Sheep Springs Horse Camp, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

Sheep Springs is a very popular camp, with easy trails, a beautiful setting, and convenient early season accessibility.

Mt. Jefferson views from Sheep Springs Horse Camp.

To get there: From Sisters drive west on Hwy 20 for 12.5 miles, take a right at the sign for Camp Sherman, then follow the horse camp signs for the next 9 miles, the last few miles are on gravel.

Sheep Springs has 11 spots, with four horse log corrals, and there is an extra camp host spot. Update: site #9 now has brand new steel corrals. There are two manure bins, one at each end of camp, two bathrooms, a hand pump with potable water, and a separate small stock water trough. Both water sources are close to the entrance.
There is no day use area, but you can park in a dispersed camping area, on the left just before reaching camp. You can find season dates or make reservations ( probably a good idea ) on Recreation.gov and it is $16.00 per night. There is no gate, so riding or camping here can be done even when the camp is officially closed.

Sheep Springs Horse Camp.

Sheep Springs Horse Camp.

One of the water sources just outside the entrance to camp.

There are a couple of  beautiful rides within a short drive on bumpy gravel roads, if you are there at the right time of year to be able to get into the high country, and if trailering out is an option: Canyon Creek Meadows, starting from Jack Lake, and the ride to Cabot and Carl Lake.
Green Ridge is another fairly close option which can be done early in the season.

There are also several nice rides from camp:
The Metolius Windigo Trail is across the road, and you can ride it south as long as you want, if you make it all the way to the crossing over the Metolius River at Riverside Campground and then turn back, that is about a 21 mile ride.

Along the Metolius Windigo Trail.

Three Fingered Jack from the Metolius Windigo Trail.

On the Metolius Windigo Trail.

On the Metolius Windigo Trail.

One of the signs on the Met Win.

You can also follow the Met Win to the west towards Bear Valley. It climbs gradually, eventually reaching the junctions with the Rockpile Lake Trail and the trail to Minto Lake. Unfortunately neither of these trails are being maintained anymore, so from here it's best to just admire the valley and turn around making it a 10 mile out and back ride. Rockpile has been cleared in the past and may be again, but Minto has not been maintained in years.

On the trail to Bear Valley.

Riding back down from Bear Valley, Green Ridge in the distance.

Another option is to follow the trail behind sites 8 and 9, which heads over a small hill briefly and where you will then get a great view of Mt. Jefferson. You can continue on from there and do some loop rides since there are a lot of trails you won't find on a map, but that horse campers have made over the years.

Views of Mt. Jefferson.

Views from the small hill behind camp.

Fall colors in the burned area.

You can also loop past the Redmond Saddle Club over to the Metolius River and then follow Canyon Creek back.

The Metolius River.

Canyon Creek.

Owls live in this area and I have seen more than one on my various escapades. They blend in rather well in the trees, you never know when one is right above your head watching you!

The owls are around if you are lucky enough to spot them.

If you feel like a break from camping, Camp Sherman is so close you can drive in, have dinner at one of the restaurants, pick up supplies from the store, and explore some of the area, including the Head of the Metolius (where the beginning of the river literally appears out of the ground) or the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery.

Happy Trails!


GPS COORDINATES TO SHEEP SPRINGS

The Twin Pillars Trail, Ochoco National Forest, Oregon

Well I definitely have to get out and ride when we suddenly have a beautiful overly warm day in November. The Twin Pillars Trail is one that I have done a few times in the spring, and often have not been able to make it all the way to the base of the pillars because of blow down, but it is cleared now, so I went ahead and did the whole 12 mile out and back ride. The closest horse camp is Dry Creek but you would have to trailer out from there to do this ride.

On the Twin Pillars Trail.

To get there: From Prineville drive 8 miles east on Hwy 26, then take a left on Mill Creek Rd. Follow this for 11 miles, it will turn to gravel at about half way. At the sign for Wildcat Campground turn right and park in the lot for the Twin Pillars Trail.

Parking at the Twin Pillars trailhead.

The Twin Pillars trailhead.

The trail leaves beside the bathroom and follows the creek past the campground and into the forest. You will cross the creek eight times on the way out, as well as several other small streams that run across the trail here and there. Often there will be cows grazing, depending on what time of year it is.

A spring photo from a previous visit.

On the Twin Pillars Trail.

Not as green in the fall.

On the Twin Pillars Trail.

One of the many creek crossings.

After 3 miles you will get to the junction with the Belknap Trail, stay on the main trail here, but for future reference the Belknap Trail climbs fairly steeply uphill and intersects with the Wildcat Trail. Taking a left on the Wildcat Trail you can ride as long as you want, it will end at it's northern trailhead, if you can actually get through and the trail is clear. If you turn right, it will take you to White Rock Campground and the southern TH. You can drive to this camp, I have done it, but it was back in the day with a smaller rig than I have now, and the last two miles of the road is pretty rustic.

The junction with the Belknap Trail.

On the Wildcat Trail on a previous visit.

On the Twin Pillars Trail.

After awhile you will emerge from the forest into an old burn area from a lightning fire in 2000, and at this point the pillars will be in view.

The local wildlife.

On the Twin Pillars Trail.

The trail then switchbacks through large patches of manzanita to the base of the pillars.

The Twin Pillars.

I suspect most people would rather just visit the pillars, turn around and head back, but the trail does continue another 3 miles to the Bingham Springs Campground, this could be added to the ride making it 18 miles total.

The trail continues past the pillars.

The Bingham Springs Campground. I've hiked in from here, but it's not worth driving a trailer around this way.

Heading back down through the manzanita.

Views on the way down.

I actually met a few hardy hikers on this day, having to slosh through that many creek crossings could get old after awhile, but of course no problem via horseback!

Happy Trails!


GPS COORDINATES TO TWIN PILLARS TH