Ron - Good on you for setting this up. I went to the giant Overland Expo in Flagstaff a few years ago since we happened to be in the area. I was way over the top, and not something we want to repeat. But little regional, non-commercial SMB gatherings like yours are a great idea.
I am quite familiar with Macks Canyon, and have been going to that area my entire life. 66 years now. So a few things people should know about
:
1. The Deschutes Canyon is famous for sudden vicious winds. I would never put up my awning there, even if I was staying in camp. Don’t say y’all weren’t warned!! :eek
2. The Deschutes is famous for steelhead fishing. But that is mostly later in the year, Aug-Oct. But there will be a few steelies around Macks Canyon by late June. That part of the Deschutes does have some trout, but the best trout fishing is farther north towards the town of Maupin. There is a fly
fishing shop in Maupin, and many fishing guides are available in the area. Maupin is also the center of great whitewater rafting, again with many guide services there. Maupin also has a nice little city park with camping and showers for those who might want to camp in luxury on the way home. It is run by a former student of mine, a city employee, so if you see John tell him I sent you!
https://cityofmaupin.org/city-park/
Also there are plenty of BLM primitive camps are along a 40+ mile stretch of the Deschutes from Macks Canyon to south of Maupin.
3. The 17 miles of gravel road to Macks Canyon can be pretty washboarded at times. Nothing a 2WD can’t handle, but if you drive too fast your tires might become unhappy. But if you get a flat there will no doubt be a bunch of folks in camp prepared to lead a workshop on tire repair! The service station in Maupin makes a lot of money off people who drive too fast with highway tires on that road.
4. The campground is pretty much at the end of a 17 mile dead end. There is no place there to play in the mud, do any rock crawling, or nearby places to explore. But there are lots of national forest lands and roads toward Portland in the Mt. Hood National Forest, and in the Deschutes National Forest to the south. Plus most of eastern Oregon is pretty much a giant BLM/USFS playground if you like remote 2-track roads. Bring an Oregon atlas (remember, no cell reception) and no doubt folks will be willing to share plenty of places to explore. I’ve spent a big part of my life wandering eastern Oregon, so PM me if you have a specific question about some area you would like to explore.
Rock on!
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