Whychus Canyon Preserve Hike, Whychus Canyon Preserve

Join us on an outing to explore your Land Trust Community Preserves! Photo: Tyler Roemer.
Join us on an outing to explore your Land Trust Community Preserves! Photo: Tyler Roemer.

Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Michele McKay for a late fall hike at Whychus Canyon Preserve. We’ll follow a trail through juniper forests and native grasslands out to a rocky overlook of Whychus Creek and return via the mid-canyon Rim Trail. Along the way we’ll look for late fall colors, signs of wildlife, and learn about the human and natural history of the Preserve.

Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.

Face masks: Per Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidelines, all participants (regardless of vaccination status) must bring and wear a face mask during the walk or hike (as soon as you exit your vehicle). Face masks must fit tight to the face, be worn over the nose and mouth, and must be secure enough to stay on during your entire walk or hike. Per OHA guidelines, face shields are not considered a face mask. The Land Trust will have extra face masks for use as needed.

  • Outing Details + Route

    Hike Rating: This is a moderate ~4 mile hike on Whychus Canyon Preserve hiking trails.

    Route: This hike will start at the Whychus Canyon Preserve kiosk and follow trails partway down into the Whychus Creek canyon. Terrain will be uneven at times.

    Elevation gain/loss: This hike is moderate with 150' of elevation gain/loss.

  • What to Bring

    Face mask (homemade is fine), snacks/lunch, water, closed toe shoes. Dress for the weather.

  • About the Property

    Whychus Canyon Preserve is a 930 acre Preserve on Whychus Creek near Sisters, Oregon. It was first established by the Deschutes Land Trust in 2010 and an additional 480 acres was added in 2014. The Preserve contains four miles of Whychus Creek, high quality grasslands, old growth juniper, cottonwood and aspen stands. With such a diverse range of habitats, Whychus Canyon Preserve is home to a variety of fish and wildlife.

  • Accessibility

    The Land Trust is working to make our Walks + Hikes as accessible as possible. Please let us know at least one week in advance if there is something we can do or provide to support you in participating in this outing to the fullest and we will accommodate as possible.