McKenzie River Fun Guide!
Food scene
The historic McKenzie General Store’s Obsidian Grill offers a large outdoor dining area, great food and drink, and even live music on weekends during the summer. https://www.mckenziegeneral.com/
24 paikallista suosittelee
McKenzie General Store & Obsidian Grill Restaurant
91837 Taylor RdThe historic McKenzie General Store’s Obsidian Grill offers a large outdoor dining area, great food and drink, and even live music on weekends during the summer. https://www.mckenziegeneral.com/
A favorite for McKenzie Bridge locals. Excellent food and a stocked bar, though a smaller outdoor eating area. Located right across from the General Store. https://www.facebook.com/mckenziepub84/
10 paikallista suosittelee
Mckenzie Station Restaurant, Bar & Espresso
56393 McKenzie HwyA favorite for McKenzie Bridge locals. Excellent food and a stocked bar, though a smaller outdoor eating area. Located right across from the General Store. https://www.facebook.com/mckenziepub84/
Takoda’s offers pizza and other standard restaurant fare. If you want to watch a sports game, they have lots of TVs throughout the restaurant. Takoda's also has a lovely outdoor eating area open in the summer. Located five minutes down the road toward Eugene, next to the Chevron and Blue Sky Market. https://takodasrainbow.com/
26 paikallista suosittelee
Takoda's Restaurant
91806 Mill Creek RdTakoda’s offers pizza and other standard restaurant fare. If you want to watch a sports game, they have lots of TVs throughout the restaurant. Takoda's also has a lovely outdoor eating area open in the summer. Located five minutes down the road toward Eugene, next to the Chevron and Blue Sky Market. https://takodasrainbow.com/
Vida Cafe has been a mainstay on the river for decades. They specialize in pies and their milkshakes are delicious. They otherwise offer great cafe food. It's a fun place to meet some of the locals and learn more about the community on the river!
14 paikallista suosittelee
Vida Cafe
45641 McKenzie HwyVida Cafe has been a mainstay on the river for decades. They specialize in pies and their milkshakes are delicious. They otherwise offer great cafe food. It's a fun place to meet some of the locals and learn more about the community on the river!
Groceries and gas
Blue Sky Market is the nearest grocery store. It has a good selection of canned and general camping food, as well as some frozen foods and gear. The Chevron is the last gas station heading east until Sisters, OR.
If you want a larger selection of food, you'll need to go to Springfield or Sisters.
9 paikallista suosittelee
Blue Sky Market with Shell
91808 Mill Creek RdBlue Sky Market is the nearest grocery store. It has a good selection of canned and general camping food, as well as some frozen foods and gear. The Chevron is the last gas station heading east until Sisters, OR.
If you want a larger selection of food, you'll need to go to Springfield or Sisters.
Hiking
The trailhead for the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail is less than a quarter mile up the road from the driveway. You can walk up to the Ranger Station (1 mi) and back for a lovely hike along the river. Otherwise, the trail goes up 60 miles to Clear Lake, and there are many access points between the cabin and the lake. All of the access points we’ve explored have been beautiful.
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McKenzie River Trail
56621 McKenzie HwyThe trailhead for the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail is less than a quarter mile up the road from the driveway. You can walk up to the Ranger Station (1 mi) and back for a lovely hike along the river. Otherwise, the trail goes up 60 miles to Clear Lake, and there are many access points between the cabin and the lake. All of the access points we’ve explored have been beautiful.
This is a 6-mile out-and-back hike. The trailhead is about 15 minutes up the road (toward the mountains). Look out for the road signs. It can be very popular during the summer. Access to the pool takes some bouldering and is not recommended for groups with small kids.
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Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)
This is a 6-mile out-and-back hike. The trailhead is about 15 minutes up the road (toward the mountains). Look out for the road signs. It can be very popular during the summer. Access to the pool takes some bouldering and is not recommended for groups with small kids.
This is a shorter loop trail to beautiful waterfalls. Trail access is approximately 8 miles up the Old McKenzie Pass/Hwy 242 (only open in mid-summer). It can get crowded in the summer, so go early!
14 paikallista suosittelee
Proxy Falls
This is a shorter loop trail to beautiful waterfalls. Trail access is approximately 8 miles up the Old McKenzie Pass/Hwy 242 (only open in mid-summer). It can get crowded in the summer, so go early!
This is a beautiful waterfall accessible right from the parking lot. There is also a 3-mile loop that goes to Koosah Falls and Carmen Diversion Reservoir. Start from the parking lot of Sahalie or Koosah Falls – both about 15 minutes up the road – and hike to the Carmen Diversion Reservoir and back.
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Sahalie Fallsin näköalapaikka
McKenzie River DriveThis is a beautiful waterfall accessible right from the parking lot. There is also a 3-mile loop that goes to Koosah Falls and Carmen Diversion Reservoir. Start from the parking lot of Sahalie or Koosah Falls – both about 15 minutes up the road – and hike to the Carmen Diversion Reservoir and back.
One of several alpine lakes, Linton Lake is accessible via the Old McKenzie Pass (Highway 242).
