A basalt rock hill near Reynolds Pond.

It may seem odd to find a pond surrounded by willows and cattails among a forest of western juniper, basalt rock outcroppings and dusty trails, but this tiny oasis at the northern edge of the Oregon Badlands really does exist.

Reynolds Pond is a 12-acre pool that is teeming with life of both above and below the water’s surface. This time of year you can find a variety of waterfowl swimming in its shallow water, and you can cast a line and hope to catch a sunfish, largemouth bass or brown bullhead. Built as a holding area for excess water from the Central Oregon Irrigation Districts canals, it’s now stocked regularly. A short, ¾-mile dirt trail surrounds the lake, giving visitors a good stretch of the legs while the Badlands’ Tumulus trail is also accessible from the area.

Getting there: From Bend, drive 14 miles east on Alfalfa Market Road and turn right on Walker Road. Continue down the road for about a mile and stay to the left when you reach the sharp right turn. Continue past the transfer sight along the dirt road toward Reynolds Pond.