B2 THE BULLETIN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021
CONDITIONS REPORT
Trails, sno-parks, rivers
near Sisters and state parks
EVENTS
Daily tours
• Lava Cave Tours: A guided tour
of a local lava tube exploring the
geologic and human history as
well as the ecology of the cave;
9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; $65
to $90; Wanderlust Tours, 61535
S. Highway 97, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/713740-0 or 541-389-8359.
• Daily Snowshoe Tours: A
naturalist-guided tour through
areas around Mt. Bachelor.
Snowshoes and hot cocoa
provided; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1:30-
5:30 p.m.; $65 to $90; Wanderlust
Tours, 61535 S. Highway 97, Bend;
go.evvnt.com/713722-0 or 541-
389-8359.
• Shoes, Brews & Views Snowshoe
Tour: Snowshoe to a spot in the
Deschutes National Forest and sip
some locally crafted beers or root
beer for those under 21; 1:30 p.m.-
5:30 p.m.; $65 to $95; Wanderlust
Tours, 61535 S. Highway 97, Bend;
go.evvnt.com/713728-1 or 541-
389-8359.
• Bonfire Snowshoe Tours: A
naturalist-guided tour near Mt.
Bachelor out to a small bonfire
where snowshoes will be treated
to hot libations and a dessert;
7-11 p.m.; $110; Wanderlust
Tours, 61535 S. Highway 97, Bend;
go.evvnt.com/713736-0 or 541-
389-8359.
• Moonlight & Starlight
Snowshoes Tours: A guided tour
on snowshoes in the Cascade
Lakes area under the stars;
7-11 p.m.; $95; Wanderlust Tours,
61535 S. Highway 97, Bend;
go.evvnt.com/713732-0 or 541-
389-8359.
Welcome to a new year Central Oregon!
And what better way to celebrate 2021’s
arrival than to head outside and explore.
Snow hit the higher elevations hard this
week, and it looks like this weekend will be
no different. So for all you snow bunnies, hit
the slopes in areas near Sisters for some great
fun in the powder.
Many of the lower elevations are still
accessible too for hiking over lighter snowfall
or snowshoeing. But remember, conditions
can change rapidly in the mountains. Always
know you and your vehicle’s limits before
attempting to go up an unplowed road.
For a full list of conditions updated
regularly, please visit centraloregonexplore.
Mark Morical/Bulletin file photo
com
Ice skating rink hours
Chush Falls surges with abandon along Whychus Creek near Sisters.
Open
• Canyon Creek Trailhead:
Open
• Chush Falls: Open
• Cold Springs Day Use:
Open
• Head of Jack Creek
Trailhead: Open
• Head of the Metolius:
Open; snow free and clear
• Jefferson Lake: Open
• Lake Creek Trail: Open;
patchy snow, ice and mud
• Lower Black Butte
Trailhead: Open
• Lower Bridge Day Use:
Open
• Lower Canyon Creek
(West Metolius
Trailhead): Open
• Park Meadow: Open;
moderate deadfall on tie
trail to Tam Rim
• Pole Creek Trailhead:
Open
• Rockpile Lake: Open
HIKING
AND DAY
USE SITES
• NOTE: Many of the trails
along seasonally closed
highways and forest service
roads remain open, but
can only be accessed by
hike, snowshoe, cross
country ski or snowmobile
due to accumulating
snowfall. See Forest
websites for more details
and restrictions.
Deschutes
National Forest
• Bear Valley Trailhead:
Open
• Black Butte Trailhead:
Open
• Black Crater Trailhead:
Free entrance to State Parks
Willamette
National Forest —
Three Sisters
Wilderness Area
OREGON
STATE
PARKS
Deschutes
National Forest
• Three Creek Sno-Park
(Lower): Open; 0-2 inches;
poor conditions due to low
snow; sno-park not plowed
due to lack of funding
• Three Creek Sno-Park
(Upper): Open; 0-8 inches;
poor conditions due to low
snow, bare ground on ski
and snowshoe trails
• Cline Falls State Scenic
Viewpoint: Open; expect
reduced services; restrooms
are closed, portable toilet
is on site; maintain social
distancing and wear a mask
• Cove Palisades State
Park: Open for day-
use and lake access; all
campgrounds and cabins
are closed for the season
• Fort Rock Cave: Closed
for 2020
• Fort Rock State Natural
Area: Open; day-use
hours 8 a.m,-8 p.m.; rock
scrambling closed in
southeast area to protect
nesting falcons
• Jasper Point: Open; boat
ramp closed due to low
water conditions; camping
is closed for the season
• La Pine State Park: Open,
expect reduced services;
winter day use hours are
8 a.m.-4 p.m.; meeting hall
is closed
• Peter Skene Ogden State
Scenic Viewpoint: Open
• Pilot Butte State Scenic
Viewpoint: Open for
limited daytime use; summit
road is closed for the winter;
east parking lot open
8 a.m.-6 p.m., restrooms
open 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Prineville Reservoir
State Park: Open; expect
reduced services; cabins
are closed
Metolius River — Winter fishing on the Metolius may require bit more grit and warm
layers, but the fly-fishing only section from Allingham Bridge to Bridge 99 has some of
the best seasonal angling in the area. Bull trout whoppers make their runs from Lake Billy
Chinook up the river in pursuit of the kokanee runs and are great fighters if they wind up
on the end of your line. But you’ll have to release them if you do — the only fish that can
make it into your kreel are hatchery rainbow, kokanee and mountain whitefish.
