Wildflower Hike, Coffer Ranch

Join the Land Trust on a tour to explore your Land Trust Community Preserves! Photo: Land Trust.
Join the Land Trust on a tour to explore your Land Trust Community Preserves! Photo: Land Trust.

Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Carol Moorehead for a wildflower hike around Coffer Ranch, a conserved private ranch outside of Prineville. We'll hike along Mill Creek and enjoy scenic views of unique rock formations while learning more about the springs and wetlands the ranch protects. Then, we'll head up into the hills to search for a myriad of native wildflowers including phlox, prairie star, balsamroot, and bitterroot. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.

Face masks: Per Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidelines, face masks are no longer required indoors or outside. Individuals who wish to wear a face mask may do so.

  • Outing Details + Route

    Hike Rating: This is a challenging ~6 mile hike across uneven terrain.

    Route: This hike will start along the banks of Mill Creek and follow ranch access roads up into the hills overlooking the creek and fields. Terrain will be uneven at times.

    Elevation gain/loss: This hike is challenging with ~200' of elevation gain/loss.

  • What to Bring

    Snacks/lunch, water, closed toe shoes. Dress for the weather.

  • About the Property

    Coffer Ranch is a large ranch in the Mill Creek valley east of Prineville, Oregon. The Land Trust worked with the owners of Coffer Ranch in 2010 to permanently protect 492 acres of this ranchland and its important wildlife habitat. The property provides nesting habitat for songbirds and foraging habitat for a variety of bat species. Old-growth western juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine woodlands with native bunchgrass understory, and cliffs provide habitat for a variety of bird, bat, and mammal species.

  • 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.