Hi everyone,
I had read about the Criterion Ranch on Portlandhikers years ago, but never made it there until yesterday. I've been really enjoying the East side recently, and have been reading Andy Kerr's Oregon Desert Guide. The book gave me a vague plan to visit (and hopefully hike a loop around) all of the proposed Wilderness areas he mentions. Criterion is among them, so I made a loop on gmaps pedometer:
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I ended up not following the lollipop at the top.
A somewhat reliable BLM map can be found here:
http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prinevi ... ct_map.pdf
I had a lovely walk up the road grades from Locked Gate to the private land, where both the maps I had printed (USGS quads as well as the BLM map) didn't line up with any feature visible on the ground. Furthermore, I'd made up the route using Google's satellite viewer function, which seemed to show tracks heading the right way. I couldn't see anything on the ground, though, so I just walked up and over some hills to the next bit of road that I did see.
I found some tracks on the ground this morning, though, and some of those match up with what I saw online. I'd say that, after the most recent range fire (did I remember correctly that there was one in 2011?), and after the lessening of grazing (I only found a few patties in one spot, so it's not getting that much attention, I think), some of the roads grades and jeep tracks are becoming obscured. User beware.
The terrain is open with a scattering of junipers. Excellent views all around.
After I wandered around shooting photos of junipers with rime ice on them, it started raining, and I hurried uphill to get to a high elevation to make camp. I spent the night near the 5 mile mark on my map. As I set up camp, the temperature dropped and the rain starting freezing. It froze on the tent. I was warm and dry (after taking off my wet hiking layers) in my sleeping bag.
This morning was COLD and WINDY. A layer of ice covered all surfaces, and I didn't look forward to getting out of the tent. That said, there were great views across the river, and beautiful photos to be made. So I got up and squished around in the mud and ice for several hours, with my ankle hurting (it's an athletic injury that probably does not appreciate walking around soaked trail runners and soaked socks). I decided to bail on the loop portion of the trip, due to a large fog bank hovering over the main ridge. I figured I'd have trouble with the route-finding on the off-trail portion, not being able to see in front of me!
So I walked around the northern part of the tract, looking for what I thought were ponderosa, but turned out to be just more junipers. During that time, it went from windy and cold to warm and windy. It was downright balmy at times!
Anyway, the views are great, the mud is awful, and the solitude is much-appreciated. You should check it out.
Criterion Ranch Tract from Deschutes River, Jan.28-29 2014
Criterion Ranch Tract from Deschutes River, Jan.28-29 2014
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.
- retired jerry
- Posts: 14424
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Re: Criterion Ranch Tract from Deschutes River, Jan.28-29 20
I've been to both ends and have thought about doing something like that. Good info. That desert scenery is interesting - no obnoxious trees to get in the way of the views With global warming, maybe it will start looking like that on the West side
What did you do for drinking water?
What did you do for drinking water?
Re: Criterion Ranch Tract from Deschutes River, Jan.28-29 20
I packed in three liters of water for drinking water. It would be relatively easy (especially if the days are longer and the nights above freezing) to cache some water near the upper trailhead. That would have saved me carrying over three liters up, but would have cost me dozens of miles of driving. Choose your poison.
I do like parking at the bottom and working my way up, over parking at the top, though. Road access and parking are not a problem (though there's not a huge lot there, I doubt it would fill up). It's also more fun to climb up and then down, that to do the reverse, I think.
I do like parking at the bottom and working my way up, over parking at the top, though. Road access and parking are not a problem (though there's not a huge lot there, I doubt it would fill up). It's also more fun to climb up and then down, that to do the reverse, I think.
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.
Re: Criterion Ranch Tract from Deschutes River, Jan.28-29 20
That is so cool! Thanks for posting that! I had no idea the "trail" (using the term loosely) went from the summit all the way down to Locked Gate.
What do you estimate the milage and EG is from Locked Gate to the summit?
What do you estimate the milage and EG is from Locked Gate to the summit?
Re: Criterion Ranch Tract from Deschutes River, Jan.28-29 20
The map has it at about 8 miles and about 2000 feet. It'd be an awesome long dayhike! Too bad it's not closer to Portland (though, if I lived in Maupin, I'd be glad it's not closer to Portland
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.