Pretend it’s a fine-looking day in Central Oregon (even though the sky may be leaden this particular morning). You’re looking for a nice place to enjoy an outdoor lunch, commune with nature and learn a little local history. You don’t want to drive too far, hike too far or deal with lots of crowds.

I stumbled upon Tetherow Crossing on the middle Des-chutes River north of Redmond and discovered that it’s a wonderful place to do a picnic.

The river here is scenic and rife with wildlife. A stroll downstream along the far bank (across the bridge) yielded sightings of ducks and geese, evidence of beaver and scat from a predator festooned with the hair and bones of its unfortunate prey. The place is alive with the cackles, coos and chortles of songbirds and waterfowl of every stripe.

The picnic area is no run-of-the-mill playground park with wooden tables and benches. The picnic tables are there, but the setting is gloriously unimproved. You’re actually sitting there chewing your lemon herb chicken in the sprawling yard of the oldest residential structure in Deschutes County.

Now owned by Central Oregon Park and Recreation District (after being in Deschutes County hands since 1968), the Tetherow House is boarded up now, but will be renovated in the near future, pending funding. According to COPRD Development Director Matt McDonald, the house may become a small community meeting place. The surrounding open space will remain much as it has been for several years – a public park.

Historians found carvings in a nearby tree, dated 1869, that indicate the area was used as an early river crossing by settlers. A.J. Tetherow filed a claim on the land at the crossing in 1877 and built the original house there a year later.

According to historical documents, Tetherow operated a cable ferry there for five or six years until the first bridge was built in 1885.

Over the years, there’s been a brewery at the site as well as a blacksmith shop, campsite and inn. The bridge that now spans the Deschutes at Tetherow Crossing was installed in 1966.

”It’s a beautiful site,” said McDonald. ”The history behind it is fascinating.”

The area likely looks much the same as it always has. A gravel road takes motorists from Helmholtz Way down to the river. Eagles and great blue heron aren’t uncommon sites at the crossing. But change is evident, nonetheless. There are homes now on the bluff overlooking the river, power lines too.

And the river’s different than it used to be. The water level on this section of the Deschutes drops dramatically during irrigation season, stressing the rainbow and brown trout that live here year-round.

Last time I was there, a small group of kayakers put in at the bridge and floated down to Lower Bridge. They talked about seeing deer, otter, beaver and big raptors along that reach during previous paddle trips.

McDonald said COPRD might make the short trail downstream accessible to the disabled, but won’t pave it.

”It’s going to stay a natural area,” he said.

So it should remain a great place for outdoor dining or just poking around. File it in your picnic basket under perfect. The blue-sky days of spring are here.

From Highland Avenue in Redmond, turn north on Helmholtz Way, then left on Tetherow Road. The crossing is on the river at the bottom of the hill.

Contact: COPRD, 548-7275.