Green Ridge

Location

THE ECBA IS SLOWLY PHASING OUT THE HAWK WATCH PROJECT ON GREEN RIDGE.  OUR MAIN HAWK WATCHER MOVED AWAY AND NO ONE HAS TAKEN UP THE BANNER TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT.  BECAUSE OF THIS, NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO KEEP THE TRAIL OPEN AND FLAGGED.  THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT CURRENT CONDITIONS.  IT’S A GREAT LOCATION AND IS GOOD FOR MANY SPECIES (listed below) BUT THERE IS NO TRAIL AND EVEN THE PARKING AREA IS HARD TO DISCERN.  IF YOU ATTEMPT TO FIND THE OLD HAWK WATCH LOCATION, KNOW THAT IT WILL REQUIRE A 1/4 MILE BUSHWACK THROUGH HEAVY MANZANITA TO GET THERE.  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE STAMINA TO MAKE IT THERE AND BACK BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO FIND THIS.  WE WILL LIKELY REMOVE THIS LOCATION AFTER THIS SEASON.  THE DIRECTIONS BELOW ARE ACCURATE AND WILL GET YOU TO THE LOCATION.

THE ROAD OUT TO THE HAWK WATCH LOCATION

Take Hwy. 20 west of Sisters 6 miles (one mile east of Black Butte Ranch) to FR 11 (Look for signs that say “Indian Ford Campground) Go north on FR 11 for 10 miles to end of pavement. At the end of pavement stay left on FR 1150 for 7 miles. Follow signs to Green Ridge Lookout. Turn left on FR 1154.  Go for 1 mile to FR 1140 jct. Go left on FR 1140 for approx 0.25 miles to the 600 road jct. (it’s the first jct. you come to). Go right on the 600 Rd. for approx. 0.7 miles. Look for a sharp left turn at 0.7 miles with a big downed log where people have been parking for years.  Instead of making the turn, pull straight in and park with your bumper pointing at the log.  .  Click on this link for the exact parking area. The following coordinates are for this PARKING AREA.   44.534055, -121.603452.

If you miss this parking area, you will quickly (within a 1/4 mile) come to the end of this road.  You will find a locked gate here.  Backtrack for 0.6 miles to the parking area.  If you do go too far, consider a short hike past the gate to the Green Ridge Lookout.  This site is rented out most of the year and it’s not recommended that you approach the lookout if people are there.  Very scenic.

The trail is no longer maintained or flagged.  Look off to the north and you will see a tall stand of trees.  The old hawk watch site is near the west side of that stand.  Head toward the left side of the stand.  You may be able to see remnants of the old trailbut it’s hard to find.  You will have to pick your way through the Manzanita and Ceonothus.  Hike in a NW direction for a 1/4 mile or so north toward the left side of the tall stand. As you reach the stand, walk the left edge of it, still going north.  After about 100 yards, peel off to your left (west) and the forest will open up to a bluff that gives you a great look at the north sky.  This is the old hawk watch.  AGAIN, IF YOU ARE NOT FIT OR IF YOU HAVE POOR DIRECTIONAL AWARENESS, DON’T ATTEMPT THIS TRAIL.  To explore more of this ridge, purchase a Deschutes Nat. Forest Map from any Forest Service Office.