Wander the West

Ochoco Mountains - Central Oregon

	Ochoco Mountains

2006

Central Oregon has become the West Coast hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts. The high desert climate and varied terrain provide year round recreational opportunities. The city of Bend is growing by leaps and bounds and tourism seems to be growing at an equal pace. All this growth is creating congestion at the local trail systems. Parking lots are often full and there are very few places you can let your dogs run off leash. After being reprimanded for having my dog off a leash in the woods, I vowed to shun these overpopulated trails and find some solitude. The busy trails are all West of Bend in the Cascade Mountains. Fortunately Central Oregon is pretty big and there are options.

This is where the Ochoco Mountains come in. These mountains are about 40 miles East of Bend. The city of Prineville is right at the edge of the Ochocos and is the usual starting point for Ochocos adventures. The Ochocos are smaller than the Cascades, and drier. The Western part of the mountains has some 7000 foot peaks and a lot of varied terrain. The Eastern part extends fairly deep into the Eastern Oregon desert and the transition from mountains to desert can be dramatic. There are several relatively small wilderness areas in this range.

Vegetation ranges from juniper and sage to old growth ponderosa pines and ferns. Spring fed valleys host dense forests of pines, ferns, and a variety of wild flowers often just miles from barren desert. The contrasts in the Ochocos are often startling yet beautiful. In the Spring, fields of skunk grass and wild flowers create memorable scenes.

There are many activities to enjoy in the Ochocos from hiking and mountain biking in the Summer to cross country skiing in the Winter. Late Spring and early Summer are the best time to enjoy these mountains. The vegetation is still green and there aren't many people visiting the area so solitude is abundant. Fall sees these mountains literally fill with hunters so camping sites become harder to come by and you'll run into people just about everywhere you go.

- Aaron Walton