DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) The Deschutes Trails Coalition announced today that it is accepting applications for its 2026 Small Project Grant program. The initiative will award up to $30,000 to support multiple trail-focused projects within the Deschutes National Forest and Deschutes County. The grant program is designed to fund small-scale projects that maintain or restore
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The League of Women Voters of Deschutes County is hosting a presentation on April 2 from 11:30 AM-1:00 PM, focused on the protection and preservation of wild public lands in Oregon. Mary Fleischmann, leader of the Central and Eastern Oregon Bitterbrush chapter of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, will serve as
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes National Forest firefighters canceled a planned prescribed burn on Wednesday after a test fire was unsuccessful. The Flank Four project is located 15 miles southeast of Bend. The cancellation occurred because environmental conditions were not favorable, likely due to local winds. While crews have successfully ignited hundreds of acres south
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DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon is experiencing one of its driest winters in more than 30 years, leaving the basin with a snowpack that is only 11% of its average. The low levels are expected to cause water curtailments for farmers, river levels, and water users throughout the region this summer. The dismal
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Tumalo Falls viewing platform has reopened to the public following the completion of repair work. While the overlook is now accessible, visitors must currently reach the site by foot as driving access has not yet opened for the season. Repairs were required because the wooden platform of the previous viewing deck
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REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Search & Rescue volunteers rescued two climbers stranded nearly 400 feet above the ground at Smith Rock State Park early Tuesday morning. The men became stuck on a narrow ledge after their ropes caught in rocks during a descent Monday night. The climbers, two men in their late 20s
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An adult bald eagle is recovering at a Bend wildlife hospital after being found grounded and unable to fly in Prineville. The bird, identified as Bald Eagle 26-54, spent more than 24 hours in a field before being rescued and transported to Think Wild for urgent care. Upon intake, the veterinary
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OREGON (KTVZ) — The Heritage Apple Corps has launched the Heritage Fruit Tree Registry to document historic fruit trees across Central Oregon. Created by Peter Loverso, the registry serves as a publicly accessible resource to help the local community learn about the region’s agricultural history. The project incorporates years of research and fieldwork, much of
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The Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burning operations on Wednesday and Thursday 15 miles southeast of Bend. Firefighters are scheduled to begin ignitions around 9:30 a.m. on the Opine 2B and Flank five units if weather conditions remain favorable. The project will cover up to 692 acres of forest land near the Camp
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Tuesday it will host “Yozakura,” which is a night viewing of the Akebono cherry blossoms, starting this weekend. The cherry blossoms will be illuminated from March 21st through April 4th in the North Mall at State Capitol State Park. They will be lit up
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(Adding context, history, and background information from an Oregon Department Fish and Wildlife Biologist). BLUE RIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Central Oregon man’s dream encounter came true Friday: capturing the McKenzie River Ranger District’s first confirmed wolf on video. Jake Rau spotted the animal feeding on roadkill deer along Highway 126 in Willamette National Forest.
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REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show returns to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center this week. Running from March 5 to 8, 2026, the event features a wide variety of hunting, fishing, and camping exhibits. The expo center will be filled with RVs and exhibitions designed for outdoor recreation. This year’s
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HOODOO, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hoodoo Ski Area is set to welcome skiers and riders back to the slopes this Thursday, after a mid-winter shutdown caused by a prolonged stretch of warm, dry weather. The reopening comes as a welcome boost for snow enthusiasts and local businesses. In an update posted to its website, Hoodoo announced that
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Mt. Bachelor received 4 inches of snow overnight and is expecting up to 4 more inches throughout the day, with the Play Forever Thursday initiative offering $99 lift tickets to benefit local organizations.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Parks announced Tuesday it is now hiring seasonal Park Rangers and Park Ranger Assistants for the 2026 season. The agency is recruiting for positions at parks across the state, with the hiring process beginning in February and continuing through June of 2026. These seasonal roles typically last between four
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THREE RIVERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A wolf from the Upper Deschutes Pack was recently filmed running along a biking path in the Caldera Springs community near Sunriver. The sighting was captured in a residential area as the animal traveled between local homes. The Upper Deschutes Pack has been established in the area for approximately four
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(Update: Video Added) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After an extensive and thoughtful search process, the Central Oregon Trail Alliance has announced the hiring of Casey Andrews as the new executive director. The search engaged the Hiring Committee of the Board of Directors, additional board members, staff, and volunteers, who collectively dedicated more than 1,000 hours reviewing
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BEND, Ore (KTVZ) — Wanderlust Tours is hosting a “Romance in the Snow” tour this Valentine’s Day weekend, offering couples a chance to go snowshoeing under the stars. The experience is priced at $150 per person and includes a bonfire at an amphitheater built out of snow. The event serves as an outdoor alternative to
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DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mt. Bachelor issued a powder alert Monday, Feb. 9, after receiving seven inches of fresh snow overnight. The recent storm has brought 13 inches of total snowfall to the mountain, resulting in a base depth of 40 inches. All scheduled lifts opened at 9:00 a.m. as patrol reported 16 inches
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Camp Fire Central Oregon announced Thursday it has been awarded a national grant of nearly $50,000 to strengthen character development and explore expanding its summer programs to La Pine. The funding is part of the American Camp Association’s Character at Camp Grant Program, which is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The
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