BLACK CANYON RANCH

Ranch Gate in Winter

Lewis White Dorpers is located on the Black Canyon near Bonanza in south central Oregon.

Situated in an isolated valley off Langell Valley, elevation on the ranch ranges from 4200 – 4600 feet. Summer temperatures are moderate and winter temperatures can go below zero, with a record low of -28F. The pastures consist of irrigated meadows backed up to steep rim rocks and high desert rangeland with western juniper and sage.

There is a rugged beauty to the country and a lot of history. The last battles of the Modoc Indian War were fought nearby. Around the turn of the century there were large bands of sheep in the country between Bonanza and Lakeview. Basque and Irish herders watched over these bands and their heritage is important in the area today. There were contentious times too with the cattlemen pitted against the sheepman in the Central Oregon Range War from 1896-1906. The Bonanza Grazing District in Langell Valley was the very first district formed by the Taylor Grazing Act.

Wildlife is plentiful on the ranch with mule deer, antelope, geese, ducks, sandhill cranes and of course coyotes, cougars, and rattlesnakes. Eight spring fed lakes and ponds contain largemouth bass, and Miller Creek contains trout. The local area is known for putting excellent summer gains on pastured cattle and growing high test alfalfa hay.

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