Macks Canyon TH to Sixteen Canyon, Solo, Monday 10/25/21

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Solofemalehiker35
Posts: 62
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:14 pm

Macks Canyon TH to Sixteen Canyon, Solo, Monday 10/25/21

Post by Solofemalehiker35 » October 26th, 2021, 10:17 pm

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A lone tree on trail
Visited Macks Canyon TH Monday 10/25/21 to hike some of the Lower Deschutes trail via the South Side. Arrived at the TH at 12am (no other vehicles there). Room for possibly 3+ vehicles and more parking available at Macks Canyon boat launch area. No fee required here as it is on BLM land. The road in is great, mostly gravel with small potholes, paved sections on steep inclines, there are canyon walls on one side, so you have to watch out for rock fall and the speed limit is 20mph. The road in is a little over 17miles.
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Can you see the trail to the north?
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Canyon walls, the Deschutes River and the 17 mile road.
This trail is definitely as hard as everyone has mentioned it to be. The missing trestles are one of the biggest hurdles (Macks canyon North side being one of the worst, I did not even attempt the canyon right before snake in the box camp, as I could not see where the trail went in the dark and it looked super eroded.
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Sunrise glow on the Deschutes River
The trail is super narrow in some areas with steep drop offs, in most areas, the trail is sagging or getting eroded. There are 5 areas you need to cross barb wire, with one being a slide under. There are also areas you cross talus.
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Fasciated Mullein
Would not recommend for young children. Not Handicap accessible and no handicap parking, unless you park at Macks Canyon boat launch where there are two spaces. This area is stunning both at night and in the day and has captivated my attention for some time.
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Railroad tracks and canyon walls on a wide portion of the trail.
Could not figure out how to access Macks Canyon Camp, but there was a great trail leading down to Homestead Camp (saw no vaulted toilets, like some have on the north side). Had the trail all to myself.
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Views on the trail to Homestead Camp
When I arrived back at the TH around 11am there were 2 hunters with 2 dogs in one vehicle, getting ready to head out.
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TH parking area
More photos
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On the other side of the river on the 17 mile road.
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The Deschutes River from trail
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Canyon views from trail.
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Views from trail.
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Trail

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retired jerry
Posts: 14396
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Macks Canyon TH to Sixteen Canyon, Solo, Monday 10/25/21

Post by retired jerry » October 27th, 2021, 5:28 am

That's a great hike. Good in winter because it's much drier than the west side of Cascades.

Can be windy though.

Thanks for report

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BaileyBoy
Posts: 336
Joined: March 25th, 2009, 12:15 pm

Re: Macks Canyon TH to Sixteen Canyon, Solo, Monday 10/25/21

Post by BaileyBoy » October 27th, 2021, 9:50 am

Thanks for the excellent report, really enjoyed reading it. You're pretty brave, starting at midnight by yourself. Your photos were great, really enjoyed them especially the Fasciated Mullein, which I'm not sure I've ever seen.
Looks like another place I need to add to my expanding list.

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Don Nelsen
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Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: Vancouver, WA

Re: Macks Canyon TH to Sixteen Canyon, Solo, Monday 10/25/21

Post by Don Nelsen » October 27th, 2021, 10:09 am

Great report and I loved the photos. That trail in the second pic is nicely camouflaged.

dn
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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Waffle Stomper
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Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Macks Canyon TH to Sixteen Canyon, Solo, Monday 10/25/21

Post by Waffle Stomper » October 27th, 2021, 10:18 am

It's nice to see trails on the other side of the cascades.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

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