Grizzly Mountain
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Location
Between Madras and Prineville on Hwy 26. From Prineville (junctions of 126 and 26), travel 8.8 miles north on Hwy 26. Turn east on Grizzly Mountain Road. This becomes a graded and well-maintained dirt road leading to the communication towers at the summit. The distance to the top is roughly 3.5 miles. This road is often impassible in the winter and early spring. Passenger cars are adequate in summer (bumpy but you can make it) but 4-wheel drive is recommended if there is any chance of snow. This location offers one of the most stunning views in all of Oregon. Any summer visit to Prineville should include a trip up to the top of Grizzly.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Often with the first real snow fall of the autumn, a few Gray Crowned Rosy-Finches can be located close to the summit. On the East side there are extensive pine and fir forests with Northern Pygmy-Owl. The cleared area at the summit is an excellent vantage spot to look for migrating raptors in the spring and fall and holds Mountain Bluebirds and Rock Wrens in the summer. Watch for Calliope Hummingbird, Gray Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Green-tailed Towhee on the way up. Other forest species sometimes seen here include Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Townsend’s Solitaire, Cassin’s Finch, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hairy Woodpecker, Bushtit, Gray Flycatcher and many more. Rare birds seen here include Gray Partridge, Chukar, Dusky Grouse and Snow Bunting.
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