waterfall in the overflow from cougar reservoir at the entrance to terwilliger, cougar, hot springs, mckenzie river in the cascade mountains of oregon. travel oregon on the west cascades national scenic byway. hiking oregon and the waterfalls loop trails on the wild and scenic mckenzie rivers, see koosah waterfalls on the wild and scenic mckenzie rivers, sahalie waterfalls on the wild and scenic mckenzie rivers, find hiking trails in oregon on the wild and scenic mckenzie river: the mckenzie rivers national hiking trails, the waterfall loop hiking trails, see the blue pool, blue hole, hardened lava flows, the wild and scenic clackamas river, the mt hood national forest, hot springs, bagby hot springs, terwilliger hot springs, cougar reservoir, cougar hot springs, the south mckenzie river, roaring river, cougar dam, the wild and scenic north fork of the middle willamette river, travel the mckenzie pass santiam pass oregon scenic byway in the willamette national forest, and find lava flows. the cascade mountains, volcanoes, geology, hiking trails to mountain lakes, hiking trails in the mt jefferson wilderness, the three 3 sisters wilderness, the mt washington wilderness, the big bottom wilderness, the roaring river wilderness, hiking trails to waterfalls on the mckenzie pass santiam pass oregon scenic byway, old growth forests, connect with the over the river and through the woods scenic byway, hwy 20, and find hiking trails in the menagerie wilderness, the middle santiam wilderness, the south santiam river, the cascade mountains, the cascades, hiking trails in the menagerie wilderness of the willamette national forest, hiking trails in the old cascades in oregon, hiking trails located in old growth forests and amidst fields of wildflowers in the willamette national forest of oregon. hiking trails in old growth forests are included in the following: the santiam old wagon road, pyramid hiking trail, rooster rock hiking trail, iron mountain hiking trail, tombstone pass hiking trail, chimney peak hiking trail, gate creek hiking trail, cone peak hiking trail, huckleman old growth hiking trail, house rock hiking trail, hike in the 3 three sisters wilderness on french pete creek. camping at paradise campground with lovely old growth trees, at clear lake campground, at fernview campground, house rock campground, lost prairie campground; trout creek campground.

Campgrounds on Oregon
Hwy 126, the McKenzie Pass, on the West Cascades National Scenic Byway

Forward ~ Hiking trails on the Santiam-McKenzie Scenic Byway.

Back ~ The McKenzie River National Recreation Hiking Trail.

USFS: Willamette National Forest.

Koosah Waterfalls on the McKenzie River National Hiking Trail, pictured to the left.

Campgrounds on Hwy 126

There are several campgrounds in this area. I include some of them here, but the list is not meant to be exhaustive. If you want more information contact the Willamette National Forest. Also, the first two listed are reasonable alternatives for overnight stay if taking this journey as outlined here. Paradise Campground, listed last requires reservations and any stay must be planned in advance.

Ice Cap Campground is next to Koosah Waterfall. The campground has 22 campsites: 8 tent only, 14 tent, auto and trailer sites. This is a lovely little campground. I was last there in August of last year, and it was not crowded at all. Facilities at the campground include piped drinking water, flush toilets, fire rings, but no firewood and tables. Activities of the campground/area include: fishing, boating, hiking, non-motorized boating on Carmen Reservoir, picnicking, and of course, one can use this as a central location to see and do more.

Coldwater Cove Campground is just east of the Sahalie Waterfalls at Clear Lake. Clear Lake is, as you probably imagine, pristine clear, and very beautiful being so. It's not a good location for fishing, as the fish can see you. My dad told me of his fishing attempts there at one time. He was not successful, but it made a funny story.

The campground boasts 35 tent, auto and trailer sites, (12 of them can be reserved: Contact www.reserveusa.com, 1-877-444-6777.) Facilities at Cold-water Cove Campground include: well water, vault toilets, tables, fire rings, boat launch (non-motorized boating only on Clear Lake) and an interpretative trail. This is a very pretty little campground that accommodates trailers up to 30 feet. Activities include camping, fishing, hiking, boating, sightseeing; evening nature talks at Clear Lake Day Use Area. The eastern end of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail (28 miles in length) begins at Clear Lake.

