Clear Lake Ridge

Why You Should Visit    
Clear Lake Ridge lies on the northeastern flanks of the Wallowa Mountains. Rocky-soiled ridgetops with mile-high lakes and a steep canyon provide a spectacular setting and diverse habitats for birds and other wildlife. This 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 western rattlesnakes. For more information, please see our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions
The preserve is accessible from two directions. View and download directions and a trail map.

What to See: Plants
On the plateau, nearly a dozen native bunch grasses and dozens of wildflower species can be seen. Early in the season, balsamroot, camas and lupine put on a spectacular display. Later, goldenrod, gentian, yampah and other species continue to provide color and food for pollinating insects. The preserve is also home to the threatened Spalding's catchfly.

Devil’s Gulch contains excellent examples of rare and threatened riparian plant communities. Prominent species include cottonwood, aspen, water birch, black hawthorne, Wood’s rose, serviceberry and Douglas’ spirea.

What to See: Animals
Large mammals regularly found on the preserve include elk, mule deer, black bear, bobcat, and cougar. Coyotes and short-tailed weasels can also be seen. Devil’s Gulch is a haven for riparian bird species including yellow-breasted chat, mountain quail, cordilleran flycatcher and lazuli buntings. It’s also a good place for observing western tanager, cooper's hawk, canyon wren and more.

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

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Conservancy staff and partners have inventoried populations of threatened Spalding’s catchfly, as well as non-native, invasive plant species. Volunteers help control invasives, such as knapweed and Scotch thistle, and monitor and repair fences and exclosures protecting aspen stands. From July through October, volunteer caretakers live here and monitor preserve activities.