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Crooked River National GrasslandHeader Counter

 
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Deschutes National Forest
1001 SW Emkay Drive
Bend, OR   97702

(541) 383-5300

Ochoco National Forest
3160 N.E. 3rd Street
Prineville, OR   97754

(541) 416-6500

Crooked River National Grassland
813 S.W. Hwy. 97
Madras, OR   97741

(541) 475-9272

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Wildlife

Viewing Sites

Site #9 -- Crooked River

Parking IconRestroom IconDrinking Water IconHandicap Accessible IconCamping IconPicnicing IconInterpretive Signs IconBlank SpacerWildlife Viewing IconWalking Trail Icon
Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management
some private land north of Castle Rock Campground.

This roadside route starts at the tight constriction of the Crooked River canyon (see GPS coordinates) and ends at Bowman Dam. Picture a narrow, meandering, dry canyon riddled with rock outcrops and lined by cliffs. Add juniper trees, big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, and cheatgrass (regrettably an aggressive invader from Europe). Finish the image with a slender ribbon of water sometimes hemmed by the green thread of sedge, rush, or cattail. This is the setting of the Crooked River. Several improved facilities are available: 8 campgrounds, a picnic site, and a trailhead. Chimney Rock Campground has a viewing platform that extends over the water for mobile-handicapped visitors.   This place features spectacular scenery and outstanding raptor habitat. Shaded ledges on rock cliffs provide spring nesting sites for prairie falcon, bald eagle, golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, common raven, and turkey vulture. Watch for Say's phoebe, ash-throated flycatcher, gray flycatcher, western kingbird, and small colonies of white-throated swift. Listen for the distinct calls of rock wren or chukar. You may be able to distinguish large-bodied bats (e.g. pallid bat) from smaller ones (e.g. western small-footed myotis) flying overhead at summer dusk.
Wildlife Header Graphic

FEATURED WILDLIFE GROUPS:

 

HABITATS:

FACILITIES:

  • Parking
  • Restroom
  • Drinking Water
  • ADA-accessible
  • Campground
  • Picnic
  • Trail
  • Interpretive Signs or Literature
 

SITE DESCRIPTION:

  • Phone for Info: (541) 416-6700
  • Website: www.or.blm.gov/Prineville/
  • Dimensions: 13 road miles
  • Elevation: 2,930' - 3,240'
  • GPS Latitude: 044°12'54.2" N
  • GPS Longitude: 120°52'39.2" W

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

The southern end of this viewing route is Bowman Dam, which impounds the river into Prineville Reservoir. The road passes over the dam -- be sure to stop for this view -- and continues south.

 

CAUTION:

The winding, single-lane road demands full attention for safe driving. Parking turnouts are relatively common but narrow. Be alert for rattlesnakes when hiking in summer, but don't purposely kill any snake on the road since other kinds are non-venomous and share this habitat.

HOW TO GET THERE:

  1. From Prineville -- jct. of US Hwy. 26 & State Hwy. 27 (Main St.)
  2. South on State Hwy. 27 for 6.8 miles to Extreme narrowing of canyon and start of viewing route
  3. Southeast on State Hwy. 27 for 6.6 miles to Castle Rock Campground
  4. Southeast on State Hwy. 27 for 3.1 miles to Chimney Rock Campground
  5. Southeast on State Hwy. 27 for 3.1 miles to Bowman Dam at Prineville Reservoir outlet
  • Total Distance: 7 miles
  • Estimated Time: 15 minutes

USDA Forest Service - Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Last Modified: Monday, 29 March 2004 at 16:40:57 EDT
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