Ray Benson Sno-park — Just beyond the hustle and bustle of the Hoodoo Ski Area
is a smaller sno-park with stunning views and an easy 5.8 mile loop for snowshoers
and Nordic skiers to enjoy a bit of solitude among the trees. On bluebird days you can
see perfect views of Mt. Washington, Hayrick Butte and more. This is one snow area
where you can also bring along your dogs to play with you for a day in the snow.
Three Creek Lake Trail — Closer to Sisters, the winter trail is located at end of For-
est Service Road 16 at Upper Three Creek Sno-Park. From there, a 6.5-mile snowmo-
bile, snowshoe or cross country ski trip is in store over the steadily moderate trail. But
the views of the Three Sisters, Three Creek Lake with Tam McArthur Rim above it are
worth it on clear days.
— Makenzie Whittle, The Bulletin
Columbia Park
access closure
As of July 22, Deschutes River
access is closed due to safety
concerns and to prevent further
erosion to the river bank. The
access point will be closed until
further notice. For more informa-
tion, visit bendparksandrec.org.
LA PINE
FRIDAY
• Updated 8 a.m. Dec. 31
• Hoodoo: Open; 48.7 inch
base all lifts operating
• Mt. Bachelor: Open; 62
inch base; Summit and First
Rays lifts are closed
• Willamette Pass: 35 inches
at lodge; rentals must be
reserved online in advance
• McKenzie River Trail:
Partially open
• Tamolitch Blue Pool:
Open
WHERE TO EXPLORE
Fire restrictions
SKI AREAS
AND SNOW
PARKS
Whychus Trailhead):
Open
• Round Lake Trailhead:
Open
• Sisters Cow Camp: Open
• Sisters Mirror Trailhead:
Open
• Sisters Tie Trailhead:
Open
• Suttle Lake Day Use:
Open; patchy snow, ice
and mud
• Tam McArthur Rim
Trailhead: Open
• Whychus Creek Overlook
Trailhead: Open
• Whychus Portal (Lower
TOP PICKS
Fire danger is currently listed as Moderate
in both the Deschutes National Forest and
Ochoco National Forest. Fire danger is listed as
Low in the Willamette National Forest.
As of Oct. 14, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level
as been lowered to a Level 1 for the Deschutes and
Ochoco national forests and the Prineville District
— Bureau of Land Management.
• Smith Rock State Park:
Open — limited services;
no camping.
• Tumalo State Park: Open;
expect reduced services;
group facilities are closed
Oregon State Parks will waive any parking or en-
trance fees to any paid site throughout the state on
Jan. 1. While annual New Year’s Day hikes have been
cancelled at many parks, rangers have placed signs
along favorite trials with area information and di-
rections.
Willamette
National Forest
• Ikenick Sno-Park: Open
• Little Nash Sno-Park:
Open
• Maxwell Sno-Park: Open;
Mountain View and South
Maxwell shelters are closed
• Potato Hill Sno-Park:
Open
• Ray Benson Sno-Park:
Open
• Santiam Sno-Park: Open
CAMPING
Deschutes
National Forest
• Allen Springs
Campground: Open
• Camp Sherman
Campground: Open
• Lava Camp Lake
Campground: Open
• Lower Bridge
Campground: Open
• Pine Rest Campground:
• The Pavillion: Public skating by
reservation only. Open skating
session times vary, see website
for details; $12 adults, $11 older
adults (60-79) and students, $10
youth and honored citizens (80
plus), children under 3 with a
paying adult are free, $3 discount
if you bring your own skates, $6
per person for special sessions;
1001 SW Bradbury Drive, Bend;
bendparksandrec.org/facility/the-
pavilion or 541-389-7588.
