The West Cascades National Scenic Byway

hiking oregon on the west cascades national scenic byway in oregon and see koosah waterfall on the wild and scenic mckenzie river, sahalie waterfall on the wild and scenic mckenzie river, find hiking trails: the mckenzie river national hiking trails, the mckenzie river national recreation trail, the waterfall loop hiking trails, see the blue pool, blue hole, hardened lava flows, the 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 fork of the 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 in the mt jefferson wilderness, the three 3 sisters wilderness, the mt washington 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. 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.

Carmen Reservoir
McKenzie River National Recreation Trail

Crossing the wild and scenic McKenzie River at Carmen Reservoir
to hike upstream on the the Waterfalls Loop Trail.

Cast off, drop a line, picnic and swim in the placid waters of Carmen Reservoir where the
wild and tumultuous McKenzie River has been contained by a dirt dam.

How beautiful this looks as you stroll across the river on the dam. So placid with families alongside, and sailboats floating on the water. But then, learn the history, and everything changes. Beautiful Tamolitch Falls disappeared with the creation of this reservoir. Only to be seen now in the rainiest of seasons. That happens very seldom. Still, Blue Pool is part of all this transformation, and that is truly lovely to behold. (No photos of this yet. Sorry.)

Protect our National Forests and Wilderness Areas. Leave NO Trace.
Check with the US Forest Service on fires danger, roads and other conditions
in the forest before setting out on your journey.

Forward ~ A brief deviation from the McKenzie River Waterfalls Loop Hiking Trail.

Back ~ Koosah Waterfall on the Waterfalls Loop Hiking Trail.

USFS: Willamette National Forest.

Explore the West Cascades National Scenic Byway: Travel Directions, Map: page 1 and page 2, and Scenery: offering mountains, hardened lava flows, wild and scenic rivers, waterfalls, hiking trails, hot springs, old growth forests, mountain lakes, forest service campgrounds.

The McKenzie River is pictured on the right.

 travel oregon: hiking the waterfalls loop trail along the wild and scenic mckenzie river: sahalie Waterfalls viewed when hiking the McKenzie River Trail from sahalie waterfall to koosah waterfalls. the McKenzie, one the many wild and scenic rivers in oregon. travel oregon on the west cascades national scenic byway in oregon and see koosah waterfall on the wild and scenic mckenzie river, sahalie waterfall on the wild and scenic mckenzie river, find hiking trails: the mckenzie river national hiking trails, the mckenzie river national recreation trail, the waterfall loop hiking trails, see the blue pool, blue hole, hardened lava flows, the 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 fork of the 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 in the mt jefferson wilderness, the three 3 sisters wilderness, the mt washington 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. 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.

The McKenzie River National Recreation Trail is 28 miles long. If time is a concern, try the Waterfalls Loop Trail or the Clear Lake Loop Trail: Hiking Directions.

While you're out and about you might want to extend your visit and ...

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.

If you're heading east on the McKenzie Pass, Oregon Hwy 126, of the West Cascades National Scenic Byway, you may want to make a loop from the McKenzie Pass, Oregon Hwy 126, and connect with the Over the River and through the Woods Oregon Scenic Byway, Oregon Hwy 20. The sign for Hwy 20 is clearly marked from Hwy 126. If you see the sign for Belknap Hot Springs, you've gone too far. Take the cutoff for Hwy 20, the Over the River and through the Woods Scenic Byway and find the graceful South Santiam River, lovely campgrounds and Hiking Trails to wildflowers, amongst old growth forests, in both the old and high Cascades of the Willamette National Forest: Directions to and Descriptions of Trails and Campgrounds.

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.

You may want to extend the West Cascades National Scenic Byway Tour to include the Willamette Pass in the Cascade Mountains: Travel Directions, Map and Scenery and the Crescent Lake, Oakridge "Inback" Tour: Travel Directions and Map.

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

Travel to Gathering Light .... a retreat on the West Cascades National Scenic Byway: Directions, Map and Scenery: hiking trails, waterfalls, wild and scenic rivers, mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, Oregon scenic byways, wilderness areas and more.

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

Little known Scenic Places to explore and photograph nature untrammeled: hiking with and without trails, wetlands, wildlife refuges, mountains, river gorges, wilderness areas, wildlife viewing and more near Crater Lake and the retreat: Travel Directions Map and Scenery.

 stay in the cabins, tree houses at gathering light retreat in southern oregon near crater lake national park and travel oregon and experience volcanoes, geology, hiking trails, oregon geology, rogue siskiyou national forest, wild and scenic rogue river, wild and 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 rogue 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.

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Contact Brad at Gathering Light ... a retreat.

Eagle Ridge one of the Klamath Basin birding trails not far from the retreat, pictured above.