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Clear Lake Ridge

©Eric W. Valentine
 

Why You Should Visit    
Clear Lake Ridge lies on the northeastern flanks of the Wallowa Mountains. A prairie-covered plateau with mile-high lakes and a steep canyon provide a spectacular setting and diverse habitats for birds and other wildlife. An expansive basalt plateau, hosting three shallow lakes amid native grasslands, gives way to Devil's Gulch, a canyon plunging 3,000 feet toward Little Sheep Creek. Views from the plateau include the Seven Devil's range across Hells Canyon into Idaho, and south to the 9,000-ft peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowas.

Location
East of Joseph, in Oregon's northeast corner 

Size
3,484 acres

How to Prepare for Your Visit
The hike up Devil's Gulch provides one of the premier birding opportunities in northeast Oregon. The best time to visit the preserve for wildflower displays is May and June. Beware of Great Basin rattlesnakes. For more information, please see our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions
The preserve is accessible from two directions. For a map, driving directions and additional visitor information, please click here.

What to See: Plants
Two key native grassland communities on the preserve include bunch grass species: Idaho fescue, junegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass.

What to See: Animals
Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, cougar and black bear are found on the preserve. Colonies of Belding ground squirrels inhabit the grasslands and provide food for raptors, coyote and badger. More than 250 species of birds are known to frequent the preserve, and at least 100 have been observed nesting, including mountain bluebirds, grasshopper sparrows and red-eyed vireo. Golden eagles and ferruginous hawks have nested in the vicinity of Downey Lake. In addition, Swainson's hawks and goshawks are periodically seen on the preserve, as are mountain quail, ruffed grouse, yellow-breasted chats, lazuli buntings and canyon wrens. 

The preserve's three shallow lakes, located in shallow depressions in the basalt flow, provide nesting habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Often seen are Wilson's phalaropes, yellow-headed blackbirds, horned larks and savannah sparrows. Eared and horned grebes also nest at Downey Lake in wet years.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Volunteers help control invasive non-native plants (such as knapweed and Scotch thistle) and monitor and repair fences. In addition, volunteer caretakers live in the preserve cabin and monitor activities from July through October.