Central Oregon is chock full of inspiring outdoor places.

But there are a couple that consistently come to mind when I want to show newcomers the beauty of this fantastic place we call home and they don’t.

Fall River near Sunriver and the Metolius River outside Sisters are a pair of the prettiest waterways you’ll see anywhere on Earth. And with their gin clear water and healthy trout populations, they embody the best of Central Oregon.

Fall River, like the Metolius, is known as a spring creek. That is, it emerges full-blown from springs and enjoys a consistent flow all year.

While the Metolius is much longer (Fall River is just eight miles from head to mouth), this precocious spring creek doesn’t take a back seat.

The Fall River Fish Hatchery is a logical place to begin, and you may just want to loll away an afternoon there watching the flyfishers cast and soaking up some spring sunshine. Or you can fork over some change, plunk it in the gum ball machine and feed the fish in the pools. It’s fun, especially for the kids, to watch the hatchery trout boiling on the feed pellets.

The hatchery raises between 300,000 and 500,000 trout each year. The fish are stocked in the Fall River as well as myriad Cascades mountain lakes.

The Fall River Fish Hatchery is about 13 miles west of Highway 97 on South Century Drive. There’s plenty of parking, restrooms and informational signs explaining what the hatchery is all about.

And there’s a trail that runs along the bank that showcases the best this beautiful little stream has to offer. Hike a mile or two up or downstream and you’ll get the idea.

The Metolius River west of Sisters is another strikingly beautiful stream right in our back yard.

Camp Sherman on the upper reaches of the Metolius River is an ideal place to start. If you just want to drink in the beauty of this sylvan place, grab a latte at the store and wander across the road and check out the fish under the bridge. Or pack a picnic and stop by Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery (north of Camp Sherman on Forest Road 14).

If you want to stretch your legs a little, there’s a 10-mile out-and-back hike beginning at the hatchery going up and downstream. Another nice walk is a 6.5-mile loop from the hatchery downstream to Lower Bridge, across the bridge and back upriver on the other side.

From Sisters, drive about 13 miles west on Highway 20 toward the Santiam Pass. A little more than a mile past the entrance to Black Butte Ranch, turn right on Forest Road 4 at the sign to Camp Sherman and the Metolius River. Camp Sherman is just up the road.

Spend some time on either the Fall River or the Metolius and your out-of-town guests should be impressed.

If not, might as well take them to a movie.

Jim Witty can be reached at 541-617-7828 or jwitty@bendbulletin.com.