From Unity Reservoir to Whitney

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Sumpter/Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area

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Phillips Reservoir

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Dooley Mt. Summit

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Murray Reservoir

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Unity Lake State Park

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Camp Creek Group Campground

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Powder River Recreation Trail

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Seasons

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Location

From Baker City, travel 7.8 miles south on Hwy 7 to Hwy 245 (Salisbury Junction). Take Hwy 245 south for 15 miles through the Wallowa Whitman NF (bird as much as you like in this forest). Hwy 245 will turn west at this point. Go another 16 miles toward Unity Reservoir. About 2 miles before the reservoir, turn right (north) on Whitney Road (This road is also called the 507 Road or the Big Flat Road). Take this road north for about 15 miles to the ghost town of Whitney and Hwy 7. About halfway on this road the name changes to Burnt River Road on some maps. This road follows the north fork of the Burnt River. You can take Hwy 7 back to Baker City.

Directions

Habitat and Birds

This is a good route for forest birds. Care should be taken when attempting access to this area in early spring as snow may block your path. Watch for Ruffed Grouse, Dusky Grouse, Wild Turkey, Northern Goshawk, White-throated Swift, Mountain Quail, Flammulated Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Calliope Hummingbird, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Mountain Chickadee, all 3 nuthatches, Brown Creeper, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Townsend’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill and many more. In the Whitney Wetlands near Hwy 7 you can often find Wilson’s Phalaropes, waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, and both bluebirds.

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