Deschutes Land Trust

The Deschutes Land Trust is a local nonprofit that conserves and cares for the lands and waters that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come. Since 1995, the Land Trust has protected more than 18,700 acres in and around Central Oregon for future generations.

The Land Trust works with private landowners to conserve their land and also owns and cares for preserves throughout Central Oregon that are managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. Ochoco Preserve is one of those special places, located just outside of Prineville. The Land Trust acquired and protected the 185 acre Ochoco Preserve in 2017. The Preserve includes 1 mile of the Crooked River, 1 mile of McKay Creek, 1 mile of Ochoco Creek. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife from salmon and steelhead to water birds and songbirds. It is also a great place for the local community to connect and explore with the outdoors.

The Land Trust has been working for several years to build a new Ochoco Preserve for the community. Their goal is to create a Preserve with healthy streams, flourishing native plants and wildlife, and new connections for the community. They launched the Ochoco Preserve Project to build the new Preserve and the first phase was completed in 2022 with the restoration of McKay Creek. Phase two in 2024 included the restoration of Ochoco Creek and a portion of the Crooked River, along with initial trail and educational site development. The third phase and final phase will complete the remaining stream restoration and finalize the trails and educational sites that will be linked to the Crooked River Wetlands Complex via a bridge over the river. The Land Trust is currently raising funds for this phase.

During this Preserve development phase, Ochoco Preserve can only be visited on guided tours. Each year, the Land Trust offers free walks, hikes at the Preserve, where the local community can learn about the Preserve, restoration, and plants and animals. The Land Trust also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. We encourage you to get involved today!