The Deschutes shelters five rugged wilderness areas including the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Diamond Peak, Mt. Thielsen, and Mt. Washington. Explore adjacent forests such as the Willamette, Fremont, and Umpqua. Crater Lake National Park lies to the southwest of the forest. Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge lies to the south, as do some of California's natural attractions such as Lava Beds National Monument, Modoc, and Shasta National Forests.
The forest is approximately a three-hour drive east of Eugene and a four-hour drive southeast of Portland. Nearby towns where you can stock up on supplies include Bend, Sunriver, La Pine, and Redmond. There is also an airport in Redmond.
The Deschutes National Forest is one of the most popular forests in the Pacific Northwest because of the
wide variety of recreational opportunities and other benefits it offers. Located in the high desert country
of Central Oregon, the Forest attracts more than 7 million people every year to camp, fish, hike, hunt, ski, mountain bike, and enjoy many other outdoor sports. The Forest also provides commodities as varied as timber and mushrooms to Oregonians and other visitors.
From the Cascade Mountains on its western border to the high desert country east of Bend, from the old
growth ponderosa pine along the Metolius River to Crescent and Odell Lakes in the south, the Deschutes
National Forest radiates variety. Twenty peaks higher than 7,000 feet, including four of Oregon's five
highest peaks, are found within the Forest. More than 150 lakes and 500 miles of streams are also found here.
Within the Forest boundary, there are 1.85 million acres. Nearly 1.6 million of these acres are National
Forest lands, and the balance is mostly forest industry land with some individually-owned tracts.
Unique Areas and Attractions
You will find many unique areas within the Forest. Among these are five wilderness areas, six Wild and
Scenic Rivers, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the Metolius Conservation Area, and the Oregon
Cascades Recreation Area.
The Deschutes National Forest is also home to two specialized operation centers: the Bend Pine Nursery
and the Redmond Air Center. The nursery produces between 5 and 8 million ponderosa and lodgepole
pine seedlings each year. The Redmond Air Center dispatches smoke jumpers, fire crews, retardant
planes, and other fire equipment throughout the northwest and the nation. Both facilities provide public
tours.
Recreation
Outdoor recreation opportunities attract thousands to Central Oregon and the Deschutes National Forest.
Warmer weather brings anglers, hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, and campers to the Forest's rivers,
lakes, mountains, and trails. Winter visitors ski the Pacific Coast's premier ski resort for alpine skiing
while thousands enjoy National Forest nordic skiing on marked trails or ride snowmobiles.
In 1986, the Forest ranked third among the 19 national forests of Oregon and Washington in recreation visits and 25th nationally among all 125 national forests. Use continues to surge.
During 1990, more than 10 million visitors came to the Forest. A 1987 study showed most visitors were from Oregon, followed by California and Washington. Increasingly, the Forest greets people from overseas, especially Asian countries.
About half of all use occurs at developed recreation sites, such as campgrounds, resorts, organization camps, and summer cabins. Camping season starts as early as mid-April and lasts until late September. Occupancy rates at the Forest's 101 campgrounds average 45 percent, slightly above the preferred 20 to 40 percent rate that allows use without impacting the environment.
Camping also occurs near the lakes within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This new
monument, southeast of Bend, combines the existing Lava Lands Visitor Center, the Lava Butte
Observatory, and Lava River Cave with the natural wonders of Newberry Crater.
Skiing has long been a popular sport in Central Oregon, starting with early immigrants from Scandinavia.
Today, Mt. Bachelor Ski and Summer Resort attracts nearly three-quarters of a million people
annually.
Several private resorts are located within or close to the Forest. In addition, numerous state parks are
nearby.
For those who enjoy vacationing away from the crowds, the Deschutes National Forest offers large tracts of undeveloped land. In addition, l 300 miles of trails cross the Forest, beckoning hikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers, skiers, and mountain bikers.
Five Congressionally designated wilderness areas cover 183,000 acres within the Forest. Many hikers and
horseback riders travel through the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Diamond Peak, and Mt.
Thielsen wildernesses. One of the main attractions is the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which
winds through many of these wilderness areas.
Other areas for dispersed recreation include the Oregon Cascades Recreation Area (OCRA) and 145,000
acres of additional undeveloped land. Created in 1984, OCRA is accessible for recreation and wildlife
uses, while remaining substantially undeveloped. The Forest contains 43,000 acres of this 157,000-acre
recreation haven.
