Lands / Central Oregon
The Fight for the Lower Deschutes River
Discover the story of Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River in The Last 100 Miles, a powerful documentary about the fight to restore a once-pristine river damaged by well-meaning changes. Anglers, scientists, and locals rally to protect this wild place. A must-watch for conservation advocates.
Piping Canals, Why?
In this 2.5-minute video, learn about the 2025 canal piping project near Madras . Once completed, the project will conserve 7,000 gallons of water per minute by preventing seepage and evaporation. It will also save the average farmer between $20,000 and $150,000 per year in irrigation pump operating costs.
Deschutes River Canyon Bighorn
Bighorn sheep in the Deschutes River area went extinct in the 1940s, but thanks to a reintroduction effort in the early 1990s, their population has grown to 600. Learn how to spot these muscular creatures among the basalt cliffs with wildlife biologist Jeremy Thompson in this 2-minute video.
Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary
The Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary in Lake County Oregon is one of the few dark sky sanctuaries in the United States, offering exceptionally dark skies due to its remote location, minimal light pollution, and clear weather conditions. The sanctuary is part of the larger Oregon Outback region, which spans rugged, remote landscapes that […]
Preserving the Harney Basin
This 5-minute video highlights the tremendous value of partnerships to enhance and preserve the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding private lands in Harney Basin. The issues facing th Basin are larger than any one person, group or agency can address alone, but together, […]
The Mysteries of the Newberry Caldera
Discover the mysteries of the Newberry Caldera and its volcanic activities spanning half a million years. Whether you are riding Creek to Peak or looking for thermals, Ranger Randy and Dr. Daniel McKay of University of Oregon answer many of your questions about this […]
Living with Fire: An Oregon Story
In this 7-minute video (a great watch!) we take a look to the landscape to better understand wildfires in Oregon and ensure our favorite places thrive for generations to come.
Wolf Rock
Wolf Rock is the largest monolith in Oregon. The rock is about 900ft tall. The summit has an elevation of 4535ft. The rock is an old volcanic plug that had its surrounding soil erode away. Video by McKenzie River Drone Photography.
Routes in Skyline Forest Closed
Updated: February 2024
Skyline Forest has been closed to public access; thus, the following ride guides have been removed from the website:
In Plain View (Long version)
Quick & Dirty
Railbed Spurs
Skyline Forest
The Bishop
Two Bulls, One Coffee
Further, this closure has markedly affected the Oktoberfest […]
Lake Billy Chinook: The History
Did you know Lake Billy Chinook is co-managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the state of Oregon? That it is important for both power generation and fisheries. And that it is a reservoir, not a lake, at the confluence of three rivers: The Deschutes, the Crooked, and the Metolius. […]
John Day Fossil Beds -Wow!
Have you ever wondered what Central Oregon once was? Tropical Forests. Exploding volcanoes. Mudslides. Gigantic animals with names like Thunderbeast and Entelodonts. In this 20-minute video learn about this and a whole lot more!
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
A 4-minute video describing what glacial lake outburst floods look like.
Winter Range Closures (Deschutes National Forest)
The problem
Wild-ranging local mule deer populations have decreased by 56% from 2004 to 2021.
In recent years, there has been a 10% decline in population per year
This is 60% below objective
What is Winter Range?
Winter range is habitat deer and elk migrate to in order to find more favorable living conditions during the winter. […]
All About Basalt with the Rock Doctor
You will find these rocky columnar cliffs in Eastern and Central Oregon, but what exactly happened to form these unique structures? In this podcast, we talk with our resident rock doctor, Dr. Kim Ely.
