Metolius River Hike - Deschutes National Forest

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

We started this venture at the Candle Creek Campground and hiked north towards Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. We didn't quite make it to the hatchery, but trekked an impressive 7.5 miles roundtrip. Candle Creek is the last campground accessible from Camp Sherman and snuggles up to the confluence of the surprisingly named Candle Creek and the Metolius River.

To get to Candle Creek from Sisters take Hwy 20 for 12.4 miles then take a rightsky on Forest Road 14 for 9.5 miles. Make sure you stay to the right when the fork appears, it's tempting to want to head toward Camp Sherman (and you certainly should stop on the way out to see the Camp Sherman store), but for now stay right.  Once the Lower Bridge campground appears head left crossing the river following FR-12,  it's easy to get turned around so best to bring a map and a person who can read maps (that's you Adam). If I recall correctly we then took another right on FR-980 which dead ends into Candle Creek, but don't take my word for it, get yourself a map and an Adam.

The Metolius is often referred to as one of the most difficult rivers to fly fish in Oregon. Throughout this hike you will see anglers being outsmarted by rainbow trout, bull trout, whitefish and kokanee salmon. If you are like me and sometimes consider yourself on the brink of insanity, you may consider swimming in the freezing waters. But no matter how many times I go back and forth, "I'm definitely going crazy...no maybe not today...well maybe today," even I am not crazy enough to swim this river.  Enjoy the pictures below.

Tory






























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