Tamolitch Blue Pool via McKenzie River Trail

This short portion of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail takes you to the beautiful turquoise Tamolitch Pool, also known as Blue Pool. The beginning of this easy hike is through old growth Douglas fir forest. As the McKenzie River falls away, you walk along the a cliff and descend into a dry river bed eventually coming to an old lava flow. The trail is not too strenuous but there is some elevation gain as can be seen on the tracks and footing can be tricky in a few places. Be advised the trail passes one ledge with a steep drop-off to the river a short distance before Blue Pool At Blue Pool you can scamper down the steep embankment and go for a chilly swim. This pool is actually where the McKenzie River emerges after submerging into a lava tube after Carmen Reservoir, creating tamolitch falls. It's known as a dry falls, because during especially wet rainy winters the river will flood over the lava bed and waterfall into Tamolitch Pool. You can also access this trail from Carmen Reservoir and hike the trail to Trail Bridge Reservoir, rather than starting at the trail head just south of Trail Bridge Reservoir and hiking in and back out. This is a very popular spot along the McKenzie River Trail and you are likely to see hikers, runners and some mountain bikers here.