A canyon with the Deschutes River below can be seen on Riley Ranch Nature Reserve last week in northwest Bend. (Joe Kline/Bulletin photo)

The Bend Park & Recreation District is starting construction on the Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, a 184-acre park that will serve as a natural area north of Awbrey Butte along the Deschutes River.

Deschutes Construction Corp. and Knife River crews are working this summer to widen roads and build a trailhead parking lot, restroom area and four overlooks with interpretive signs.

The park, at Glen Vista Road and O.B. Riley Road, is expected to open by November.

Park district staff believe the $3.4 million park project will provide a different type of experience than the district’s other parks. The biggest difference: no dogs, on or off leash, or bicycles will be allowed.

Cyclists will be able to park their bikes on eight racks near the parking lot.

Brian Hudspeth, the district’s development manager, said there are no plans to loosen the rules on dogs and bikes even as the park connects with the Deschutes River Trail and Tumalo State Park. Cyclists and dog walkers will be able to bypass the park on the Deschutes River Trail.

“Riley Ranch will always be no-bikes and no-dogs,” Hudspeth said. “That is part of its master plan and zoning codes as well as part of its management plan.” The park is intended to serve as a peaceful area where people can enjoy undisturbed nature, Hudspeth said. It has all the features that define the High Desert, including juniper and pine trees, the river and a rocky canyon, he said.

“It’s Central Oregon in its raw state,” Hudspeth said. “Almost everything that is native to Central Oregon has been documented out there.”

Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, formerly known as Gopher Gulch, also touches on Bend’s history, Hudspeth said.

Part of the land was originally owned by O.B. Riley, an early Bend pioneer who homesteaded in a log cabin along the river north of the Bend town site in 1896. Riley worked for the Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Co. until the mill’s closure in 1950.

Interpretive signs describing the wildlife, vegetation and history will be set up at the four overlooks. Each overlook will have a different view and theme. One overlook will offer a view of the Three Sisters, Mount Bachelor and Broken Top. The others will offer views of the sagebrush and river canyon.

As the city continues to grow, it is important to preserve the natural views and habitat in the Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, Hudspeth said.

“If the district was not able to acquire it and do what we have done with it, it would be $5 million homes on 1 acre lots,” Hudspeth said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, 
kspurr@bendbulletin.com