McKenzie River Highway

Highway 126 as it heads east from Eugene, OR is known as the McKenzie Highway.  It follows the curves of the McKenzie River, passing grazing lands, fruit & nut orchards, and fishing hotspots. At the town of McKenzie Bridge, one turns onto hwy 242.  This scenic highway leads one into the Cascade Mountains on a steep, curvy climb to McKenzie Pass, 5324 ft elevation.  This section of highway into the Mt Washington Wilderness is generally closed from November until June because of heavy snow. And, it is always closed to trucks and large vehicles (like motorhomes!).  We did this trip by car with relatives from Eugene as tour guides.

 

At the top of the pass is Dee Wright Observatory, a lava-stone structure built in 1935 by the CCC.  Openings in the turrent-like building frame landmarks in the area, and identify nearby mountain peaks.  Belknap Crater (below), source of the huge lava field that covers the ground here, is visible, as is Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, and Peaks of the Three Sisters mountains.

 

After lunch in the town of Sisters, we drove back on hwy 126, stopping to see Koosah Falls near the start of the McKenzie River. 

The gardens at Belknap Hot Springs Resort (where hot water bubbles from a crack in the rocks), and a pie shop in Vida were also on tour.