Crane Prairie Reservoir is a 3,420-acre man-made impoundment located in the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon, approximately 45 minutes southwest of Bend. Created in the 1920s when the first dam was built on the Deschutes River, this shallow reservoir (averaging only 8 feet deep) is famous for its trophy rainbow trout, nicknamed Cranebows. At an elevation of 4,452 feet, the reservoir features spectacular mountain views and is named for the Sandhill Cranes that historically nested in the meadows before the dam was built. What makes Crane Prairie unique is the ghostly forest of skeletal timber still standing from the original riverbanks, creating an eerie yet perfect habitat for big fish. The reservoir is crisscrossed by ancient river channels that reach depths of 20 feet, providing cooler, more oxygenated water in the summer months.