Haystack Reservoir was created in the mid-1950s by constructing an earth-filled dam. Named after the nearby Haystack Butte, the reservoir is a crucial irrigation storage facility. Spanning approximately 240 acres, it offers year-round fishing for rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, black crappie, and largemouth bass. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) manages the reservoir’s fish populations through both hatchery production and natural reproduction.

Canals are vital to Central Oregon’s agriculture, supplying water to farms in this dry region, which receives just 8 to 12 inches of annual precipitation—far less than the 24 to 48 inches needed annually for crops like hay, alfalfa, and carrot seed. They transport water from rivers like the Deschutes to where it’s needed most. The canal system took shape in the early 1900s, driven by the Carey Act of 1894, which encouraged private companies to build irrigation networks on public land to support settlement. Today, Central Oregon boasts over 1,000 miles of canals. Click here to learn more about the history of the canals.

Grizzly Mountain (5,629 feet) and Gray Butte (5,108 feet) are prominent volcanic landmarks along the route. As you ride south, Grizzly Mountain rises to your left, while Gray Butte stands ahead. These peaks sit atop the eroded remains of the Crooked River Caldera—a vast, 25-by-17-mile, bowl-shaped volcanic depression that formed when the volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself. This caldera, one of Central Oregon’s significant geological features, was created approximately 29.5 million years ago.

The following excerpt is from Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest, titled Mount Jefferson and the Great Flood.

“A great flood covered the land. Then the waters flowed away, and the land became dry again. A second time a flood covered the land, and a second time the waters went away. Afraid that another and greater flood might come, the people cut the biggest cedar they could find and made the biggest canoe any of them had ever seen. Click to read the rest of the story.

The earliest recorded burial is that of Harry B. McMeen, born September 8, 1887, who passed away at age three on November 20, 1890, making him the first known interment. Today, the cemetery remains a historical resting place for many early settlers and their descendants. Just a short detour off the main route, we find the cemetery well worth a visit. Read the headstones and reflect on the hardships, resilience, and way of life of the early pioneers who shaped this region.

Juniper reduction programs aim to restore ecosystem balance by controlling the overgrowth of Western juniper, which depletes groundwater, reduces stream flows, and outcompetes native vegetation, leading to habitat loss for species like the sage grouse. By selectively removing junipers, these programs seek to improve water availability, enhance rangeland productivity, and support biodiversity. However, the initiative is not without controversy. While widely supported by conservationists and land managers, concerns exist about its effectiveness and potential unintended consequences, such as increased fire risk from invasive grasses. Listen to our podcast.

Haystack Butte (to your left at an elevation of 4,015 feet) is a classic example of a butte, a landform with steep sides and a flat or narrow top that rises above the surrounding landscape. Unlike sharp mountain peaks or broad mesas, buttes are smaller, isolated formations created by erosion over time.

A butte forms through a process that begins with deposition, where layers of rock—such as sandstone, volcanic ash, shale, or siltstone—gradually accumulate. The top layer, known as the caprock, is typically made of a harder, more resistant material.

Over time, erosion from wind, water, and freeze-thaw cycles gradually wears away the softer surrounding rock outside of the durable caprock. As the landscape continues to erode, the butte remains standing as an isolated, freestanding feature, rising prominently above its surroundings.

Buttes are common in arid and semi-arid regions, like Central Oregon.