, historic homestead remnants, wildlife guzzler, wildflowers and a discussion about the past, present and future of this very special and unique landscape.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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
This round-trip loop ascends over 1,000 feet through open meadows, stands of beautiful old growth ponderosa and mixed conifer forests. The first 4 miles will be gaining elevation and the second 4 miles will be downhill. The summit is a rocky plateau with sweeping views of the Ochoco Mountains.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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 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 Ochoco National Forest and easily accessed by public roads. This will be a drive and hike trip circumnavigating the prairie (ten miles). We will make at least six stops along FS Road 42, driving in a caravan.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
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
This area of gently rolling hills accesses the high point of Big Falls Ridge, located northwest of Big Falls on the Deschutes River. The ridge offers a view of the southwest portion of Crooked River Ranch after a meandering climb of about 300 feet. There will be some fences to negotiate, as this public land was once grazed. This is a good area to practice backcountry navigation, so you may wish to bring a map, compass, and GPS receiver.
Learn more and sign up for this hike.
