Whychus Canyon Preserve
Whychus Canyon Preserve is a 450 acre property on Whychus Creek near Sisters, Oregon (see map). With two miles of Whychus Creek, high quality grasslands, and old growth juniper stands, Whychus Canyon supports a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Learn more about this spectacular place below, then take a virtual tour (click on the 1st photo to start the captions). |
Why it is a conservation priority
Whychus Canyon has the most extensive stream frontage of any private property on Whychus Creek. This stretch of Whychus Creek is lined with mature vegetation and will support the reintroduction of steelhead and spring Chinook to the upper Deschutes basin. The property is also home to outstanding canyon scenery and a host of wildlife species: redband trout, mule deer, rocky mountain elk, golden eagles, ash-throated flycatchers, and spotted bats to name a few. The conservation of Whychus Canyon also buffers adjacent public lands. A Steelhead StrongholdWhychus Canyon Preserve, Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, and Rimrock Ranch create a critical stronghold of spawning and rearing habitat for the reintroduction of steelhead to the upper basin. Whychus Creek was historically the upper basin's most productive steelhead stream. Protecting critical lands on Whychus Creek is a major step in rebuilding the wild steelhead run of Deschutes River. That's why the Land Trust and our partners are committed to protecting and restoring the habitat needed to fulfill this dream. Our collective work has become a national model for collaborative stream restoration. |
What to see
Whychus Canyon Preserve is a great place to see wildflowers, watch migrating songbirds, and hike the canyon and rim to catch spectacular vistas. Visit the Preserve on a guided tour, then explore it on your own.
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Visiting Whychus Canyon PreserveWhychus Canyon Preserve is open year-round, with limited access in the winter months due to snowfall. Visitors can join the Land Trust for a guided tour of the property or explore it on your own. There are several miles of trails (see the trail map) at the Preserve that allow you to explore on foot Whychus Creek and the canyon rim. |
Whychus Canyon Preserve MapThe map below shows the location of Whychus Canyon Preserve along with other Land Trust conserved lands. |
Whychus Canyon Preserve Donors
The Land Trust is so thankful to the individuals and organizations that helped make Whychus Canyon Preserve possible. Major support came from: the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Pelton-Round Butte Mitigation Fund, Portland General Electric, and the Nature Conservancy.
