The Crooked River has cut a deep canyon through the basalt of Central Oregon.

A side trail drops down to the Crooked River. A deep pool of water eddies beside the trail.

Rapids in the Crooked River provide a nice backdrop of sound as you hike along this section of trail.

The Crooked River is the main attraction of this hike. The vegetation in the area is sparse and brushy.

There is a lot of columnar basalt along this hike. The columns are hundreds of feet tall.

Vegetation does not get much moisture in the canyon. This dead sage bush attests to the harsh conditions near the river.

The Crooked River turns into Lake Billy Chinook at the turnaround point of the hike. High basalt cliffs provide a nice vantage point.

Junipers, Sagebrush, thistles, and grasses dominate the landscape along the Otter Bench Trail.

Bleached bones attest to the survivor of the fittest maxim.

Looking downriver on the Otter Bench Trail shows the near-desert scenery of the area. The wide-open spaces make for a tranquil hike.

Columnar basalt forms high cliffs along part of the Otter Bench Trail.

Rapids in the Crooked River would have made it difficult for early pioneers to navigate the river. The deep gorge made crossings few and far between in this area.