This Labor Day weekend, smoky skies and air quality advisories in Central Oregon haven’t just been keeping people out of parks and trails — they’re also keeping customers away from food trucks.
Continue Reading
Prineville, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management is asking people for input on proposed adjustments in the John Day Basin Fee Area. The area, known for its breathtaking scenery and recreational opportunities along the John Day Wild and Scenic River, serves tens of thousands of visitors each year. The BLM will use the increased
Continue Reading
On Friday, August 8, the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District on the Deschutes National Forest will open the gate at Todd Lake to Forest Service Road (FSR) 370, which provides driving access to the Broken Top and Crater Ditch Trailheads. Forest Service Road 370 is a very rough road, with sections through which low-clearance vehicles cannot
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Friday that it’s updating some visitor fees at select parks “as part of a broader, proactive effort to build a more resilient financial future for Oregon State Parks.” Starting Oct. 1, Oregon State Parks will no longer waive the parking fee at 21 additional day-use
Continue Reading SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Beginning Monday, August 4, the Sisters Ranger District Station will be temporarily closed for public and employee safety while construction of the new ranger station nears completion and staff relocate. The closure may remain in place through Wednesday, August 27, depending on construction and office relocation schedules. The Deschutes National Forest
Continue Reading
(Update: Adding video) SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly a dozen Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers came to the aid of two hikers experiencing medical issues Tuesday in the Chush Falls area south of Sisters. Shortly after 11:15 a.m. today, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District was dispatched to the area after receiving a report
Continue Reading
Following the recent tragic accident at Dillon Falls just outside of Bend, the public is questioning why a barrier of sorts does not exist to prevent these types of incidents. Numerous people have lost their lives to the dangerous rapids over the decades.
Continue Reading
SALEM, Oregon (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department wants to better understand the public’s values and priorities for the future of state parks through a new survey as it launches a strategic initiative to reimagine how parks are funded, operated and supported. OPRD faces a potential 14% budget shortfall for park operations by
Continue Reading
SANTIAM STATE FOREST, Ore. (KTVZ) —The High Lakes recreation area of the Santiam State Forest reopened this month after being closed in the aftermath of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. All recreation areas in the Santiam are now open to the public. “We focused our rebuilding efforts on highly visited recreation areas, like Shellburg Falls
Continue Reading
You may have seen new black and teal e-bikes popping up around Bend recently. They’re part of a new bike-share program the City of Bend implemented. The city partnered with Veo, the independent shared micro-mobility company, earlier this month.
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to continued hot and dry conditions, as well as increased fire starts, the Deschutes National Forest said Tuesday it will include all wilderness areas under Stage 1 public use fire restrictions starting on Friday, July 18. Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Stage 1 public use fire restrictions prohibit open
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ — The Wanoga Downhill Trails project, which has been years in the making, broke ground in mid-June and plans to add a total of five mountain bike trails to the Wanoga Sno-Park Complex. Two of the trails opened to the public Wednesday, including an advanced/black downhill flow trail and a climbing trail.
Continue Reading
(Update: Adding videos, Adding details, Jillian Fortner has a report at 6) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Lava River Cave, Oregon’s longest known lava tube, is now open for summer guided tours. The nonprofit Discover Your Forest is offering tours for a second season, after launching the program as a pilot last year. The tour
Continue Reading
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – On Wednesday, Oregon State fire marshals Partnered with the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to conducted a wildfire burn scenario demonstrating the effectiveness of creating defensible space around your home. “Today’s demonstration makes that reality personal. Seeing the way bark mulch, shrubs and building materials burn helps people connect
Continue Reading
On Saturday in Bend, a group gathered in Drake Park in protest of a provision being considered as an addition to the Trump administration’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’. The provision, proposed by Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee, would put around three million acres of public lands up for sale across 11 states, including Oregon.
Continue Reading(Update: Adding video) Smith Rock is known worldwide as a rock climbing destination, but you don’t need ropes or chalk to enjoy it. The 650-acre park offers stunning views and scenic trails, and has a bit of history in Hollywood. In this week’s Park Pick, Jillian Fortner highlights the park’s many activities and shares improvements
Continue Reading
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Beginning on Friday, June 20, the popular USDA Forest Service Annual Northwest Forest Pass will be available for online purchase at www.recreation.gov. “In a desire to be responsive to interest and input from the public, an Annual Northwest Forest can now be purchased online as we expand pass options for recreation users. Many
Continue Reading PORTLAND, Ore., (KTVZ) — The USDA Forest Service will waive recreation fees at most day-use sites across national forests in Oregon and Washington on Saturday, June 14 and Thursday, June 19 in recognition of National Get Outdoors Day and the Juneteenth holiday. The fee waiver applies to day-use fees at trailheads, picnic areas, visitor centers and
Continue Reading
The Oregon State Marine Board is urging people who recreate on stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) atop moving water (primarily rivers) to always wear a life jacket – and to never wear a Velcro ankle or leg leash that’s designed for general flatwater use or the surf zone.
Continue Reading
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — One loyal KTVZ viewer was up all night Tuesday, as he captured a stunning timelapse of the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, at Little Lava Lake off the Cascade Lakes Highway. In the video, you can see the Aurora’s red color sparked up in the evening and then again
Continue Reading