Our deep love of a place can drive its conservation.
Sometimes a place claim us, and its survival becomes a matter of the heart. This is the story of a man and a river, and how a 10-year love affair helped conserve a place sure to work its magic on future generations.
A wisp of a river
The South Fork Crooked River is a vibrant thread of green in a dry desert basin. It begins east of Hampton Butte in Deschutes County and flows freely to the north. After 76 miles, it joins the Crooked River in Crook County. Once teeming with salmon, steelhead and beaver, the South Fork is still home to native redband trout and draws Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer. The scenic basalt canyons, carved by the river over thousands of years, offer grand views and habitat for songbirds and raptors. In spring, wildflowers bloom along its banks, and lucky visitors might spy a Great Blue Heron.
A man's commitment
The beauty and solitude of the South Fork draws Steve Williams back to its banks each year. Steve, a long-time volunteer with partner organization Oregon Natural Desert Association, has spent the last decade slowly bringing the river back to health. Working alongside other volunteers, Steve considers his part in the collective restoration “a privilege.” In the spring and fall, he spends days digging and planting to help restore the riparian zone, noting the promising changes to the river each time he returns.
A golden opportunity
After pouring so much of his passion into this special place, Steve became instrumental in saving a key stretch of the river he loves. Over the course of his visits, Steve became acquainted with a local landowner with property along the South Fork. This connection prompted the landowner to reach out to the Land Trust in 2019 with an offer to sell an 80-acre parcel straddling the river. A rare in-holding, this private parcel had once been worked as ranch land and was now located within the South Fork Wilderness Study Area. Presented with this unique opportunity, Steve said, “it was a very easy decision for me to lend my support.” He made a leading donation towards the Land Trust’s acquisition of the property and was joined by other generous donors who supported the project. Thanks to their commitment, the South Fork Crooked River Preserve will be now be forever wild.
Feature photo by Aaron Tani
Exploring the South Fork
Spanning both sides of the river, the South Fork Crooked River Preserve helps ensure public access to fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in the basin. One of the most popular hikes in this region is the Pickett Canyon Hike, featured in Oregon Desert Guide: 70 Hikes. The 13-mile loop crosses through The South Fork Crooked River Preserve, with several camping spots between South Fork and Soda Spring.
Getting There
South Fork Crooked River preserve is located within the South Fork Wilderness Study Area in Crook County, approximately 60 miles east of Bend, Oregon. South Fork WSA is accessible from Bend via U.S. Highway 20 which runs 20 miles south of the WSA. The well-maintained GI Ranch Road provides access to the southwestern edge of the WSA. The Upper Table Road (BLM Road 6575) runs between the Sand Hollow WSA and South Fork Crooked WSA. The route is rough but is accessible using a high clearance 4WD vehicle to shorten the approach to the Pickett Canyon trailhead.
Learn more about this area and view a map at the Bureau of Land Management.