Linton Lake Trailhead
One of several alpine lakes, Linton Lake is accessible via the Old McKenzie Pass (Highway 242).
Hot Springs
This resort offers beautiful grounds that are free to the public. Their hidden garden is a fun find! You can purchase hourly or daily passes to use their hot spring pool, open year-round.
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Belknap Hot Springs, Lodge ja Puutarhat.
59296 Belknap Hot Springs RdThis resort offers beautiful grounds that are free to the public. Their hidden garden is a fun find! You can purchase hourly or daily passes to use their hot spring pool, open year-round.
Also called Terwilliger Hot Springs, this clothing optional hot springs offers a more natural experience, with six rock pools amid the forest. First-come, first served.
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Cougar Hot Springs
Also called Terwilliger Hot Springs, this clothing optional hot springs offers a more natural experience, with six rock pools amid the forest. First-come, first served.
Sightseeing
Originally an old wagon road across the mountains, this beautiful and winding pass is only open during the summer. It takes an extra 15 minutes to get to Sisters along this road vs. the main highway, but the experience is worth it! The first two weeks of the season are exclusively for bicycles.
From this highway, you can access a number of lovely hikes, alpine lakes and see impressive lava flows. At the top of the pass is Dee Wright Observatory.
Old McKenzie Highway
Old McKenzie HighwayOriginally an old wagon road across the mountains, this beautiful and winding pass is only open during the summer. It takes an extra 15 minutes to get to Sisters along this road vs. the main highway, but the experience is worth it! The first two weeks of the season are exclusively for bicycles.
From this highway, you can access a number of lovely hikes, alpine lakes and see impressive lava flows. At the top of the pass is Dee Wright Observatory.
Built entirely out of lava rock, this wonder at the summit offers panoramic views of several Oregon Cascade peaks. There are also hikes through the lava flows from which you can see evidence of the historic wagon route across the mountains. The observatory is approximately 45 minutes from the cabin. The town of Sisters, OR is just 15 miles beyond the observatory.
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Dee Wrightin observatorio
Old McKenzie HighwayBuilt entirely out of lava rock, this wonder at the summit offers panoramic views of several Oregon Cascade peaks. There are also hikes through the lava flows from which you can see evidence of the historic wagon route across the mountains. The observatory is approximately 45 minutes from the cabin. The town of Sisters, OR is just 15 miles beyond the observatory.
Scott Lake is a shallow (and warmer) alpine lake with some picnic table/campsites that is perfect for lounging/swimming/tubing/kayaking in the summer. There is also a trailhead at the end of the road for either a shorter hike to Benson Lake or a longer hike up to Scott Mountain.
Scott Lake
Scott Lake is a shallow (and warmer) alpine lake with some picnic table/campsites that is perfect for lounging/swimming/tubing/kayaking in the summer. There is also a trailhead at the end of the road for either a shorter hike to Benson Lake or a longer hike up to Scott Mountain.
Consistently ranked in “Best Courses in Oregon” by Golf Digest, Tokatee Golf Club offers experiences for golfers of all levels. It is located four miles down the road toward Eugene.
https://tokatee.com/
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Tokatee Golf Club
54947 McKenzie HwyConsistently ranked in “Best Courses in Oregon” by Golf Digest, Tokatee Golf Club offers experiences for golfers of all levels. It is located four miles down the road toward Eugene.
https://tokatee.com/
Winter recreation
Hoodoo Ski Area offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing – 40 minutes away! Check out their site for more info: https://skihoodoo.com/
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Hoodoo Ski Area
27400 Big Lake RoadHoodoo Ski Area offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing – 40 minutes away! Check out their site for more info: https://skihoodoo.com/
Potato Hill offers a number of hikes offering open vistas and forest walks. Perfect for snow shoeing.
Potato Hill Sno-Park
Potato Hill offers a number of hikes offering open vistas and forest walks. Perfect for snow shoeing.
One of many sno parks close to the cabin. Good for cross country skiing, snowmobiling and more. Check out https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/willamette/recreation/wintersports for more information based on what type of recreation interests you!
Tombstone Sno-Park
One of many sno parks close to the cabin. Good for cross country skiing, snowmobiling and more. Check out https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/willamette/recreation/wintersports for more information based on what type of recreation interests you!
River fun
This outfitter offers whitewater rafting, drift boat fishing and mountain biking shuttles along the McKenzie River. https://horse-creek.com/
7 paikallista suosittelee
Horse Creek Lodge & Outfitters
56228 Delta DrThis outfitter offers whitewater rafting, drift boat fishing and mountain biking shuttles along the McKenzie River. https://horse-creek.com/
Another outfitter (based out of the McKenzie General Store) that offers whitewater rafting trips on the McKenzie River. https://www.highcountryexpeditions.com/home/hce/smartlist_83/mckenzie-river-c83.html
High Country Expeditions McKenzie WhiteWater Rafting
56340 McKenzie HighwayAnother outfitter (based out of the McKenzie General Store) that offers whitewater rafting trips on the McKenzie River. https://www.highcountryexpeditions.com/home/hce/smartlist_83/mckenzie-river-c83.html