• Seventh Mountain Resort:
Reservations required. Open
skating sessions run 1 hour and
20 minutes every two hours
10 a.m.-8 p.m.; $15 adults, $12
children 7 to 18, $5 children
6 and under, $5 discount for
bringing your own skates;
Seventh Mountain Resort Ice Rink,
18575 SW Century Drive, Bend;
seventhmountainriverco.com/ice-
skating or 877-765-1501.
• Sunriver Village: Reservations
required for all skaters. Open
skating sessions run 1 hour and
15 minutes every two hours
9 a.m.-9 p.m.; $15 adults, $11
children 5 to 12, $3 discount if you
have your own skates; Sunriver
Village Ice Rink, 57100 Beaver
Drive, Sunriver; sunrivervillagefun.
com/sunriver-ice-skating or 541-
593-5948.
Open
• Sisters Cow Camp Horse
Camp: Open; no campfires
CYCLING
Fatbike and winter
trails:
• Ben’s-MTB-Kent’s: Muddy
• Wanoga — 3 PSI,
Wanoga — Outer Loop:
Rideable snow
• All other trials riding well
Sisters trails
• Lake Creek, Metolius-
Windigo (Black Butte
and 99 Lower) and Suttle
Lake Loop: Riding well;
deadfall reported
• Metolius-Windigo (99
Upper): Deep snow
• All other trails riding well
FISHING
Saturday 1/2
• Updated at 8 a.m. Dec. 31
• Middle Deschutes
(Benham Falls to Lake
Billy Chinook): 4,330 cfs;
brown trout, rainbow trout;
water is higher and clarity
is good with decent trout
fishing; open year-round
for trout, artificial flies
and lures only; no limit on
brown trout
• Metolius River: 1,400 cfs;
bull trout, rainbow trout;
consistent fishing reported;
fly fishing only upstream
of Bridge 99, artificial lures
and flies permitted below;
catch and release only;
public access to Wizard Falls
Hatchery remains closed;
river is closed to fishing
above Allingham Bridge
until May 22, 2021
• McKenzie River (at Clear
Lake): 617 cfs
• McKenzie River (near
Belknap Springs): 1,210
cfs; rainbow and coastal
cutthroat trout; current
hatches — blue winged
olive, midge, sculpin; river
access may be limited due
to the Holiday Farm Fire.
• Lake Billy Chinook: Bull,
brown and rainbow trout,
kokanee, smallmouth bass;
Metolius arm is closed until
spring, no recent reports for
rest of lake
• Spey Casting: An on-water spey
casting workshop will be held.
Bring your own rod or use a demo.
Boots and waders suggested,
coffee provided; 8-9:30 a.m.;
Farewell Bend Park, 1000 SW Reed
Market Road, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/723253-0 or 541-678-5633.
• CORK Saturday Long Run: A
5- to 10-mile group run will be
held. Limited to 25 participants
and each runner must maintain
social distance while running.
Subject to change, check
Facebook page for updates;
9-11 a.m.; Thump Roastery, 549
NW York Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/723283-0
Tuesday 1/5
• Beginning Fly Tying Class:
Novice anglers can learn the basics
of tying flies in this 2-hour class.
Register at the fly shop; 6-8 p.m.;
$80; Confluence Fly Shop, 375 SW
Powerhouse Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/723256-0 or 541-678-5633.
Wednesday 1/6
• Intermediate Fly Fishing Class:
Take your fly-tying knowledge
further with this intermediate
skilled class. All materials provided.
Register at the fly shop; 6-8 p.m.;
$80; Confluence Fly Shop, 375 SW
Powerhouse Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/723266-0 or 541-678-5633.
SISTERS
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
FRIDAY
43°/34° 44°/37° 45°/39°
MILES
N
SATURDAY
0
SUNDAY
10
46°/38° 50°/42° 50°/43°
46
ELEVATION: 4,236 FEET
ELEVATION: 3,182 FEET
20
97
126
Lava Butte
Lake Billy Chinook
Deschutes River
BEND
FRIDAY
Newberry Volcano
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
44°/38° 49°/41° 49°/43°
ELEVATION: 3,623 FEET
REDMOND
FRIDAY
97
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
50°/39° 49°/42° 50°/43°
47°/39° 51°/42° 51°/44°
ELEVATION: 3,077 FEET
ELEVATION: 2,242 FEET
20
Sources: Accuweather, U.S. Geological Survey
Clarinda Simpson/Bulletin graphic
MADRAS
Smith Rock