Bulletin reporter Markian Hawryluk rests by the Crooked River after descending the Pink Trail.

If you love the High Desert landscape, do yourself a favor, go check out the new Otter Bench Trail System in the Crooked River Canyon. If you don’t much care for sagebrush and juniper, go anyway. This hike might change your mind.

Otter Bench is one of the region’s newer trail systems, opened by the Bureau of Land Management last year just outside of the Crooked River Ranch. The eight miles of trail offer a variety of options for anyone seeking the quintessential Central Oregon experience.

The trails can be accessed from the end of Horny Hollow Road, just beyond a gate that closes the area to motorized traffic. Initially there are three options, including heading southeast along the mile-long Lone Pine Trail. The trail, for hikers only, descends to the river. It’s the only part of the trail system I didn’t hike.

Instead I headed in the opposite direction, opting to hike out on the Otter Bench Trail itself, then linking up with the Opal Creek Trail before returning along the Horny Hollow Trail (the third option from the trailhead) to complete a figure eight.

From the trailhead, the Otter Bench Trail rises gently, almost imperceptibly between towering basalt cliffs to the west and the river-carved canyon to the east. It’s an easy trail that’s suitable for hiking, trail running, horseback riding or mountain biking, and easy enough for just about any skill level.

The route crosses a brushy landscape with distant views of the canyon, a mere foreshadowing of things to come.

In about 1.7 miles, the trail reaches a four-way intersection, the middle of my figure eight. I continued along the Opal Canyon Trail, a 3.5-mile lollipop loop that, at times, is rougher and more challenging than Otter Bench. In some sections, the rocky trail comes precipitously close to the steep slope down to the river, adding a little bit of adrenalin to a bike ride, and grand views of the river for the hiker.

After a half mile from the intersection, the trail begins a loop that takes you out to an overlook above the river. Pick your way carefully off trail here to the rocky ledge for a dizzying view of the river below as it crooks its way between the steep canyon walls, then out of sight. The views of the gorge are definitely the highlight of the trip.

After completing the loop and returning to the four-way stop, I took a side trip down the Pink Trail, which drops 400 feet in about a half-mile to a viewpoint along the river. (For the sake of safety, and to protect the trail, mountain bikes and horses aren’t allowed on the Pink Trail.)

The route is steep and requires sure footing to descend the rocky staircase. Your reward is a cool oasis of shade on the edge of the river. It’s a wonderful spot to relax, have a bite to eat and shed a layer before climbing back up the trail.

The Horny Hollow Trail offers the quickest return to the trailhead, but it’s little more than a dirt road. And other than a few jackrabbits, there was little to see. It was days after the hike that I found out the trail crosses an area closed for wildlife preservation Feb. 1 to Aug. 31.

Take the Otter Bench Trail back; it’s a touch longer but much more pleasant.

The entire figure eight is a little less than eight miles long, and takes two to three hours to hike. A side trip on the Pink Trail adds nearly another mile and about a half hour of hiking time.

May is a wonderful time to head out to the Crooked River Canyon, particularly in the morning when temperatures are still cool. My guess is you could probably hike here through most of the winter without too much trouble. By June, however, the canyon can get sweltering by midday, and you’ll wish you were in the river rather than above it.

The Otter Bench Trail System is a good alternative to the trails at nearby Smith Rock State Park, especially if you’d like a little more solitude. I didn’t see a single soul on my three-hour hike, just plenty of High Desert brush. Well, there were the few houses perched on the cliffs above. But with the view of the gorge, who can blame them?

If you go

Getting there: From Terrebone, take U.S. Highway 97 north, turn left on Lower Bridge Road at sign for Crooked River Ranch. After 2 miles, turn right on 43rd Street, then continue for 1.7 miles to Chinook Drive. Turn left, travel 5 miles, then continue straight on Horny Hollow Road 1.7 miles to the end of the pavement and trailhead parking.

Difficulty: Easy for Otter Bench Trail, moderate for Opal Canyon Trail, and difficult for Pink Trail.

Cost: Free

Contact: Bureau of Land Management, Prineville Office, 541-416-6700