Quinn Meadow Horse Camp - Deschutes National Forest Bend, Oregon

As we took our trail ride this morning, I started to notice monarch butterflies. They were fluttering around us, diving and dodging us...all around us.  Are we on the migratory route the butterflies take every summer I wondered?

It turns out that a Land Trust working with local conservationists are raising these butterflies and releasing them into the forest hoping to replenish the butterfly population. The Monarch Butterfly population has been seriously diminished due to deforestation in Mexico and South America.

Mercy picked up a hitchhiking butterfly during our ride. 

Crossing the creek

The trails were fairly easy, a little bit rocky, but not enough to require boots. We rode the trail up to the ridge and then came down the Appaloosa Trail back to camp.

Saddled up and ready to go

There is a single hand pump that provides water to the entire camp. We have a blue bucket on wheels we use for hauling water. Russ and Nellie gave us a great tip for hauling water. Put a large garbage bag in the bucket and then close the bag while hauling to reduce water from sloshing out.

Here's the bucket filled with water and tied closed for transport in a wheel barrow.

There are vault toilets, a manure pile with wheel barrow, picnic tables, and BBQ pits.

Overall, it's a nice campground and we may return if we have to stick around Bend while we get the trailer repaired.