The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Why You Should Visit
Ancient juniper stands and grassland communities inhabit this jewel of the eastern Cascades. An ancient stand of western junipers includes some of the oldest specimens in the state, dated at over 800 years old.

The preserve, located at 3,300-feet elevation on the eastern slopes of the Cascades north of Sisters, was the gift of a couple who built a home at the site by hand and devoted their lives to conservation and environmental education.

Location
North of Sisters in Central Oregon

Size
160 acres

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Volunteer caretakers supervise work parties, lead interpretive hikes and maintain preserve facilities. 

Things To Do

What to See: Plants

The slow-growing junipers, together with dispersed ponderosa pine, thrive in one of the driest regions of Oregon, with annual precipitation of less than 10 inches. Under the juniper trees, an understory of bitterbrush and grassland communities, including native bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue, are in excellent ecological condition.

What to See: Animals

Birds including the screech owl, white-headed woodpecker, Swainson's hawk and northern shrike nest among Wildhaven's juniper and pine forests.

Plan Your Visit

Wildhaven is open to the public on the first weekend of each month from April through October, excluding Labor Day Weekend in September. The preserve is closed for the remainder of the year.  For more information, please see our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions

From Salem:

• Take Highway 20 towards Bend/Sisters.  Go beyond Camp Sherman Junction about 4.2 miles.
• Turn left on Green Ridge Road (there will be a blue sign indicating Indian Ford Campground and Black Butte Stables).
• At the first intersection, turn right onto Indian Ford Road.
• Continue for 5.1 miles to Stevens Canyon Road and turn left (Forest Road 2050/100); Willows Ranch is across the road from the turn off. 
• Continue 2.1 miles on Stevens Canyon Road, and turn right to reach the Wildhaven Preserve entrance.  Several signs mark the preserve entrance. 

From Bend:

• Take Highway 20 towards Sisters.  Coming into Sisters, turn right onto Locust Street which runs between the middle and grade schools. 
• Locust will turn into Camp Polk Road  Continue on Camp Polk Road for 3 miles to Indian Ford Road and turn left.
• Continue for 1.3 miles to Stevens Canyon Road and turn right (Forest Road 2050/100). Willows Ranch is across the road from the turn off.
• Continue 2.1 miles on Stevens Canyon Road, and turn right to reach the Wildhaven Preserve entrance. Several signs mark the preserve entrance.

NOTE:  There are two options for parking. There is space on the side of the entrance, before a cable over the driveway. Walk up the driveway to approach the preserve. Alternately, you can move the cable and proceed .25 mile up the driveway to the guest parking lot. Be sure to replace the cable after you have driven through. When the preserve is not open, the cable will be locked. 

Discussion

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Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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