B2 THE BULLETIN • FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021
CONDITIONS REPORT
High Desert trails, camping, fishing and more
EVENTS
With cooler weather and possible — and much
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;
wanderlusttours.com or 541-389-8359.
• Daily Snowshoe Tours: A naturalist-
guided tour through areas around
Mount 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;
wanderlusttours.com 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; wanderlusttours.
com or 541-389-8359.
• Bonfire Snowshoe Tours: A naturalist-
guided tour near Mount 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;
wanderlusttours.com 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; wanderlusttours.
com or 541-389-8359.
• Brews & Views Kayak Tour: A
naturalist-guided tour paddling on a
calm section the Deschutes River with
a local microbrew or root beer to enjoy
afterwards; 1:30-5:30 p.m.; $65 to $95;
Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S. Highway
97, Bend; wanderlusttours.com or 541-
389-8359
• Deschutes River Kayak Tour: Paddle
along a tranquil stretch of the river
guided by a naturalist; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
and 1:30-5:30 p.m.; $70 to $95;
Wanderlust Tours, 61535 S. Highway
97, Bend; wanderlusttours.com or 541-
389-8359
needed — rain on the way, now is a great time to
get out and explore the arid High Desert region of
Central Oregon.
Even though temperatures are more favorable for a
desert hike or bike ride, still bring plenty of water as
many places don’t have potable water available.
For a full list of conditions updated regularly, please
visit centraloregonexplore.com
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 snow levels.
See Forest websites for more
details and restrictions.
Deschutes National
Forest
• Bessie Butte Trail: Open
• Boyd Cave Day Use Area: Open
• Horse Butte Trailhead: Open;
mostly snow free and clear
• Pine Mountain: Open
Ochoco National Forest
• Alder Springs Trailhead: Open;
access road open
• Cyrus Trailhead: Open
• Gray Butte Trailhead: Open
• Henderson Flat OHV Trail
System: Open
• Henderson Flat Staging Area:
Open
• Rimrock Springs Trailhead:
Open
• Scales Corral Trailhead: Open
• Skull Hollow Trailhead: Open
• Tam-A-Lau Trailhead: Open
Bureau of Land
Management
• Badlands Rock Trail: Open
• Black Hills ACEC: Open; climbing
and geocaching are prohibited
• Chimney Rock Trail: Open
• Christmas Valley Sand Dunes:
Open
• Cline Buttes Recreation Area:
Portions of Deep Canyon, Fryrear,
Maston and Jaguar Road are
closed through Aug. 31
• Crack-in-the-Ground: Open
• Derrick Cave: Open
• Flatiron Rock Trail: Open
• Fossil Lake ACEC: Open; motor
vehicles and fossil collecting
prohibited
• Green Mountain: Open
• Huntington Wagon Road: Open
• Lost Forest: Open, vehicles
restricted to designated roads
only
• Lower Crooked River: Open
• North Fork: Open
• Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Tumulus Trail: Open
• Redmond Caves Recreation
Site: Open
• Scout Camp Trail: Open
• Steelhead Falls Trail: Open
• Trout Creek Trail: South side
of trail, including Trout Creek
climbing walls is closed through
Aug. 31
Bulletin file photo
Grizzly Mountain looms above the Crooked River National Grassland and Skull Hollow.
Smith Rock climbing closures
Prineville and Ochoco
trails
To protect nesting raptors, the following climbing routes are
closed: Cajun Cliff, Victoria Tower, Little Three Fingered Jack, Pud-
dy’s Tower, The Monument, Anglin’s Buttress, French Tent Rock,
First Kiss Area north of Monkey Face and Smith Rock Group NE
Face (both towers, above 100 feet).
The Canyon Trail near the bald eagle nest is restricted to groups
of four or less and noise must be kept to a minimum.
See smithrock.com/seasonal-closures for more information.
• 66 Trails: Muddy
• Cougar Creek, Independent
Mine, Lookout Mountain,
Round Mountain, Scotty Creek:
Deep snow; deadfall reported
• Prineville Bike Park: Riding Well
Maston complex
• All trails riding well
•
OREGON
STATE PARKS
•
• 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:
•
•
Bureau of Land Management
seasonal trail closures
Open for day-use and lake access;
Crooked River Campground
(E Loop) is open, Deschutes
Campground and moorage slips
will open May 14.
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; cave tours cancelled for
2021
Jasper Point: Open; camping is
closed for the season
Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic
Viewpoint: Open
Prineville Reservoir State
Park: Open; courtesy dock at
Powderhouse ramp is not in
use due to low water; no boat
moorage in 2021 due to low
water; Prineville Resort is closed
and no fuel is available for
purchase
• Smith Rock State Park: Open
— limited services; no camping;
climbing closures to protect
nesting raptors in place until
August; park-wide drone ban is
in effect.
Fire restrictions
• Pine Mountain Campground:
Open; no campfires
Fire danger is currently listed as
Moderate in the Deschutes and
Ochoco National Forests. Fire
danger is listed as Low in the
Willamette National Forest.
Industrial Fire Precaution Level
is currently at Level 1 for the De-
schutes and Ochoco national
forests and the Prineville Dis-
trict — Bureau of Land Man-
agement.
