Rob DeHarpport’s outdoor report: Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway reopens for the holiday weekend

By ROB DeHARPPORT/For The Herald — Just in time to welcome great weather and the three-day holiday weekend! As of 8 o’clock this morning, May 26, the entire Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway is open.

The 70-mile scenic route from the Crescent/Gilchrist cutoff road to Bend is easily accessed from our Highway 58 corridor near Milepost 73, with the southern terminus located just three miles north of Highway 58.

The Scenic Byway has provided beautiful vistas and a literal plethora of recreational opportunities for generations of Highway 58 travelers and residents. Camping, hiking and fishing choices are endless when the snow finally melts each spring.

The route is very popular, as indicated by the Deschutes County road crew that I visited with at Goose Creek today. They shared that there were 28 cars waiting for them to open the gate on the north end of the route this morning at 8.

It’s my favorite travel route to Bend from Crescent Lake for groceries and so forth in the summer months. Take the road less traveled!

Unfortunately, this year the camping opportunities are somewhat limited in U.S. Forest Service campgrounds located on the scenic route and elsewhere in the Deschutes National Forest. Despite these temporary and possibly summer-long campground closures, there are many dispersed campsites to choose from and several resorts with RV parks.

The closures will be problematic and frustrating to many campers who may expect to simply drive up to a campground and pick a spot. The closures will also be aggravating to those who reserved campsites only to learn of cancelations because of closures from “tree mitigation.”

Adding to the frustration factor for some campers is the policy implemented last year because of COVID-19 that all campsites must be reserved beginning this Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Campers may “luck out” during weekdays and find vacant campsites for a day or two. Prior to COVID-19 precautions, in previous years Forest Service campgrounds were available with 66 percent by reservation and 34 percent left open for first come first serve. The pandemic changed that policy to protect camp hosts.

Below are the current closures within the Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District. The following campgrounds are closed because of hazard-tree mitigation: Sheep Bridge, Reservoir, Rock Creek, Quinn River, Cow Meadow, Cultus Lake, Lava Lake and Little Lava.

There is a possibility that a portion of Rock Creek CG and Lava and Little Lava campgrounds could be opened soon.

Crane Prairie CG remains closed due to a severe ant infestation. It may partially open soon.

Crane Prairie Resort and RV Park IS open and unaffected by the ants or hazard trees. The resort’s friendly staff offers boat rentals and a fully stocked store with a good selection of fishing tackle. I talked with a few anglers who had caught their limits of Crane Prairie rainbows.

Boat ramps open at Crane Prarie are: Rock Creek, Quinn River, Crane Prairie and Brown’s Landing.

Cultus Lake Resort is open and offers cabins, marina, boat rentals, tackle, restaurant and groceries. The boat ramp at Cultus Lake campground is open.

Twin Lakes Resort and RV Park is open as is their restaurant, store and boat rentals. North and South Twin lakes have been good for rainbow fishing.

Gull Point CG on Wickiup is open. Fishing at Wickiup is slow. Some nice rainbows and browns are being caught in the Deschutes River below Wickiup.

Lava Lake Resort and RV Park/Marina is open and provides groceries and rental boats. There should be some lunker trout available in Lava Lake!

Hosmer Lake is open for fly anglers. Mallard Marsh CG was close today.

Elk Lake Resort and Marina will open as of Thursday May 27,  offering cabins, boat rentals and restaurant.

Campgrounds at Elk Lake were somewhat snowbound today and closed. Also closed due to snow are Sparks Lake and Devils Lake campgrounds as well as some trailhead parking lots.

Campgrounds at Crescent Lake are all open with Spring CG opening on Friday. Crescent Lake Resort is now open. The resort offers a restaurant, store, tackle as well as paddleboard and kayak rentals.

All campgrounds at Odell Lake are now open.

Odell Lake Resort and campground is open offering a restaurant, moorage, boat rentals and fishing guide service and horseback riding.

Shelter Cove Resort and RV park is open along with its Hook & Talon Cafe. The store provides groceries, tackle, moorage as well as guided fishing.

Kokanee fishing is still slow at Odell. Mackinaw fishing has been great. Hopefully, the kokes start cooperating with anglers soon!

Davis Lake campgrounds are open. Davis Lake is fly-fishing only.

The fishing portion of my report is brief this week, mostly because of the recent cold and blustery weather keeping anglers in camp or at home. Let’s hope the sunny forecast for the holiday weekend helps fishing success.

The key to having a relaxing time camping, fishing and general recreation this year will be to be flexible in where you camp. No matter the fishing success or limited choices of campsites, enjoy the time spent in our beautiful Cascades. Be safe driving this holiday weekend and make sure to drown your campfires dead cold and out.

Please don’t forget the real reason for Memorial Day. It is to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Respectfully enjoy these great outdoors with family and friends just as those soldiers would have.

Rob DeHarpport, former mayor of Westfir, moved to the Crescent Lake community in 2015 shortly after retiring from a 31-year career in the trucking industry.