The Best Way To Hike The McKenzie River The McKenzie River Trail is just over 25 miles long, perfect for mountain bikers to bomb down in a day, but not day hike-able for most of us. Luckily, the ...

Urness is the author of “ Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon ” and “ Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

The most common way to hike to popular Blue Pool on the McKenzie River Trail will be closed on weekdays from July 16 to July 30 for a habitat restoration project.

The McKenzie River disappears at Carmen Reservoir, then resurfaces several miles downstream at Tamolitch Falls (also commonly known as Blue Pool), another beautiful 2-mile day hike.

Get out to Tamolitch Falls along McKenzie River Trail Experience the glowing blues of Tamolitch Falls, also known as Blue Pool. From the trailhead, it’s a 2-mile hike to the falls viewpoint.

The McKenzie in the late winter and spring is just as alluring, albeit for a different reason — the waterfalls that are a main attraction of the river are gushing in all their glory.