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Rock Garden LbNA #28244

Owner:Funhog
Plant date:Jan 7, 2007
Location:
City:Terrebonne
County:Jefferson
State:Oregon
Boxes:2
Found by: 4Dtoes
Last found:Mar 4, 2007
Status:F
Last edited:Mar 15, 2016
This canyon has some interesting volcanic history. The level you park on is an intracanyon lava flow, much younger than the rim that towers above. At some point in geologic time, a lava flow formed the upper level. The mighty Deschutes River carved its way down until another eruption filled the canyon it had created with fresh lava. Once again, the power of water ground away and the river found its new level, the one we see now.

There are lovely wildflowers along this trail in the spring and early summer. However, these letterboxes allow you to pick posies any time of the year. The second box is the work of renowned California letterboxers, Don and Gwen. The hike is about two miles roundtrip with about a two hundred foot elevation gain. There may be a bit of bushwacking. Beware loose rock, nettles and snakes.

To the trailhead: Just north of Terrebonne on Hwy 97, turn west on Lower Bridge Rd. There is a highway sign for Crooked River Ranch at this intersection. Follow the signs to 43rd and turn right. At the T make a left turn on Chinook Ave. From Chinook follow the green and white signs to the Fire Hall, left on Mustang and right on Shad. Once at the Fire Hall, with the building on your left, proceed on Shad Rd 2.2 miles to Sundown Canyon Rd. and turn left. Near the bottom of the canyon, go right on River Terrace. Park at the turnaround between a wire fence and one made of split rails.




NOTE: Wild Rose may be missing
To the Wild Rose letterbox by Funhog: Follow the path in front of the parking spot. When a juniper overhangs on your right, the trail makes a U-turn to the left. Continue to a T with two slender junipers directly in front of you. Take a right. Walk downstream, watching the canyon walls right and left. When sedimentary layers tower above to your right and volcanic rocks form the wall to your left you will hear the sound of river rapids. Continue on to the first juniper on the uphill side of the trail. Look at its feet beneath a jutting stone.

To the Hog Flowers box by Don and Gwen: On your way back from the first letterbox, watch the rim above for the White Wall. Starting with the this pale patch of broken rim directly to your left, eighty five more steps will bring you to a large boulder slightly uphill from the trail. On its ochre side you will find a flat rock sheltering this letterbox.