Alder Springs (Sisters/Redmond) 4-13

[nautachris]

I realized I hadn't really seen high desert in over 5 months at this point, so Sunday morning I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to make the investment in the 200 mile round trip drive out past Sisters to a place called Alder Springs (in Sullivan's Central Cascades book). To get here, head east from Sisters on OR 126 around 5 miles, go left on Goodrich Rd. for 7 miles, and at the MP 7 marker, make a left onto a well-signed dirt road and take it for 5 miles. This is a BLM protected area that consists of a 3 mile one-way out-and-back hike down Whychus Creek to it's confluence at the Deschutes River. The 5 mile dirt road to get there is slightly sketchy at times, but didn't take too much of a toll on the old Camry. It was a beautiful morning with perfectly blue skies and a temperature around 50. All the snowcones were out in full force, from Broken Top up to Mt. Hood. It was definitely a nice change of pace after this winter! There is a thigh-deep ford of Whychus Creek required about 1.3 miles in, but if you bring a change of shoes, it's nothing to worry about.

from the trailhead, you can see Black Butte, Mt. Washington and some of the Sisters


looking south along Whychus Creek (upstream, the trail goes downstream)


beautiful canyonlands


proof-of-location


nice juxtaposition


peering into the Whychus Creek Canyon


a side canyon that the trail descends into


love this stuff


if you squint, you can pretend your in a poor mans Capitol Reef NP


now that we're down by the creek, trees find themselves more at home


typical canyon-bottom view


maybe it's not surprising, but there was some "wetlandy" flora down here


geology!


washed out pic of the Deschutes with a lil' baby arch behind it




if you're in to fly-fishing, I'd think this'd be idyllic


heading back up the canyon


i swear that the same black shirt had been washed after the previous day's hike


I still find it hard to believe sometimes that this is the Pacific Northwest (I've still only been here for 18 months!)


almost back at the trailhead


Since Sunday, I've had the work week from hell, so I definitely am glad I did that when I could! Highly recommended if you're in the Redmond/Bend/Sisters area.

Thanks,

Chris Saylor
Lebanon, OR

[retired jerry]

That's on my list to do, thanks

Is that area closed to public some of the year? Of course, there are some times in winter when there's snow on the road which would make it difficult.

[nautachris]

I think the gate at the beginning of the 5 mile dirt road is closed until March 31st (from when I'm not sure), however I think you're still allowed to walk in.

[Splintercat]

Beautiful, Chris - that's a place I'd never heard of before! On my list now, too. I wonder how low Whychus Creek gets in the fall..? Might get away with an ankle wade by then... hmm...

Thanks for posting!

Tom

[woodswalker]

It's a beautiful hike for sure. There is also some rock art down a side trail that heads off to the left down to the creek(sorry I'm forgetting compass orientation, it's been a while) near the beginning of the trail. Rumor or maybe Sullivan's book had it that the area used to be owned by drug dealers and eventually became public lands, much to the relief off neighbors and local sports enthusiasts.
Woodswalker

[BrianEdwards]

Love the Capital Reef NP mimic

What kind of bridge was located at the old bridge site?

[retired jerry]

When you say turn left on Goodrich Road, do you mean turn left on Holmes Road (the next road after Goodrich according to my map)?

[nautachris]

You can do either if you're coming from the west. Goodrich turns into Holmes without you really knowing it (after it makes a sharp right about 1.5 mi. north of 126).

[retired jerry]

Okay, that makes sense

[miah66]

That spot on the bank where the Whychus meets the Deschutes is my idea of heaven on Earth. You can see it from the other side on the Boy Scout Camp Loop in Terrebonne, OR. Never been to it, though.

I wonder if it's possible to throw up a tent down there under the Ponderosas?