Crooked River Ranch is an HOA community with endless outdoors access
Bordered by two rivers, Crooked River Ranch is the largest HOA community in the state, where its countless amenities are only upstaged by the natural scenery, which ranges from waterfalls to canyons to the High Desert of Oregon. “People move here for a way of life that is outdoors and lower key. We don’t have the traffic that the cities have. It's gorgeous; we have a whole mountain range to look at,” says Crooked River Realty broker/owner Nancy Popp, who has over two decades of expertise in the area. The rural community has views of the Cascade Range, from the snow-capped Three Sisters to Mt. Bachelor. With everything from pickleball to a golf course, there’s plenty of recreation within Crooked River Ranch, although many venture to the internationally renowned Smith Rock State Park for the great outdoors.
Nature-based recreation surrounding Crooked River Ranch
Steelhead Falls Trailhead, on the west side of the community, is a short hike to a 20-foot waterfall in the Deschutes River. Many go swimming and cliff jumping near the falls. Bordering the area from the southeast, Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint provides picnic tables and a walking path that crosses over the Crooked River High Bridge. It overlooks the waterway coursing through a basalt canyon. “It is a popular area, and you can horseback ride from here to there unobstructed,” Popp says. The region’s best-known attraction is Smith Rock State Park, located just 5 miles from the viewpoint. This park is considered one of the most scenic in the state of Oregon, with volcanic rock formations that provide hikers, anglers and campers with otherworldly views. “There are rock climbers from all over the world that go. It’s very famous for climbers,” Popp says. There are hotels like Smith Rock Resort and RV parks on the east side of Crooked River Ranch that cater to tourists, without adding much traffic.
Municipal recreation within Crooked River Ranch
On the north side of the community, Panorama County Park offers a playground, a picnic shelter and a walking path with mountain views. Crooked River Ranch Golf Course, on the east side of the area, features a public 18-hole golf course. More activities are spread throughout the subdivision. “There are outdoor sports courts for pickleball and tennis. There’s an arena to ride your horse, disc golf, bocce ball, fishing and hiking,” Popp says. The community also has many hobbyists who form clubs. “There’s a group for everything: antique cars, ATVs, birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, sewing and quilting,” Popp says.
Contemporary homes and log cabins in Crooked River Ranch
Once a working cattle ranch, Crooked River Ranch is a sprawling master-planned subdivision with a countryside atmosphere. “We do have multiacre lots, and they’re from 1 to 20 acres,” Popp says. Pine and juniper trees are scattered throughout the lots, where quails and jackrabbits are commonly sighted. Many properties also have mountain views and fenced areas for horses. Almost all homes in the community have HOA fees, which are about $50 per month. Rustic log cabins range from $440,000 to $540,000, while contemporary homes range from $360,000 to $950,000. Manufactured homes and undeveloped land range between $100,000 and $600,000. The community tends to attract many from the West Coast. “Generally, the market moves pretty quick. We get a lot of people from the Willamette Valley and a lot from Portland. We get a lot of Californians and Washingtonians that come here and people from the local town of Bend,” Popp says.
Redmond School District and Culver School District
Redmond School District serves most of Crooked River Ranch and earns a B-plus rating on Niche. With approximately 7,100 students, it has a student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1. The north end of the community is served by Culver School District, which has a C-plus rating. Serving approximately 700 students, it has a student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1.
Local businesses, including Big Dog Saloon and Over The Edge Taphouse
“It's small town, so we’re a bit removed from the city. We have our little store but not big amenities,” Popp says. The Trading Post at Crooked River Ranch is a convenience store with a deli on the east side of the community. Next door, Over The Edge Taphouse and Big Dog Saloon are both casual bars that serve American food. “They’re popular. They have live music and stuff like that to draw people,” Popp says. For groceries, Oliver Lemon's Terrebonne is about 10 miles away from Crooked River Ranch. The community’s post office is also in Terrebonne.
Events like the Independence Day Celebration and a golf tournament
Every Fourth of July, the community has an Independence Day Celebration, with activities like a car show, a parade and a quilt show. “The Lions Club does buffalo burgers and trimmings that same day,” Popp says. The Crooked River Ranch Golf Course also hosts an annual golf tournament in August.
15 miles to Redmond and more transportation
Crooked River Ranch is a car-dependent community. Via U.S. Route 97, the area is about 15 miles north of Redmond and Redmond Municipal Airport, which offers commercial flights. Crooked River Ranch is about 30 miles from downtown Bend using the same route.
