About Lower Crooked River Back Country Byway
Just 40 minutes east of the hubbub of Bend, Oregon, sleepy Highway 27 winds 43 miles north from Highway 20 to the city of Prineville. Although the entire route is a state highway, the southernmost 18 miles are unpaved but are of high-standard graded gravel suitable for a passenger vehicle. Private ranches are interspersed among public rangelands with views of rolling hills and towering basaltic buttes. After the paved section begins, the back country byway crosses the spillway of Bowman Dam before descending into the gorge of the Chimney Rock segment of the Crooked Wild and Scenic River with its dozen recreation sites. Here, access to camping, fishing and hiking opportunities are available year-round.Know Before You GoNine year-round campgrounds, two day-use areas and a hiking trail line the wild and scenic river stretch of this byway. Camping is $8 per night single site/$16 per night group site; $2 per extra vehicle (tow vehicles excluded) with a maximum of two vehicles allowed per site.Day-Use Areas and Campgrounds (ordered north to south)Castle Rock CampgroundStillwater CampgroundGreenwood Day-Use AreaLone Pine CampgroundUpper Lone Pine Day-Use AreaLower Palisades CampgroundChimney Rock CampgroundCobble Rock CampgroundPost Pile CampgroundPoison Butte CampgroundBig Bend CampgroundMuch of the back country byway is open range: watch for livestock.Cell phone service is limited or not available in most locations along the back country highway.Watch for bicyclists: the section of road between Prineville and Bowman Dam is a state scenic bikeway and the unpaved portion is a favorite of gravel bike riders.When recreating on public lands, practice Leave-No-Trace Principles.Point of InterestHike up the 1.3-mile Chimney Rock Trail to its namesake butte located prominently above highway 27 opposite the Chimney Rock campground. Access to the trail is across the highway at the Chimney Rock Trailhead.For a different view, visitors can ride the 18-mile Crooked River Canyon Scenic
