McKenzie River (Oregon) Getaway

One of my favorite things in life is hunkering down in a sweet cabin in the woods. When we left Colorado, I never thought we’d be able to replace the Pioneer Guest Cabins in Crested Butte, but we did! The Loloma Lodge in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon is currently one of our favorite staycations. Staycation in that we only have to drive a little north of an hour to get to this beautiful spot – and no traffic. Something unheard of in Colorado these days.

The entire property is nestled in an old growth forest of Ponderosa Pine trees. They have 4 mid century modern cabins literally steps from the McKenzie River – just stunning. All of them have full kitchens stocked with everything you could possibly need and wood burning fireplaces. I love the attention to detail with all of the retro accessories. This past summer, we rented three of them with good friends, corn-hole and dogs in tow – it was a blast. This is a popular venue for weddings and you can also plop down in one of their A-frame tents or park your Airstream in one of their camp spots.

Not only is the McKenzie River gorgeous and famous for its abundance of trout, but there are some really great areas to explore nearby. If you think you might be bored sitting in an Adirondack chair reading or watching fish feed on the local fare, here are a few ideas for adventure:

1. The McKenzie River Trail extends for about 26.5 miles along the river itself. It’s perfect for trail running, mountain biking, or just plain pup walking. It’s sooo much fun to explore these woods. The trees are covered in a carpet of green moss – otherworldly really, especially after a good rain. A good spot to catch the trail is across the street from the Visitor Center. You have to look hard for the trail – it’s not well-marked at this entry point.

2. One of the most beautiful hikes in all of Oregon is about a 15 minute drive from the lodge – the infamous Tamolitch Blue Pool. It’s fed from underground springs and is a balmy 37 degrees F. The temperature is one of the key reasons for the clear turquoise blue color. Not many things can live in that environment, but people still feel the need to dive in for a dip. I wouldn’t say they are the sharpest tacks in the box – Search and Rescue responders are regulars here. The pictures look as though it’s a shallow pool when in fact, it’s about 30 feet deep.

It’s so popular, the line of cars parked to explore the trail is ridiculous. I’ve never seen a trail more popular – anywhere in the world. You MUST get there super early to avoid the crowds. Many of the epic trails in and around Central Oregon require permits. Sure wish they’d require one for this area. As the saying goes, “It’s being loved to death.” At the time of this publication, the trail is closed due to fires in the area.

3. If waterfalls are your thing, there are some U-Mazing falls only 20 minutes down the road from the Loloma – Koosah and Sahalie Falls. There is a foot path that connects the two so you can knock them both out in one afternoon. Again, this place can be zoo-like, but the views do live up to the hype and a stop here is totally worth it. I’m slightly PO’d at the guy standing for a photo op below. He had to jump a fence to get over there. UGH. No editing needed on the photos below – the water is THAT clear and beautiful. At the time of this publication, the trail is closed due to fires in the area.

4. Clear Lake is just a bit further from the falls. It’s one of the clearest and coldest lakes in the Cascades. It’s a great spot for SUPing and canoeing, hiking and mountain biking. Though I would say be prepared to ride through a sketchy lava field on the other side of the lake. Sean had to carry my bike over some not so fun stuff. Not sure I’ll ever ride a bike through there again, but hiking the 5 mile loop around the lake is a treat. Fishing is supposed to be good – Brook trout and cutthroat trout re­produce naturally in the lake and Rainbow trout are stocked annually.

If you’d rather not stay at the Loloma, there is a great campground on the lake – Cold Water Cove Campground. It has 34 campsites and each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. It’s FABULOUS. Especially if you can get a spot on the lake, though we had a pretty secluded site that was really nice. Our puppy Olive got a hold of some THC the morning we were leaving. I have never packed a campsite up that fast in my life. The drive to the vet was 45 minutes away. She just had to sleep it off.

There are a million things to do in this area. I could go on for another 3 pages, but pretty sure I lost many of you at bullet point 2. So with that, I’ll end this post.

Cheers to beautiful lakes, rivers, waterfalls, trees and trails!

…i choose this…

Pam