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For those who would like to explore local
attractions near the ranch there are plenty to see. Geological
wonders such as Abert Rim and Crack in the Ground are within
easy driving distance. Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
provides excellent opportunities to view prong horns, Bighorn
sheep and mule deer. Lake County has many, many examples of petroglyphs,
some of which are more than 10,000 years old.
Those who hike or bike may want to visit Gearhart
Wilderness or Fremont National Forest with its over 200 miles
of trails. Fishing enthusiasts will find 500 miles of secluded
fishing streams and many lakes in Lake County from which to choose.
It’s not so much a question of what to do, but when to do
it!
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| Abert Rim - geological wonder. |
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Abert Rim is a quick 10
minute drive from the ranch and can also be viewed from a number
of places of higher elevation on the ranch. It is 30 miles in
length and rises over 2,000 above the valley floor. It is just
one of the many geological wonders in Lake County. Crack in the
Ground, Hole in the Ground, Table Rock are a few of the nature-crafted
sights and all are within an easy drive from the ranch. On the
ranch itself you will find rim rock formations that catch the
fading end-of-day light to create a panolpy of banded colors. |
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| Lake County was named appropriately. |
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Fishing is a time-honored
pastime and as a visitor to Lake County you will have many choices
of where to wet your line. There is a small stream on the ranch
and many within a short drive that provide native trout. The
Chewacan River is close by and is a favorite of the fly fisher.
Lakes, you bet. Some hybrid striped bass inhabit the waters of
Ana Reservoir, an easy drive from the ranch and an abundance
of high mountain lakes provide opportunities to land nice sized
rainbows and Eastern brookies. |
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| Native American petroglyphs. |
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You will find examples
of petroglyphs right on Willow Springs Ranch. Here the past is
evident in these ancient Native American etchings. You will also
find remnants of a homestead, an old sheepherder’s campsite,
stone fences and dates scratched into the rim rocks that date
back to the early 1900’s. There is a sense of history that
you can almost feel when you walk the canyons and wander along
Willow Creek. Here that history is a part of the present and
we live each day grateful for the stewardship of this land. |
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Birders will find opportunities
to view everything from migratory songbirds, to upland game birds
to nesting waterfowl. As the elevation climbs from 4,600 feet
at the ranch base to 5,400 feet in the high meadows, it is amazing
to see the vegetation and the variety of birds change. Eagle
sightings are fairly common as are falcons, which nest in the
rimrocks, and other birds of prey. Having seen meadow larks and
bluebirds in other parts of Oregon, it seems to us that these
species are even more brilliantly marked here on Willow Springs
Ranch. Come see for yourself. |
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| Sage grouse male struttin’ his stuff. |
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