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C ELEBRATING JEFFERSON C OUNTY 63
inviting camping locations.
But, now that fall has arrived, and winter is
beckoning, it’s important to note that the Camp
Sherman area is also a winter recreation paradise.
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobil-
ing ... the Metolius Recreation Association can
give you all the details on southwestern Jefferson
County. It can be reached at 541-595-6117. Snow-
mobile, snowshoe, ski or just hang out in a lodge
— options abound.
For those traveling U.S. Highway 97, the KOA
Kampground by Haystack Reservoir is just 10
miles south of Madras and about three miles east
of Culver. It’s great place to park your RV and get
an upclose view of the countryside.
There are several RV parks spread about the
county. The local chambers (see info at the end of
the story) can help you locate a park near your
destination.
The Madras-Jefferson County Chamber of
Commerce, at 274 S.W. Fourth St., in Madras, is a
great place to stop and get recreation information.
The chamber also houses the office of the
Crooked River National Grassland, where infor-
mation and maps to all public lands around the
county and Central Oregon are available.
Hiking the Hills
If you like to hike, you might want to get your-
self one of the Grassland maps. Jefferson County
is a hiker’s paradise. The mother of all hiking
trails in Jefferson County is the one that twists
along the western edge of the county, the trail that
stretches from Canada to Mexico — the Pacific
Crest Trail.
Just look at the awesome western horizon, from
anywhere in Central Oregon. Imagine a foot trail run-
ning from one end to the other, for as far as you can see
either way. Through hikers often spend six months or
more on the trail, spend But that’s only a small part of
the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs the length of the
western United States, from Mexico to the Canadian
border. The trail runs along the Cascades, and veers in
and out of the county along its western edge. Ambitious
hikers can get on the famous trail at Olallie Lake in the
northwest corner of the county (accessible from U.S.
26), or the south side, via U.S. Highway 20.
But save the PCT until summer. You don’t want any-
thing to do with it this time of year. But, if the idea of
sucking in clean, brisk air and tromping through sage
and juniper country sounds nice, then Jefferson County
hiking trails can fill your cool-weather months.
The Crooked River National Grassland has several
fabulous high desert hiking trails. Rimrock Springs, lo-
cated off U.S. Highway 26, between Madras and
Prineville, is an excellent four-seasons hiking spot, per-
fect for all ages. The Gray Butte Trail, best accessed off
Highway 26 as well, is a bit more arduous but still do-
able throughout the most of the year.
The Crooked River Ranch country also has many ex-
cellent hiking trails. See our profile of the hiking scene
starting on page 26.
The aforementioned Camp Sherman area, in south-
western Jefferson County, is surrounded by the Sisters
Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. There
are a myriad of hiking trails there as well, including the
Recent forest fires have scarred some beautiful west Jefferson
County timberland, but the hiking is still maghificent.
High Desert Hiking