Riley Ranch Nature Preserve is a 184 acre natural area that offers several different hiking trails. One of the most popular hikes is a combination of two trails into one larger loop - the Juniper Loop Trail and Sage Flat Loop Trail. Combined, these two trails form an almost 2 mile loop that takes visitors around a large meadow area, and offers some great viewpoints.
To begin, park at the trailhead. You’ll then follow the Juniper Loop Trail (I’d suggest hiking it in a counter-clockwise fashion). A side trail to the Ben Newkirk Mountain Overlook soon appears to the left. From this viewpoint you can see several prominent Cascade Mountain peaks including Three Fingered Jack and the Three Sisters.
Continue onward and stay right as the path turns into the Sage Flat Loop Trail. The trail circles around the large open meadow area and will come to another junction. Stay left to stay on the Sage Flat Trail.
A great overlook soon awaits with a wooden observation platform. From here you can look down to the Deschutes River Canyon area below, although the river itself isn’t visible.
Next is the Sage Flat Overlook, with views across the meadow. The last viewpoint is aptly called the River Viewpoint and offers a view down to the Deschutes far below.
At the next junction stay right on the Juniper Loop Trail. You’ll soon be back to the trailhead and the end of the hike.
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