The Willamette Valley & Wine Country - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 509

Trains leave from the Amtrak station ( 541-687-1383; www.amtrak.com ; cnr E 4th Ave &
Willamette St) for Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC (among other places). Local bus
service is provided by Lane Transit District ( 541-682-6100; www.ltd.org ; 3500 E 17th
Ave) . For bike rentals, head to Bicycle Way of Life (

541-344-4150; www.bicycleway.com ;

556 Charnelton St; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat & Sun) .

TOP OF CHAPTER

McKenzie Region
The single name 'McKenzie' identifies a beautiful and mysterious river, a mountain pass,
a spectacular historic highway and one of Oregon's most extraordinary and wondrous
natural areas. Premiere recreational opportunities abound, from fantastic fishing to ex-
ceptional hiking to racy rafting trips.
The little community of McKenzie Bridge, 50 miles east of Eugene on Hwy 126, of-
fers several serene accommodations, a couple of restaurants and a market. Four miles
east from here the highway splits and continues east as Hwy 242 (the Old McKenzie
Hwy) over the Cascades toward McKenzie Pass on its way to Sisters, 34 miles distant
(the pass is closed approximately November to June). Hwy 126 continues north along the
McKenzie River to US 20, which crosses the Cascades at Santiam Pass (4817ft; open
year-round).

Activities

Hiking
One of Oregon's showcase 'Wild & Scenic Rivers,' the McKenzie is graced with the
26-mile McKenzie River National Recreation Trail , which follows the here-again, gone-
again cascading river from its inception near the town of McKenzie Bridge. There are
entry trailheads at several places along Hwy 126.
A good day hike is the 5-mile Clear Lake Loop , accessible via either Clear Lake Re-
sort or Coldwater Cove Campground. It circles Clear Lake while passing a large spring,
several groves of old-growth forest and an extensive lava flow.
Another series of easy hikes begins at the Sahalie Falls , where a footbridge crosses
the upper falls viewpoint to join the McKenzie River Trail for a 2-mile stroll to Carmen
Reservoir past Koosah Falls . On the highway side of the river is the more developed and
shorter Waterfall Trail , which links Sahalie with Koosah Falls. Parts of this trail are
wheelchair accessible.