The following Bureau of Land Management trails are now closed
through Aug. 31 to protect nesting raptors:
• Millican Plateau OHV Trail System (Route 95 only)
• South side of Trout Creek Trail including climbing walls
• Cline Buttes Recreation Area (portions of Deep Canyon, Fryrear,
Maston, Jaguar Road)
• Horny Hollow Trail
• Dry River Canyon
• For more information visit blm.gov
Redmond trails
• The Saddle: Closed for nesting
eagles, likely to reopen late fall
of 2021
• All trails riding well
Madras East Trails
• All trails riding well
FISHING
CAMPING
Deschutes National
Forest
Ochoco National Forest
• Cyrus Horse Camp: Open
• Haystack Reservoir
Campground and Day Use
Area: Open
• Haystack Reservoir Group Site:
Open
• Haystack West Shore
Campground and Day Use
Area: Open
• Skull Hollow Campground:
Open
• Barr Road North Staging Area:
Open
• Big Bend Campground: Open
• Buckhorn Staging Area: Open
• Castle Rock Campground: Open
• Chimney Rock Campground:
Open
• Cobble Rock Campground:
Open
• Lone Pine Campground: Open
• Macks Canyon Recreation Site:
Open
• Palisades Campground: Open
• Post Pile Campground: Open
• Steelhead Falls: Open; no
potable water
• Stillwater Campground: Open
CYCLING
East of Bend trails
Twilight overlooking Haystack Reservoir in June from the South Shore Group Campground.
LA PINE
FRIDAY
Friday 4/23
• Happy Hour Trail Ride ‘n Skills: The
weekly clinic will work on specific
skills needed for different biking
trails including jumps and corners,
technical climbs and descents and
more; 4-6 p.m.; $75; new trail each
week, around Bend, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/767660-2 or 541-728-7878.
• Updated at 8 a.m. April 22
• Lower Deschutes (Pelton Dam
to Columbia River): 4,930
cfs; redband trout, steelhead,
whitefish; trout will continue to
be less active through the winter
but can be caught on something
slow and tasty, steelhead fishing
is done as most fish are entering
spawning grounds in closed
waters
• Middle Deschutes (Benham
Falls to Lake Billy Chinook):
3,810 cfs; brown trout, rainbow
trout; water is high but clarity is
good, hatches coming out on
warmest part of the day; open
year-round for trout, artificial flies
and lures only; no limit on brown
trout; fishing has been fair for
browns and rainbows on rapalas
and spinners
• Crooked River (below Opal
Springs): 1,158 cfs; rainbow trout
and mountain whitefish; only fish
downstream of Bowman Dam
to Lake Billy Chinook; fishing has
been good but water remains
low; any trout over 20 inches are
considered steelhead and must
be released, bull trout must be
released unharmed and reported
to the USFW at crookedbulltrout@
fws.gov
• Prineville Reservoir: 61%
full; rainbow trout, small and
largemouth bass, catfish, crappie,
crayfish; trout fishing has been fair,
good for warm weather species
• Ochoco Reservoir: 26% full;
rainbow trout, black crappie,
smallmouth bass; trout fishing
should start increasing with lower
temperatures; ramp still likely
unusable due to low water levels
• Haystack Reservoir: 74%
full; rainbow and brown trout,
kokanee, largemouth bass, black
crappie, bluegill and bullhead
catfish; fishing is fair for rainbows
on bait, troll and flies.
• Lake Billy Chinook: Bull, brown
and rainbow trout, kokanee,
smallmouth bass; Metolius arm is
now open but tribal fishing permit
required, kokanee fishing has
been excellent
BLM — Prineville
District
Makenzie Whittle/Bulletin file photo
Ongoing
• Big Butte Challenge: Hikers and
runners will summit five buttes
in Central Oregon, going at their
own pace whenever their schedule
allows using a GPS-enabled activity
tracker to submit efforts before the
deadline; through May 31; $60;
throughout Central Oregon; go.evvnt.
com/752281-1 or 541-350-4635.
• Dry River Canyon: Closed
through Aug. 31
• Crooked Arm, Holy Loop, Sand
Canyon: Sandy and loose
• All other trails riding well
Saturday 4/24
• Eighth Annual Bend Bike Swap: A
selection of new and used bikes, kid’s
bikes, parts, apparel, gear and more
will be sold with proceeds going to the
Bend Endurance Academy, Commute
Options and MBSEF; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.;
Thump Roastery, 549 NW. York Drive,
Bend; go.evvnt.com/770441-0
Tuesday 4/27
• Reaching for the Sky — Lessons
on Forest Canopies from Science:
During this virtual lecture, Dr. David
Anderson, ornithologist and founder
of Canopy Watch International, will
share recent efforts to grow the
art and science of canopy access
methods; 3-4 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/766837-0
Wednesday 4/28
• Foley Waters Hike: We will follow
lesser known paths with a bit of cross
country travel, looking at spring plants,
a fraudulent gold mine, and local
geology.; 9 a.m.-noon; registration
required; Steelhead Falls Trailhead,
River Road, Crooked River Ranch;
eventbrite.com
• Women’s Foundational Skills Bike
Clinic: Women new to mountain
biking can learn fundamental skills
to feel more confident setting up the
bike, shifting, braking and navigating
small trail obstacles; 5:30-7:30 p.m.;
$75; Seventh Mountain Resort, 18575
SW Century Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/767651-2 or 541-728-7878.
Thursday 4/29
• Tam-A-Lau Trail Hike: This guided hike
will offer spectacular views of Lake Billy
Chinook and the entire Cascade range.;
9 a.m.-2 p.m.; registration required;
Tam-a-láu Loop Hike, Cove Palisades
State Park, Culver; eventbrite.com
SISTERS
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
FRIDAY
64°/31° 70°/35° 75°/34°
MILES
N
SATURDAY
0
SUNDAY
10
67°/36° 55°/29° 54°/33°
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
64°/37° 50/27° 46°/24°
ELEVATION: 3,623 FEET
REDMOND
FRIDAY
97
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
67°/38° 57°/29° 54°/30°
68°/39° 59°/31° 60°/36°
ELEVATION: 3,077 FEET
ELEVATION: 2,242 FEET
20
Sources: Accuweather, U.S. Geological Survey
Clarinda Simpson/Bulletin graphic
MADRAS
Smith Rock