About Macks Canyon Recreation Site
The Macks Canyon archaeological site is a large, prehistoric village locale overlooking the Deschutes River in north-central Oregon. The site is characterized by shallow, circular, semi-subterranean house depressions, surface artifacts, and riverine shell deposits. Limited excavations conducted in the late 1960s indicate that the site was the location of a winter village occupied by Sahaptin-speaking people of the Columbia Plateau. Although the main period of occupation appears to have occurred within the last 2,000 years, the site may have been occupied as early as 5,000 BC. A campground and boat ramps are situated at the end of the Access Road along the east bank of the Lower Deschutes River. The area is popular with boaters and fishermen. The route to Macks Canyon is also a National Back Country Byway. - Macks Canyon Recreation Site is open year-round and is with 18 individual…
- Fees: A Remote Off-Grid Kiosk (ROK) is available onsite for cashless camping transactions. No fees at the archaeological site. **Individual…
- Managed by: Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River, BLM
- Where: 5 mi northwest of Grass Valley, OR · 45.3904, -120.87867
Things to do:
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: May–Jun & Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Nov–Mar.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Good to know
No signal at camp
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.
Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Stargazing nearby: Cottonwood Canyon State Park (Dark Sky Park), 16 mi.
Dump station: 21.4 mi
Water fill-up: 21.4 mi
Camps nearby
- Talbot Camp 0.6 mi
- Upper Dike Camp 1.2 mi
- Dispersed spot · 5 mi NW of Grass Valley 1.6 mi
- Sixteen Canyon Camp 2 mi
- Homestead Camp 2.8 mi
- Nooky Rock Camp 2.9 mi