Janay Wright writes about food, events and the outdoors for The Bend ÅÝֱܽ²¥. As the company’s Audience Engagement and Features Reporter since 2021, she also runs The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s Instagram account. Read her work in The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s free print GO Magazine or stay in the know on Instagram @bendbulletin. And if you’re not sure where to eat in town, she likely has a recommendation.
Shades of ultramarine, turquoise and sapphire attract visitors from far and wide to Blue Pool along the McKenzie River Trail, making it one of Oregon’s most popular hikes.
Officially known as , the hike measures 2.1 miles one-way from the trailhead to the viewpoint. But don’t be fooled by the short distance. There’s rocky terrain to navigate and several hundred feet of elevation gain on this hike, which is rated moderate. The total distance will also run longer than 4.2 miles if hiking from the lookout down to the pool.
A kaleidoscope of blues
The body of water at the Tamoltch Falls viewpoint is mesmerizing, colored with blues I can’t recall seeing anywhere else in nature.
Its otherworldly hues are the result of a natural dam. buried a 3-mile stretch of the McKenzie River, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The river disappears at Carmen Reservoir and resurfaces at Tamolitch Falls, where it seeps up to the surface through porous lava.
The mesmerizing hues at Tamolitch Falls are the result of water seeping up through lava rock.
Janay Wright/The ÅÝֱܽ²¥
Proceed with caution
Upon summiting the trail last month, I noticed a neon orange ribbon stretched across the trail. A woman donning a helmet and a red shirt that read “mountain rescue†assured me I was headed in the right direction, as she gestured to skirt the ribbon.
A mountain crew trains for for rescues at Tamolitch Falls in May.
Janay Wright/The ÅÝֱܽ²¥
I trekked around the ribbon to an overlook of the pool. While encountering fellow hikers had been intermittent for much of the trek, the hike’s summit was teeming with human activity. People congregated around the rescue crew and along the edges of the pool below.
A couple at the overlook asked my husband to snap a photo of them standing above the blue waters. As they posed, the man shared he had jumped into the pool with a wetsuit on his first visit and it it had hurt.
The hike’s popularity first ballooned in 2013, following the launch of Instagram several years earlier, according to The Oregonian. During the past decade, the natural gem has gained notoriety for both its beauty and its tragedies.
The pool’s water averages 37 degrees, which can cause immediate shock upon contact or hypothermia within 10 minutes of exposure. Some hikers have fallen from the cliff above the basin, while others have required rescue after cliff-diving adventures gone wrong.
A swimming ban will likely be put in place in the coming years, but an official ban needn’t be in place to stay safe by staying dry.
While visiting, take care to protect this popular spot for other visitors to enjoy for years to come. Practice the , which include staying on the trail and packing out any litter or food waste.
The summer months are the busiest time on this trail, which is open year-round. Make plans to arrive early or on weekdays to avoid peak congestion.
The McKenzie River Trail stretches 26 miles through old-growth forests, lava fields and Douglas Firs. It can also be enjoyed from the 3-mile Waterfalls Loop Trail, with views of Sahalie and Koosah waterfalls, and Clear Lake Trail at the McKenzie River headwaters.
The 26-mile McKenzie River Trail winds through old-growth forest and lava fields.
Getting there: From Bend, take Highway 97 north and exit at 135A to merge onto Highway 20 to Sisters. In Sisters, take the second exit roundabout to stay on Highway 20 for an additional 25 miles. Take the McKenzie Highway for about 10 miles then turn right at the sign for Trailbridge Campground/Blue Pool. Cross the bridge and turn right onto Forest Road 730 and continue to the trailhead.
Janay Wright writes about food, events and the outdoors for The Bend ÅÝֱܽ²¥. As the company’s Audience Engagement and Features Reporter since 2021, she also runs The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s Instagram account. Read her work in The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s free print GO Magazine or stay in the know on Instagram @bendbulletin. And if you’re not sure where to eat in town, she likely has a recommendation.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.