Paradise Campground is one of the most beautiful I've seen, offering more grand old trees than most. It's further west than the other two and requires reservations for all sites. It's also a very popular campground. Like Ice Cap Campground, it has piped drinking water and flush toilets. It also has vault toilets, a gravel boat launch, fire rings, an amphitheater for evening nature talks in the day use picnic area. Certainly it would fall short of paradise without access to the McKenzie River and the hiking trail, but no worry there. It has that and more. Activities other than hiking include camping, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating, biking and most definitely, sightseeing.

The West Cascades National Scenic Byway provides easy access to the Three Sisters Wilderness, the Mt Jefferson Wilderness and the Mt Washington Wilderness, all located in the Willamette National Forest.

While you're out and about you might want to try ...

travel oregon in the willamette national forest in the cascade mountains in oregon - the west cascades national scenic byway, one of many scenic byways in oregon, along wild and scenic rivers, through old growth forests, hike the many hiking trails in wilderness areas in beautiful oregon.

Directions for the hiking trails on the McKenzie River: Clear Lake Loop, the Waterfalls Loop Trail & the McKenzie River Recreation Trail.

You may want to extend the West Cascades National Scenic Byway Tour to include the Willamette Pass in the Cascade Mountains: Travel Directions, Map & Scenery & the Crescent Lake, Oakridge "Inback" Tour: Travel Directions & Map. Enjoy the middle fork of the Willamette River, the Diamond Peak Wilderness Area, hiking trails to beautiful mountain lakes. Brad and I hiked up to Indigo Lake one summer. No photos, sorry, but as might be imagined, the lake was a striking blue faced with white walls of the escarpment. Find a hike in campground on the lake if interested: 5 tent sites only. Be prepared for high moquito population in July and August. USFS: The Willamette National Forest.

Discover the splendor of the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway, Hwy 242: Directions to hiking trails. The Scenic Byway can be accessed either in Sisters, Oregon or from Hwy 126, the McKenzie Pass. Find the turnoff two miles east of the Ranger Station for the Willamette National Forest. Sites to see.

Travel Oregon and northern California while staying at Gathering Light ... a retreat
located in southern Oregon near Crater Lake National Park.

Travel the West Cascades National Scenic Byway to the retreat: Directions, Map & Scenery: hiking trails, waterfalls, wild & scenic rivers, mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, Oregon scenic byways, wilderness areas & more. Or, perhaps &, the Willamette Pass: Directions, Map & Scenery.

Directions to & Day Trips of about 100 miles from the retreat.

Explore little known Scenic Places: hiking with & without trails, wetlands, wildlife refuges, mountains, river gorges, wilderness areas, wildlife viewing & more near Crater Lake National Park & the retreat: Directions Map & Scenery.

Website Directory for the travel pages      Home Page

Page Listings to the travel pages

 stay in cabins on the river at gathering light retreat in southern oregon near crater lake national park & travel oregon & experience volcanoes, geology, hiking trails, oregon geology, rogue siskiyou national forest, wild & scenic rogue river, wild & scenic umpqua river, rogue gorge at union creek, oregon, national rogue river hiking trail, rogue national forest, national forests, wilderness areas, national wildlife refuges, wetlands, klamath basin, prospect, oregon, mill creek waterfalls on the rogue river, barr creek waterfalls on the rogue river, avenue of giant boulders on the rogue river, hiking trails to mill creek waterfalls, hiking trails to barr creek waterfalls on the rogue river, hiking trails to national creek waterfalls in the rogue siskiyou national forest, hiking trails along the rogue river, hiking trails to the natural bridge, hiking trails at crater lake national park, crater lake national park, hiking trails on the wild and scenic ogue river, hiking trails to national creek waterfalls, national wildlife refuges, wetlands, rabbit ears, the cascade mountains, the old cascade mountains, mt thielsen, hiking trails at crater lake, crater lake national park.

Contact Brad at Gathering Light ... a retreat.