Calendar

Past Activity

Deschutes River Canyon New Year

  • Start date: 01/14/2022

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 01/16/2022

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

We'll leave at noon from the Red Barn Natural Grocer @ 4th & Blair.
Start the backpacking year because you can with this low-elevation dry-side hike of the enchanting lower Deschutes River canyon. Depart Eugene Friday afternoon. 3.5 hour drive to the Deschutes River St Rec Area. Hike approx. 2 miles up canyon to Rattlesnake Rapids, camp. Saturday continue up canyon past striking rock formations and historic ranch and railroad sites along the Deschutes river to Fall Canyon Camp at milepost 10. Sunday pack up & enjoy the gentle hike out.

  • Event Leader: Davies Russ

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 400

  • Season: 2022

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: 10 essentials and 2 days of food. Stoves are necessary as there is no firewood in the canyon. The trail should be in good shape with a few muddy spots, but overall clear and snow-free. Weatherwise, generally expect rain-showers and night-time freezing temps, but snow is possible. Or it can be 60* if skies are clear.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 20

  • Member Fees: 2

  • Elevation Gain: 30

  • Non-Member Fees: 10

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

The trip was a 24 mile mostly level backpack on a cool, dry winter weekend up the beautiful Deschutes River canyon. Lovely trip. We started along the trail at rivers edge and then mostly on the old railroad bed located about 100 feet above the river. Everywhere were views of craggy lava flow cliffs, snow topped rounded grassy hills, and the whispering clear river. Lots of birds including hawks, bald eagles, canyon wrens, swallows, ducks, geese, giant white swans and cute screech owls who were nesting residents in our second night camp. Also, two trains passed us each day rumbling up the grade on the other side of river! At our turn around high-point, we explored the burnt remains of the water tower, house and barn at the historic Harris homestead. Nearby were two small legacy hayfields surrounded by impressive dry stacked stone walls build of lava rock pulled from the field by the determined homesteaders.

We had expected to see no one on our trip. Surprisingly, we met 9 other backpackers and 3 mountain bikers.

Logistics: We parked cars at the trailhead in the Deschutes River Rec. Site. The gravel lot for overnight parking charged $7 per night. Cell phone access (Verizon ) was availalbe on most of route.

Campsites: Last Ditch (2 mile) & Fall Canyon (10 mile, with an outhouse!).


Weather: overcast, no rain, temperatures in upper 30s, felt a little cooler when the occasional gentle breeze came along!

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 8
  • Number of spots available: 5
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Davies, Russ 541-525-3719 N 2
2 Signed-Up Bryan, Keiko 541-342-1240 N 2
3 Signed-Up Baldwin, Mari 541-206-9251 N 2