Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Crooked River in Central Oregon is one of the state's trout fishing gems. From Bowman Dam the river flows northward toward Prineville. This section of the river is the easiest to access and the most popular for anglers, as the Crooked River Highway meanders along its banks for 20 miles with ample campgrounds and pull-outs to access the river. Once a spawning ground for Chinook salmon and other species of anadromous fish, the construction of the Bowman and Ochoco dams blocked their passage to the sea, and compromised their habitat. As a result, hatchery grown trout are now the overwhelming demographic, although native redband trout can still be found in the Crooked River. 

The history of the Crooked River and Prineville reservoir is not unlike that of every tailwater river system in the American West. At the turn of the 20th century ranchers and homesteaders flocked to the Crooked River Basin, lured by cheap pasture land and somewhat reliable access to water. As the population boomed, so too did the demand for reliable irrigation water. Landowners formed the Ochoco Irrigation District, raised bonds and eventually built the Ochoco Dam in 1921.

In 1957, under pressure from landowners, Congress approved the Crooked River Project and construction of the Bowman Dam was completed in 1961. But ranchers soon found out that they weren't the only ones relying on the watershed, and for the next thirty years recreational interests battled agricultural over use of the Prineville Reservoir and the Crooked River. Today the reservoir is strictly for flood control and irrigation purposes, and sections of the river are protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Very accessible. Great camping. Year-round recreation. Beautiful views.

Cons

Windy at times in the winter. Popular and hot in the summer.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Features

Geologically significant

Location

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.