Warm Springs State Recreation Site

Warm Springs State Recreation Site provides access to the Deschutes River near Madras in Jefferson County. The site is located near the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery, approximately 28 miles from Madras and 100 miles from Portland (via Highway 26 east, then Highway 9/Simmnasho Road toward Kah-Nee-Ta). This access point serves paddlers and boaters looking to explore the scenic Deschutes River in central Oregon.

**Important Permits & Regulations:** Before launching, be aware that specific permits may be required depending on where you plan to boat. A Warm Springs Tribal permit is required for use at nearby Harpham Flat and Sandy Beach access points. Downstream, a Moody Island Boater Pass is required for recreation around Moody Rapids and island areas. Additionally, the lower 2 miles of the Deschutes between Moody and Rattlesnake Rapids is a pass-through zone—boaters cannot stop in this section. All watercraft must be clean, drained, and dry to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

**Nearby Resources:** The area offers excellent camping options at Trout Creek Campground and Mecca Flat Campground (both within 10 miles), as well as the scenic seven-mile Trout Creek Trail, which follows an abandoned railroad grade parallel to the Wild and Scenic Deschutes River. For specific permit details and current regulations, contact the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery at (541) 553-1692.

Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery is located on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Established in 1966, it began operation in 1978 to stock Reservation waters with salmon and trout. The hatchery annually rears and releases up to 750,000 spring Chinook salmon. The hatchery is on the Warm Springs River, a tributary of the Deschutes River, that flows into the Columbia.