Whychus Canyon Preserve

Whychus Canyon Preserve abounds with summer wildflowers. Photo: Byron Dudley.

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 Creek flows through Whychus Canyon. Photo: Brian Ouimette.

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 Stronghold 

Whychus 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

Hikers explore Whychus Canyon Preserve. Photo: Jay Mather.

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.

Visiting Whychus Canyon Preserve

Hikers head down the into the canyon and Whychus Creek at Whychus Canyon Preserve. Photo: Gary Miller.

Whychus 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. Be sure to check out our new trail which provides the first public access to Whychus Creek downstream of Sisters.

Restoration and Education Activities

Encroaching juniper have been thinned at Whychus Canyon Preserve. Photo: Land Trust.

Whychus Canyon Preserve Map

The map below shows the location of Whychus Canyon Preserve along with other Land Trust conserved lands.