Season 6. Hike #9 - Blue Pool (Tamolitch Falls)

 Season 6. Hike #7 - Blue Pool (Tamolitch Falls)

Starting Location: parking lot off 126

Point of Interest
Blue Pool forest trails, McKenzie River,
McKenzie River Trail

Distance: 4 miles (2.1 out and back from parking lot)

Difficulty: moderate to difficult

Bathrooms: yes, pit

Parking: yes, gravel

EV Chargers: no



We had decided the day before to cancel this hike due to weather, but then it looked better, and we drove out to this stop on the McKenzie River Trail. 

From this parking area, the sign says 2 1/4 miles to Blue Pool. There was a lot of parking along the road, and decent bathrooms.
This hike starts in the forest, and the trail is pretty easy. It had rained during the night, so there was some mud and puddles, but nothing we couldn't either go through or around.

This tree had given up a long time ago, and we though it looked interesting with all of the rocks people had tucked into various spots, kinda like stacking rocks.
There are a few creeks we had to cross, but there are nice, sturdy bridges. Lots of moss in April. This part of the hike is really nice and easy.
Eventually, about halfway to Blue Pool, we got to the lava flow. The trail is still easy to follow, and there were enough other people on the trail that it would be hard to get lost.

But the trail gets more difficult due to the lava. There's some scrambling that gets difficult

I was a bit worried about our dog's feet, but the trail has been worn down enough I guess. There were quiet a few dogs on the trail. 

Finally, we got our first glimpse of Blue Pool, and the start of the McKenzie River.

The view is gorgeous. It's bigger than it looks in pictures, but still pretty small. It doesn't look too deep, but there is constant flow from the underground spring that feeds it. Apparently, Tamolitch Falls flows at the far end, but only when there's a lot of snow melt or rain. We missed seeing them.







We did try to hike around to where the falls would be, but it's very difficult, climbing over large boulders in the dry creek bed. It looks like the trail was marked with ribbons, but it's still hard to see. 














Leanna managed to get down to the edge of the pool with our dog, Odo, and got some fun pictures. 

I think the hike is worth the more difficult terrain of the lava flow. Several people were just sitting, snacking or reading, and enjoying the scenery.


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