Magone Lake Rec Area

A number of bird species and animals frequent the lake and surrounding vicinity. Some of the more popular or interesting creatures often observed along the trail are deer, beaver, muskrats, pileated and other woodpeckers, mergansers, upland plovers, and western tanagers. Fishing for eastern brook and rainbow trout ranges from fair to good. Swimming, picnicking, and a developed campground are available. Wildflowers abound throughout the year with a spectacularly colorful display every spring which lasts well into June. Evidence of a unique geological event, the 19th century slide which created the lake is easily observed at the lower end of the lake where scores of trees which rode down on the glide grow at odd angles. The headwall of the slide can also be visited via the Magone Slide Trail #353. Directions from Mt. Vernon/ US Highway 26: Route #1 - From Mt. Vernon, take US Highway 395 north to Forest Service road 36 to Forest Service road 3620. Go north on the 3620 road to Forest Service road 3618. Turn west on road 3618 to Magone Lake Day Use Area. Route #2 - From US Highway 26 between John Day and Prairie City, turn north on County road 18 to Forest Service road 3620. Go south on the 3620 road to Forest Service road 3618. Turn west on the 3618 road to the Magone Lake Day Use Area.