Clouds hover in the blue sky above one of the few trees in the bottom of Hole-in-the-Ground. Interestingly, the bottom is too cold for the ponderosas of the forest surrounding Hole-in-the-Ground to find purchase, according to “Bend, Overall.”

We’re getting some very slight relief from the high temps this weekend, so steal yourself away toward exploring areas east of Bend.

It’ll still be hot out there, so bring lots of water and sunscreen. And let the heat remind you that there is extreme fire danger in many areas, so don’t drive through or park on dry vegetation, don’t light any fires, smoke in your car and above all, be vigilant wherever you venture this weekend.

For a full list of conditions updated regularly, please visit centraloregonexplore.com.

Hiking and Day Use Sites

Deschutes National Forest

Pine Mountain: Open

Ochoco National Forest

Alder Springs Trailhead: Open

Antelope Flat Reservoir: Open

Baneberry Trailhead: Open

Barnhouse Trailhead: Open

Black Canyon East (Formerly South Fork) Trailhead: Open

Black Canyon West (Formerly Dusty Camp) Trailhead: Open

Boeing Field Trailhead: Open

Coffeepot Trailhead: Open

Cottonwood Trailhead: Open

Cougar East Trailhead: Open

Cougar West Trailhead: Open

Fry Trailhead: Open

Green Mountain North Trailhead: Open

Hammer Creek Trailhead: Open

Keeton Trailhead: Open

Kelsey Trailhead: Open

Line Butte East (Formerly Fawn Creek) Trailhead: Open

Line Butte West Trailhead: Open

Lookout Mountain Lower Trailhead: Open

Lookout Mountain Upper Trailhead: Open

Mascall Corral (Formerly Apple West) Trailhead: Open

Mother Lode Mine Trailhead: Open

Payten Trailhead: Open

Potlid North Trailhead: Open

Potlid South Trailhead: Open

Rim (Formerly Apple Middle) Trailhead: Open

Rock Creek Trailhead: Open

Round Mountain North Trailhead: Open

Round Mountain South Trailhead: Open

Scales Corral Trailhead: Open

Scotty Creek Trailhead: Open

South Prong Trailhead: Open

Steins Pillar Trailhead: Open

Trail Crossing Corrals Trailhead: Open

Twin Pillars North Trailhead: Open

Twin Pillars South Trailhead: Open

Walton Lake Trailhead: Closed

Wildcat North Trailhead: Open

Wildcat South Trailhead: Open

Bureau of Land Management

Badlands Rock Trail: Open

Black Hills ACEC: Open; climbing and geocaching are prohibited

Chimney Rock Trail: Open

Christmas Valley Sand Dunes: Open

Cline Buttes Recreation Area: Portions of Deep Canyon, Fryrear, Maston and Jaguar Road are closed through Aug. 31

Crack-in-the-Ground: Open

Derrick Cave: Open

Flatiron Rock Trail: Open

Fossil Lake ACEC: Open; motor vehicles and fossil collecting prohibited

Green Mountain: Open

Huntington Wagon Road: Open

Lost Forest: Open, vehicles restricted to designated roads only

Lower Crooked River: Open

North Fork: Open

Oregon Badlands Wilderness Tumulus Trail: Open

Redmond Caves Recreation Site: Open

Scout Camp Trail: Open

Steelhead Falls Trail: Open

Trout Creek Trail: South side of trail, including Trout Creek climbing walls is closed through Aug. 31

Oregon State Parks

Fort Rock State Natural Area: Open; day-use hours 8 a.m,-8 p.m.; rock scrambling closed in southeast area to protect nesting falcons; cave tours canceled for 2021

Jasper Point: Open; boats with motors are not advised due to low water; no campfires including wood, charcoal briquettes, candles, tiki torches, propane fire rings and other devices that emit flames. Stoves and other cooking devices that use propane are allowed for cooking purposes

Prineville Reservoir State Park: Open; boats with motors are not advised due to low water; no campfires including wood, charcoal briquettes, candles, tiki torches, propane fire rings and other devices that emit flames. Stoves and other cooking devices that use propane are allowed for cooking purposes

Camping

NOTE: All campfires are prohibited within the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests and lands managed by the BLM

