[Wildflower Hikes and Trips in Deschutes County, Oregon] [Field Trips for the 2018 NPSO Annual Meeting]

Wildflowers of the Whychus Canyon Preserve

A Deschutes Land Trust Property

Deschutes County, Oregon

Mission bells (Fritillaria atropurpurea) which can bloom along the trails in the Whychus Canyon Preserve in late May and early June.

Scenery to be seen at the Whychus Canyon Preserve. Both photos courtesy of the Deschutes Land Trust

Whychus Canyon Preserve is a 930 acre preserve (map at right from the Bend Bulletin) protecting 4 miles of Whychus Creek and its surrounding canyon lands to the the northeast of Sisters, Oregon. The preserve contains a diverse set of habitats, including high quality bunchgrass lands, native riparian zones,cottonwood and aspen stands as well as old growth western juniper. The east rim of Whychus Canyon affords a spectacular view west to the Cascade Mountains of central Oregon. Wildflowers abound in spring. On the north, the preserve connects with the Land Trust protected Rimrock Ranch which adds an additional 2 miles of canyon that are preserved.

The canyon is home to numerous wildlife species including mule deer, rocky mountain elk, golden eagles, redband trout and numerous song birds.

Ongoing restoration efforts aim to restore the ponderosa pine forest and western juniper savanna to a more native condition and to reduce the risk of wildfire. Efforts to improve fish habitat along Whychus Creek have begun with addition of braided channels in some of the streamside meadows and plantings to improve the diversity of streamside habitats.

Additional Information:

Whychus Canyon Preserve - Additional info about this preserve from the Deschutes Land Trust website with links to their maps and directions.

"Whychus Canyon hike pays off" - An article from the outdoors section of the Bend Bulletin from April 20, 2016. Note the slide show at the top of that link.

Wildflowers:

Expect to find: Thurber's needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum), low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula), big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata ssp tridentata), stiff milkvetch (Astragalus conjunctus var. conjunctus), threadstalk milkvetch (Astragalus filipes), sagebrush mariposa (Calochortus macrocarpus var. macrocarpus), narrowleaf paintbrush (Castilleja linariifolia), large-flowered collomia (Collomia grandiflora), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), tapertip hawksbeard (Crepis acuminata), bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), yellow desert daisy (Erigeron linearis), shaggy daisy (Erigeron pumilus), sulfur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum), scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata), western blue flag (Iris missouriensis), prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), pricklly phlox (Linanthus pungens), lowly penstemon (Penstemon humilis), threadleaf phacelia (Phacelia linearis), oregon checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana) and panicled deathcamas (Toxicoscordion paniculatum).

Whychus Canyon Preserve Plant List

Facilities:

Hikers must remain on roads or trails within the preserve and removal of flowers, wildlife and historical artifacts is prohibited. Dogs must be kept on leash at all times. Clean up after your pet!

Access:

Printable directions to Whychus Canyon Preserve (courtesy of Deschutes Land Trust).

From Bend: Drive northwest on US Highway 20 for about 13 miles. Turn right (north) onto Fryear Road and drive north 5.5 miles to a junction with Oregon Highway 126. Turn left (west) onto Highway 126 for a mile. Turn right (north) onto Goodrich Road. Drive paved Goodrich Road for about 1.5 miles until the road curves sharply to the right. Continue straight onto a gravel road and follow this 1.3 miles north to a split in the road. At this junction, you will see a Whychus Canyon Preserve sign straight ahead. Continue straight for 0.4 miles to the kiosk and parking area.

From Redmond: Drive west on Oregon Highway 126 about 13.9 miles. Turn right (north) onto Goodrich Road. Drive paved Goodrich Road for about 1.5 miles until the road curves sharply to the right. Continue straight ont a gravel road and follow this 1.3 miles north to a split in the road. At this junction, you will see a Whychus Canyon Preserve sign straight ahead. Continue straight for 0.4 miles to the kiosk and parking area.

From Sisters: Drive east from Sisters on Oregon Highway 126 for about 5.4 miles. Turn left (north) onto Goodrich Road. Drive paved Goodrich Road for about 1.5 miles until the road curves sharply to the right. Continue straight ont a gravel road and follow this 1.3 miles north to a split in the road. At this junction, you will see a Whychus Canyon Preserve sign straight ahead. Continue straight for 0.4 miles to the kiosk and parking area.

Paul Slichter