43. Dry River Canyon

Suggested Citation: Kerr, Andy. 2000. Oregon Desert Guide: 70 Hikes. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books. pp.185.

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What to Expect: Indian rock painting and tinajas

Distance: 2.5-mile loop

Elevation Range: 3,540-3,591 feet

Drinking Water: No

Best Times: Spring, summer, fall

USGS 7.5' Map: Horse Ridge

Oregon Map Starting Point: Bend

From the cattle loading chute (Badlands Rock exploration), walk north into the proposed wilderness on the way 0.2 mile to the Crossways.

The Dry River channel flows eastward at the point a few feet south of the Crossways. The river "channel" is quite broad, and no banks are discernible. Since water hasn't flowed for several thousand years, the vegetation in the channel is no different from that on the "banks" or "uplands."

Walk 0.5 mile north-northeast on the way. Continue 0.4 mile easterly, passing two ways to the south. As the way approaches the Dry River channel, walk south 0.1 mile into the channel. You'll come a barricade to keep vehicles from violating the channel. Walk the channel westward ("upstream") 0.9 mile back to the Crossways.

As you enter the channel, note the lava rocks polished by the water flow. Look for tinajas. Search carefully for Indian paintings and other artifacts. The canyon has nice stands of Great Basin wildrye and some currant.

After reaching the Crossways, walk south 0.2 mile to the cattle chute.