Monday 13: Crooked River Gorge

Description: The Crooked River Gorge fieldtrip will take hikers down a steep canyon to see a series of rock art panels along the walls of Crooked River Gorge. The site is located on private land. The hike from the trailhead to the site is approximately 2 miles roundtrip; and involves a loss/gain of 450 feet elevation. The pictographs here are painted primarily with red pigment and include various geometric forms including grids, parallel lines, dots, zigzags, arcs, and meandering lines. There is also a painted elk. A Dstretch camera is recommended to help see some of the more obscure images.

Access: THIS DIFFICULT HIKE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE!  Very steep and potentially dangerous terrain occurs; only those individuals with the ability and experience to hike steep slopes up to 1 mile in length should join this fieldtrip.  Participants must wear appropriate hiking attire including good shoes with ankle support, closed toes, and good tread.  Hiking poles are strongly recommended. Depending on the weather, this could be an uncomfortable climb out of the canyon in prolonged sun exposure.  Hikers should be prepared to carry enough water and energy snacks for the climb out of the canyon. Hats or other sun shade is highly recommended. Hikers should also be prepared for changes in the weather (especially rain and wind) as the weather in early June can be unpredictable. Good shoes are also required with solid tread as the rocks may become slippery when wet.