Chandler State Wayside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chandler State Wayside |
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Picnic area at Chandler State Wayside
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| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Lake County, Oregon |
| Nearest city | Lakeview |
| Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Elevation | 4,491 feet (1,369 m) |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
Chandler State Wayside, also known as Chandler State Park, is a fun place to visit in south-central Oregon. It's a state park named after Solomon and Hattie Chandler. They were a couple who kindly donated the land for this park.
The park covers 85 acres of beautiful pine forest. A lovely creek also flows through the area. It's a perfect spot for travelers to stop and relax. The park has restrooms and other basic things you might need. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department manages and takes care of Chandler State Wayside.
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Exploring Chandler State Wayside
Chandler State Wayside is a park you can visit during the day. It stretches along both sides of U.S. Route 395. You'll find it about 16 miles (26 km) north of Lakeview. This park is a great stopping point along Oregon's Outback Scenic Byway.
The main public area of the park is on the west side of the highway. It's filled with huge ponderosa pine trees. A stream called Crooked Creek flows through the park. It runs just east of the main picnic area.
What to Do at the Park
The park has picnic tables where you can enjoy a meal outdoors. There's also clean drinking water and flush toilets. You can go fishing in Crooked Creek. Many people catch rainbow trout there!
Chandler State Wayside is also a fantastic place to see wildlife. You might spot different animals and birds. The best part is, there's no fee to use the park. About 41,700 people visit this park each year.
The Park's Story
The land for Chandler State Wayside was given to the state by Solomon and Hattie Chandler. They were some of the first settlers in Lake County, Oregon. The Chandlers started their ranch in the late 1800s.
By the 1920s, they owned a lot of land in the area. Their ranch stretched from Abert Lake through the Valley Falls area. It also went into the Crooked Creek valley. They even owned land near Lakeview. The Chandlers raised many sheep and some cattle on their ranch.
Part of the Chandler ranch was along Crooked Creek. This area had a special group of large ponderosa pine trees. These were the first big pine trees travelers would see when coming from the high desert to the north.
In the mid-1920s, the Oregon Department of Transportation wanted to buy this pine-covered land. They wanted to use it as a roadside park. But the Chandlers decided to donate the property instead. They gave it to the State of Oregon in July 1929. The state then named the park in their honor.
In the mid-1960s, Route 395 next to the park was moved. The State of Oregon bought more land to make the park bigger. This also made it easier to get to the park from the highway. Today, the park is 85 acres big. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department still manages it.
Amazing Wildlife
Chandler State Wayside is a stop on the Basin Range and Birding Trail. This means it's a great place for birdwatching! The park has riparian areas (along the creek) and pine forests. These habitats attract many different kinds of birds.
Birds You Might See
In the summer, you can often spot mountain chickadees and pygmy nuthatches. Look for brown creepers, Bullock's orioles, and black-headed grosbeaks. Western tanagers are also common.
There are three types of sapsuckers here: Williamson's sapsuckers, red-naped sapsuckers, and red-breasted sapsuckers. You might also see Bluejays, white-headed woodpeckers, and northern pygmy owls. Long-eared owls live here too. During spring and fall, many types of warblers, vireos, and sparrows stop here during their migration.
Other Animals
Some larger mammals that live in the area include mule deer and coyotes. You might even see an American black bear or a bobcat! Smaller animals are also around. These include white-tailed jackrabbits, golden-mantled ground squirrels, and least chipmunks. You might also spot deer mice.
Life in the Creek
Crooked Creek flows through the park and eventually joins the Chewaucan River. The creek is home to crawfish. It also has rainbow trout and speckled dace fish. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife allows fishing for trout in Crooked Creek. You can fish from mid-May through the end of October.
