Usually when we are on the Crooked River, we’re on the other side of the road, rod in tow and knee deep in the stream. However, today it was a scramble up one of the many dry gullies to the east for a look out over the Crooked River canyon south of Prineville.
Chimney Rock is a distant cousin to the more famous Crooked River basalt formation Smith Rock.
But here again, we are talking about a much lower attendance on trail and of course much less technical hiking.
There is a short climb up the side of the river canyon to a juniper and sage ridge. The trail then meanders along crossing and re-crossing a dry creek bed. Ancient juniper trees are literally poking out of rock outcroppings. The surrounding canyon walls are home to a conspiracy of vocal ravens.
The day offered an interesting prospective on a stream we often camp along, and provided a delightful hike on a sunny winter afternoon.