Ochoco National Forest

Allen Creek Horse Camp: Open

Antelope Flat Reservoir Campground and Day Use: Open

Barnhouse Campground: Open

Big Spring Campground: Open

Biggs Springs Campground: Open

Bingham Springs Campground: Open

Cold Springs Guard Station: Open

Cottonwood Campground: Open

Cottonwood Pit Campground: Open

Deep Creek Campground: Open

Dry Creek Horse Camp: Open

Elkhorn Campground: Campground: Open

Frazier Campground: Open

Mud Springs Horse Camp: Open

Ochoco Divide Campground: Open

Ochoco Divide Group Site: Open

Ochoco Forest Campground: Open

Ochoco Forest Camp Group Pavillion: Open

Ochoco Ranger Rental House: Open

Salters Cabin Horse Camp: Open

Scotts Campground: Open

Sugar Creek Campground and Day Use Area: Open

Walton Lake Campground: Open

Walton Lake Group Campsites: Open

Whistler Campground: Open

White Rock Campground: Open

Wildcat Campground and Day Use Area: Open

Wildwood Campground: Open

Wiley Flat Campground: Open

Wolf Creek Campground: Open

Wolf Creek Industrial Campground: Open

BLM — Prineville District

Barr Road North Staging Area: Open

Big Bend Campground: Open

Buckhorn Staging Area: Open

Castle Rock Campground: Open

Chimney Rock Campground: Open

Cobble Rock Campground: Open

Lone Pine Campground: Open

Palisades Campground: Open

Post Pile Campground: Open

Steelhead Falls: Open; no potable water

Stillwater Campground: Open

Cycling

East of Bend trails

Dry River Canyon: Closed through Aug. 31

Arnold Ice Cave, Crooked Arm, Holy Loop, Sand Canyon: Sandy and loose

All other trails riding well

Prineville and Ochoco trails

Cougar Creek: Riding well, deadfall reported

All other trails riding well

Fishing

NOTE: Conditions as of July 13.

Crooked River (below Opal Springs): 1,152 cfs; rainbow trout and mountain whitefish; water level is higher but will be lower than average this summer; more whitefish than rainbows, fair fishing for rainbows; any trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead and must be released, bull trout must be released unharmed and reported to the USFW at crookedbulltrout@fws.gov

Prineville Reservoir: 39% full; rainbow trout, small and largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, crayfish; bass and trout fishing has been good

Ochoco Reservoir: 14% full; rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass; water level is still extremely low and bank access is limited to walk-in only

Walton Lake: Rainbow trout

Fire danger is currently listed as Extreme in the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests. Fire danger is listed as High in the Willamette National Forest.

Industrial Fire Precaution Level is currently at Level 3, Partial Shutdown for the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests and the Prineville District — Bureau of Land Management.

Campfires are banned with the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests and areas managed by BLM

As of July 22, Deschutes River access is closed due to safety concerns and to prevent further erosion to the river bank. The access point will be closed until further notice. For more information visit bendparksandrec.org

To protect nesting raptors, the following climbing routes are closed: Cajun Cliff, Victoria Tower, Little Three Fingered Jack, Puddy’s Tower, The Monument, Anglin’s Buttress, French Tent Rock, First Kiss Area north of Monkey Face and Smith Rock Group NE Face (both towers, above 100 feet).

The Canyon Trail near the bald eagle nest is restricted to groups of four or less and noise must be kept to a minimum. 

See smithrock.com/seasonal-closures for more information.

As of June 16 the following trails are closed from Mondays to 3 p.m. Fridays (except for federal holidays) due to timber harvesting and forest restoration work:

• Lower Whoops
• Pine Drops
• EXT
• Storm King from the junction with Forest Road 4615 and the junction with Phil’s Trail
• Phil’s Trail between the junction with EXT and it’s western terminus at the junction with Pine Drops

The following Bureau of Land Management trails are now closed through Aug. 31 to protect nesting raptors:

• Millican Plateau OHV Trail System (Route 95 only)
• South side of Trout Creek Trail including climbing walls
• Cline Buttes Recreation Area (portions of Deep Canyon, Fryrear, Maston, Jaguar Road)
• Horny Hollow Trail
• Dry River Canyon

For more information visit blm.gov