Calendar

Past Activity

Mack’s Canyon Deschutes Mack’s Canyon Deschutes R. Bkpk

  • Start date: 05/05/2023

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 05/07/2023

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Come hike one of the remotest sections of the incomparable Deschutes River Trail. We’ll assemble at the Mack’s Canyon campground trailhead on Friday afternoon. The area contains a 5,000 year old archaeological site that was variously inhabited till recent times. We’ll hike north downriver following the east bank of the beautiful Deschutes River canyon trending along an abandoned rail bed constructed during the frontier railway wars of European settlement. We’ll see twisted lava rock formations and an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds. We’ll camp Friday night approx 4 miles from TH. Saturday we’ll pack up and continue down river approx 6 more miles to camp. If time allows we can day hike from there to explore the historic Harris ranch site containing remnants of the ranch house, barn, corrals, water tank, and stone walled hay fields. Sunday pack up and return to TH.
The leader will be in Bend on business through Thursday that week and will be camping at the Mack’s Canyon Campground next to the trailhead on Thursday night. Participants are welcome to come early and camp as well. Those leaving from Eugene please carpool and note that a chunk of the drive time should be allocated to the last 17 miles from Sherer Falls down the BLM access road following the Deschutes to the campground.

  • Event Leader: Davies Russ

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2023

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: 10 essentials and 2 days of food. Stoves are required for cooking as fires are not permitted. This is a low elevation hike on par with Eugene. Expect moderate spring temperatures and dry-side conditions. Depending on weather it may drop to freezing overnight. Be prepared for full on sun and heat if it’s clear. Bugs and ticks are possible particularly closer to the river. Water is available at several small streams we cross throughout. The Deschutes is never far away for water, swimming and fishing season will be open. The lighter you pack the more fun you’ll have. Consider sharing stoves, cookware and similar heavy stuff with friends.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 24

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 150

  • Non-Member Fees: 10

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Deschutes River Backpacking. May 5-7, 2023. 24 miles, 500’ Moderate. The trail on BLM land is an unmaintained trail on the east side of the Deschutes River. The 3 day trip started from the trailhead neat Mack’s Canyon Campground where we followed the river downstream. The trail still has evidence of rail road ties in the trail and other steel pieces scattered about. The trail has minimal amounts of elevation until you arrive where a trestle should be then the trail is very steep down then up.
In 1909 two railroad companies started from the Columbia River, James Hill’s railroad on the west side and the Deschutes Railroad on the east. This started a railroad war. Both sides vied to claim strategic points along the canyon, while the rival construction crews did all they could to impede the other’s progress.
Day 1, we hiked about 8.5 miles along the railbed and around trestle side canyons with intermittent light rain. We found a.nice place to call camp on a flat between the river and the trail. Day 2, waking in the morning, the sky was blue with a warm sun.After breakfast we headed down river 4 miles to an old homestead and walked underneath a bald eagle nest. The Osprey were fishing for a meal in the river and the Canadian Geese were gathered in the fields. We watched some drift boats on the river and talked to a few rail bikers what rode 12 miles from the Columbia River. Day3, awoke to partly cloudy skies and we packed up. We donned our packs, then it rained for the next 3 hours. When our cars became visible, the rain stopped and the sky cleared, letting the sunshine down upon us, a great way to end the trip.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 8
  • Number of spots available: 6
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Davies, Russ 541-525-3719 N —
2 Signed-Up Bennett, Brad 541-359-5198 N 10