The Forest's six Wild and Scenic Rivers attract people for activities as varied as angling and river rafting.
In addition, spelunkers and other explorers will find a number of caves and unique geological areas within
the Forest.
The Cascades Lake National Scenic Byway on Oregon State Highway 46 is a superb scenic drive that you can also bike on. There are many stops along the way for activities such as fishing, distance hiking, skiing, wildlife observation, camping, nature study. Highly recommended.
While portions of the Forest are open to off highway vehicle (OHV) and snowmobile use, demand for
trails that accommodate these vehicles is increasing. Wildernesses, roadless areas, research and
experimental forests, and certain wildlife winter ranges are closed to such vehicles. During the summer,
many OHV operators use infrequently traveled logging roads and a few open trails. Additionally, some
346 miles of snowmobile trails, 261 miles groomed, are open during the winter.
Metolius Conservation Area
Within the Deschutes National Forest, the Metolius Basin is truly unique in the quality and diversity of its
scenic natural resources and spiritual allure. Rich soil and abundant rainfall have created a forest of many
species, ranging from dense stands of fir, cedar and larch to more open stands of yellow-bark ponderosa
pine. The Metolius River winds north from its headwaters to where it enters Lake Billy Chinook.
Recognizing these exceptional resource values and in response to extensive public interest, the new Forest
Plan has established the 86,000 acre Metolius Conservation Area. The area includes Black Butte, portions
of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, and Green Ridge. It encompasses the"Horn of the Metolius" where
the river hooks sharply to the east and forms the boundary between the Deschutes National Forest and the
Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
The Metolius Conservation Area contains several special management areas. Each of these areas has
unique values.
The 24,300 acre Metolius Heritage Area was created to perpetuate the unique setting of ancient yellow-
belly ponderosa pine and spring-fed streams.
The 13,100 acre Metolius Wildlife-Primitive Area provides undisturbed habitat for bald eagle,
cougar, and deer.
The 10,600 acre Metolius Black Butte Scenic Area was established to protect Black Butte. Within this
area, forest management will focus on perpetuating mature and over mature trees.
Within the 1,700 acre Metolius Special Interest Area, unique geological, biological, and cultural areas are
protected for research and public enjoyment. The top of Black Butte and Castle/Cathedral Rocks make up
this area, which also includes the popular Black Butte Lookout Trail.
The 4,800 acre Metolius Scenic Views Area greets Forest visitors with views of stunning mountain peaks,
rock formations and other interesting features.
While other areas preserve old growth as part of wildlife or research needs, the Metolius Old Growth Area
does so in response to the public's desire to see more ancient trees. Two units make up this 1,800 acre
area, the Black Butte Old Growth Unit and the Glaze Meadow Unit. No timber harvesting is planned
here, and other disturbances will be limited or discouraged.
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Some 135.4 miles of six Deschutes National Forest streams became part of the National Wild and Scenic
River System with passage of the 1988 Omnibus Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Rivers added to the system
must meet two requirements: they must be free-flowing and they must have one or more "outstandingly
remarkable" values. These values may be scenic, recreational, geologic, historic or cultural. They also
may be related to the river's fish and wildlife.
To preserve its current free-flowing condition, a designated river is protected from federally supported
dam building and other federally authorized structural changes.
Portions of six rivers and streams on the Forest are currently part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System. These designated portions are 54.4 miles of the upper Deschutes River (above Bend), 12.0 miles
of the Little Deschutes River, 28.6 miles of the Metolius River, 15.0 miles of Big Marsh Creek, 10.0 miles
of Crescent Creek, and 15.4 miles of Squaw Creek.
Once designated, river segments are classified based on the extent of development and access along each
section. These classifications are wild, scenic, and recreational. Generally, rivers designated wild have
the most use restrictions, and those classified recreational have the least. Of the six Deschutes National
Forest rivers, most portions are classified recreational or scenic. Only part of Squaw Creek received a
wild designation.
After designation of these six rivers, public input and support led the Forest to examine 70 additional
streams. Of the 70, five were determined eligible for additional study.
These streams are Fall River, Headwaters of the Deschutes River, Jack Creek, Paulina Creek, and Browns
Creek. These streams are protected from dam-building and development until further studies determine
whether they receive Congressional designation.
Return to 
Top
RELATED GORP LINKS
GORP Oregon Resources
GORPtravel Adventure Vacations
from Away.com
