Deschutes River State Recreation Area

The Deschutes River State Recreation Area is about 17 miles east of The Dalles in the state of Oregon. The beautiful park provides for plenty of shaded picnicking and comfortable camping. The park is both a national and state scenic waterway. This makes it a great place for water sports enthusiasts to go whitewater rafting, kayaking, and water skiing. The last 100 miles of the waterway drop about a 1/4 mile, careening through canyons that are 700 to 2,200 feet deep. A 17 mile trail fashioned from an old railroad bed is intended for mountain biking and equestrian tours. There are 32 miles of biking trails and 7.5 miles of hiking trails, making Deschutes River State Recreation Area a great vacation spot for outdoor exploration. Heritage Landing has a boat launch, and there is a pass through zone for boating in the lower two miles of the Deschutes (where anglers can go fishing and access the river trails). The confluence of the Deschutes and Columbia Rivers makes for a perfect outdoors family vacation!