Mid Central Plateau
Deschutes and Crook Couties
This is an amazing area. In seveal places at the foot of the Cascades full sized rivers bubble out of the ground and meander off. The many snow covered peaks of the Cascades dominate the scenery and hold back the Pacific weather fronts. The sun shines about 300 days per year here, even if one can see storms in the mountains and an occasional snow flake blowing by. The vegetation transitions from Ponderosa pine in the lower Cascades to Jack pine on the flats and then going east to sagebrush and juniper. Cattle, horses and llamas are all big business but if you want to really strike it rich get yourself a herd of tourists!