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SAGELAND FALL 2013 66
tic skate park, located off H
Street and the Culver High-
way.
Speaking of parks, The
lone municipal park of Jef-
ferson County is the fantas-
tic Juniper Hills Park, locat-
ed on the east side of
Madras. It features several
baseball/softball and soccer
fields, playground equip-
ment, acres of beautiful
grass and trees, magnificent views, all encircled by a
walking-running path.
The city of Madras is in the multiyear process of cre-
ating a path that encircles the entire town. Last winter,
it finished the path up the canyon wall to the west of the
town, and built a nice resting place atop the canyon,
highlighted by a peak identifier.
The city of Madras’ original downtown park, Sahalee,
with its nice covered stage area, hosts many of the
town’s events, public and private — and is an iconic
landmark in Madras.
The towns of Metolius and Culver wear their small
town charms very well. Side trips to Metolius and Cul-
ver are mandatory to experi-
ence Jefferson County. Culver
is a few folks over 1,000 peo-
ple and Metolius a few fami-
lies under. Both are located
southwest of Madras, on
State Highway 361, which
was the old Highway 97 be-
fore it was redirected in the
1940s. Like Madras, Metolius
and Culver were towns born
during the exciting era when
the railroad was coming into Central Oregon, finally ar-
riving in early 1911.
Crooked River Ranch, at the southern gate of the
county, is not an incorporated town but is rather the
state’s largest subdivision. Over 4,000 people call
Crooked River Ranch home. Born in the mid-1970s, the
Ranch has its own chamber of commerce and its own
identity. Its commercial center has everything travelers
might need, and its golf course is one of Central Ore-
gon’s favorites.
Whether you want to camp, stay in a motel, hook up
at an RV park, or have Kah-Nee-Ta Resort as your
home base, the options for entertainment, recreation,
Peak identifier atop “M” Hill trail, west Madras.
Skate Park, Bike Trails