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scapes of the Middle Deschutes and Lower Crooked
River and Lower Whychus Creek through stewardship,
outreach and education.
The group has hosted educational hikes and lectures,
planted hundreds of native grasses and shrubs to restore
degraded areas, pulled out noxious weeds and installed
informational kiosks and signs at trailheads.
“We started around March of last year,” said Bim
Gander, FANs treasurer. “There was a campaign or-
chestrated by the Oregon Natural Desert Association
(ONDA) to determine whether the wilderness study
area in the Deschutes Canyon/Whychus Canyon area
could be converted to a wilderness area.”
Gander said there were several Crooked River Ranch
residents who favored that movement and tried to pro-
mote it. Ultimately it was unsuccessful but those who
felt the area should be protected, even if it remained a
study area, formed FANs. They conduct trail mainte-
nance on about 25 miles of trails in Deschutes River
Canyon and Crooked River Canyon, and do a great
deal of trash cleanup on both BLM and National
Grassland.
They also cover the area north of the ranch on the
Peninsula where there is a great deal of target practice
that leaves pieces of clay pigeons all around, plus all the
other trash. During their first major cleanup there, they
picked up about two tons of garbage. The abuse has de-
clined precipitously out there because of their efforts.
“Scout Camp Trail is a relatively new trail that heads
down from the northwest corner of the ranch,” Gander
explained. “It’s a spectacularly beautiful loop trail that
descends down to the banks of the Deschutes River and
follows the river for almost a mile and then ascends
quite steeply up to where it started.”
Members of FANs have led several organized hikes
on the trail. One of the reasons they were so interested
in preserving the area is that the entire corridor just to
the west of Crooked River Ranch is so gorgeous. Gan-
der said there are two major waterfalls in the area, the
best known being Steelhead Falls. About four miles up-
river from there is Big Falls, which is equally beautiful.
From there all the way to Lake Billy Chinook the area
is rugged and spectacular canyonland country.
“This entire area is relatively close to Madras, Red-
The beautiful Steelhead Falls, on the Deschutes River, is a gem of Crooked River Ranch. The hike to the falls is a
relatively easy one, about three miles round trip. It’s easy access also contributes to its popularity.
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ORGANIZATION
CELEBRATING JEFFERSON COUNTY 35