This is one of central Oregon's premier wildlife viewing sites because it attracts so many nesting and/or migrating birds. The relatively shallow reservoir was originally dammed to store irrigation water managed by the Central Oregon Irrigation District. Most access to the shoreline is at recreation sites. Go to Osprey Point for interpretive signs about the local fauna, and to see artificial osprey nesting platforms erected after natural snags toppled from age.

Home of the famous “cranebows”, Crane Prairie Reservoir is also one of the top producing rainbow trout fisheries in Central Oregon. Rainbow trout here average 2 inches of growth a month during the summer. The record rainbow to date weighed over 19 pounds, with abundant rainbows in the 4 to 10 pound range. Crane Prairie Reservoir is a Wildlife Management Area. Osprey, bald eagle and many waterfowl frequent the area.

Motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed on this body of water. 

For boat launch information see Crane Prairie Boating Site, Quinn River Boating Site , Rock Creek Boating Site,  Browns Mountain Boating Site & Crane Prairie Resort

Float tube launch points are:Rocky Point, the end of road 4270-470 and at Rock Creek.

Caution: The site is not accessible in winter due to deep snow.