Riley Ranch Nature Reserve

Riley Ranch Nature Reserve

When I first started to hike Bigs Canyon Trail from Sawyer Park I always wondered about that large grassy field area on the other side. Well, I finally found out when I was told that entire area is now a park. It is between Sawyer Park and Tumalo State Park. To get there take O.B. Riley Road then turn off on Glen Vista Road. 

Unlike many other parks, dogs are not allowed. They put up signs to reinforce this. 

The trail is like a figure eight. You can take a short loop, medium loop or take the loop to the river to make the walk extra long. Plenty of sign markers many with miniature maps.

Most of the trail is flat, wide and paved with fine gravel. Good for a short run or jog. Not for everyone if you are not into a flat trail and just views of the field and mountains. Now the last loop is nothing like the others with a narrow muddy steep hike with switchbacks.

The Canyon Loop Trail is the most interesting. Views of the river, large rock cliffs and an old settler cabin before the 1900s.

But Sage Flat Loop does have some nice overlooks including a wooden deck that hangs over the edge with views like this. Was not a good day for taking photos so I may replace these pics later on.

Canyon Creek Meadows at Three Finger Jack

Canyon Creek Meadows

at Three Finger Jack

Iron Mountain and Cone Peak

Iron Moutain and Cone Peak

Six Lakes Trail - Doris and Blow Lakes

Finding a trail I have not hiked before is getting harder all the time especially one worth sharing.
Just past Elk Lake with a sign labeled Six Lakes Trailhead. Parking lot was paved and surprisingly few cars considering I past Green Lakes Trailhead and Devil's Lake that had at least 40 cars parked off the high way for each because their parking lots were full.

For the first mile the trail starts off as nothing special. Mostly old burn area with lodge pole pine.

After finally cresting the hill the landscape changes.

The trail does not go directly to the lakes, you have to use trails created by fellow hikers to reach them. And there are more than one.

After Blow Lake then you run across the seasonal creek beds some still have water in them leaving a marshy area along the trail.









Another mile and a half and you reach Doris Lake. It took me an hour and 30 minutes to reach Doris so this hike is good for day hiking. These pictures don't do both of these lakes justice. To the left of the photo on the bottom is the other section of the lake. There were about 4 groups of people out there and they all had dogs, they should rename the lake Dog Lake. Unlike Blow Lake there were some sandy areas you could call a beach. Blow Lake had more rocky beach area. Both lakes were warm and shallow but I did see inflatable boats on them.

After walking back I ran across a woman jogging the other way and warning me of hornets she was trying to get away from. A few seconds later a large looking horse fly landed on my legs, it had yellow stripes on his body so maybe a hornet. it quickly took off to continue to chase the woman I think, I guess it realized I was the wrong person. I decided to go off the trail a bit to be safe and low and behold I discover another lake or I should say pond.

Back to bugs. I was not bothered by mosquitoes at all but I heard they are really bad around July here. The large black flies act like they own the trail but only a few times seem to be interested in me. Some may be horse flies but one did appear to be a hornet. Hard to tell when they are flying.