Camp Sherman recreation
By Conrad Weiler

If outdoor recreation is your pleasure, Camp Sherman’s your place.

The many miles of trails, numerous lakes and the Metolius River provide opportunities for everyone’s year-round recreation.

The Metolius River is the area’s biggest draw.

You can hike along its banks or don your waders and take up the challenge of fishing the river's rich but challenging waters.

The river is flyfishing-only.

Outdoorsman Peter Hedren enjoys biking on the Windigo Trail.

“It’s a pretty ride through the forest out to Sheep Springs horse camp from here (about seven miles one way),” said the Camp Sherman resident.

Shorter rides begin on the two-mile biking/hiking trail from downtown Camp Sherman (adjacent to the Chapel in the Pines) through the forest and ending near Metolius Meadows. Another scenic biking/hiking trail starts near the General Store and goes out the 700 Road to the Tract C Bridge. This one-mile stretch offers stunning views along the Metolius River. Rental bicycles are available at the Camp Sherman Store during summer months.

“I like to jog on these same trails,” said Wayne Carter. “In winter, my wife (Donna) and I use cross-country skis and follow many of the same routes.”

Karen Sheldahl, Camp Sherman Postmaster, remembers her marathon training. “The route to Suttle Lake takes you several miles through beautiful forest land,” said Karen.

“I liked the beautiful paths leading out towards Jack Lake,” she said. “I also like going out my back door and using cross-country skis in the winter.” Local resident Rad Dyer uses his snowmobile clearing many miles of trail (west of Metolius Meadows) for cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

Magda Schay and Bill Johnson are other cross-country skiers who like the trails from Camp Sherman to the Santiam Pass.

“I use the South Loop Trail at Ray Benson Sno Park and go out to Big Lake, on to Brandenburg Shelter and come back over the North Loop Trail past North Blowout Shelter and back to Ray Benson. It’s about nine miles and very enjoyable scenery,” said Johnson.

Roger White, owner of the Camp Sherman Store, comments that his favorites for recreation include “hiking the Canyon Creek trail in spring (about 2.5 miles) to the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery along the Metolius River. Another choice is the shorter (about one mile) walk along Jack Creek. Also, the short walk into the Head of the Metolius is a nice activity for everyone and kids like feeding the chipmunks.”

Kent Gill, a member of Friends of the Metolius, offers summer weekend guided interpretive walks through the local forest area. The same group offers a naturalist interpreter on Friday afternoon/evenings at the Camp Sherman Store patio deck and Saturday/Sunday at the Headwaters of the Metolius parking area.

Local experts offer flower observation and forest walk through Central Oregon Community College Community Learning (www.cocc.edu). These two-hour walks visit scenic areas such as Riverside campground, a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp built in the 1930s.

The Deschutes Basin Land Trust offers summer bird walks, plant ecology walks and forestry outings on their 1,200+ acre preserve in Camp Sherman. Visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.