Calendar

Past Activity

McKenzie River Trail

  • Start date: 10/14/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 10/14/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

** Meet up: Belknap Hot Springs Lodge Parking Lot. ** (scroll down to see all info)

*Please note that this is a long and difficult hike that requires us to hike at a fairly rapid pace because of the short daylight hours. There will not be time for: sight seeing, bird watching, or mushroom picking because it gets dark much earlier before sunset in the dense forest cover and it's mandatory that we stay together as a group. Even though there is a net loss of about 1500' of elevation, there are several climbs on this hike. We will end the hike at the Belknap access road which will be 5 miles shorter than doing the whole MRT.

*The meet up place is at Belknap Hot Springs because several hikers are camping or staying in the lodge there for one or two nights. You are encouraged to do the same. However, if you decide to drive out the morning of the hike from Eugene, please allow at least an hour to arrive at Belknap. We will depart from Belknap at 7:30am and drive north on Hwy 126 to the north trailhead of the MRT near Fish Lake. We will need 2 cars to take us to the trailhead and 1 car back at Belknap to retrieve the 2 parked cars since this is a one way hike. We should be on the trail no later than 8:00am to assure being finished before dark.

*It's likely that the first couple of hours of the hike will be at or near freezing temperatures (or below). Be sure to pack a heavy jacket, dress in layers, bring gloves and a hat. The trail is often rocky so good hiking boots are a must. I've done the 26 mile version of this hike 3 times and several snacks and a good nourishing lunch is a must. With cooler temperatures, water requirements will be 2 liters minimum. You can also bring a water filter to filter water right out of the river.

*After the hike, you're on your own. Most of us will elect to soak in the hot springs pool for a while before driving to Takota's for dinner. Those of you not staying at Belknap for the night will likely want to drive back to Eugene. This hike will be cancelled if the forecast looks like rain.

  • Event Leader: David Lodeesen

  • Event Leader Phone: 214-709-0352

  • Event Leader Email: dmxzx3@sbcglobal.net

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 40

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: The 10 essentials, good hiking boots, dress in layers, warm outer layer, hat, gloves. Several snacks and a good hardy lunch. At least one hiking pole is highly recommended. An extra pair of socks and mole skin is a good idea.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 21

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: -1500

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

This adventure started with all the participants driving up to Belknap Hot Springs the evening before the hike to spend the night there which would allow for an early start the next morning. Four of us rented a lodge room, Vern rented a RV space where 3 stayed, and Brad rented a campsite for himself. We all gathered at Vern's RV space that evening where he prepared a very nice dinner for all of us as we sat around the campfire. The next morning, we assembled at 7:30am in the lodge parking lot and drove two vehicles up to the north trailhead of the McKenzie River Trail. We started our hike a 8am under foggy skies, with a 36 degree temperature, and no wind. Everyone agreed that the conditions were perfect for hiking on the slightly damp but not wet trail. The fall colors blending of golden-yellow to orange-red to many shades of green were a wonderful sight to behold. Hiking the lava flow past Clear Lake was dreamy in the slight fog with not a soul other than us out there. In fact, we didn't come across anyone on the trail until we arrived in the area of Sahalie & Koosah Falls. By that time the fog had burned off and we had clear blue skies the rest of the day which made us to start shedding layers as the temperatures eventually rose into the mid-50s. The small groups of sightseers diminished to zero once we passed Tamolitch Pool and got to Trail Bridge. From then on the trail was ours. We traded off the lead position among ourselves but continued at a brisk pace since daylight is in short supply this time of year. We hiked in awe through bright fluorescent-lit tunnels of golden-yellow magnified brilliance as the sunlight filtered down through the upper canopy of the conifers onto the vine maples and big leaf maples below. You could probably experience this for only a week or two every fall season. Simply magnificent! Well, after stopping for lunch and several rest-nature-water breaks, we arrived back at Belknap Hot Springs at 4:30pm. After nearly 22 miles of brisk hiking we were more than happy to see the end. Everyone made it without injury other than feeling completely exhausted. After retrieving the cars at the upper trailhead, we headed down to Rainbow and enjoyed a well deserved dinner at Takotas. Most of us were staying another night a Belknap, so after dinner we headed back for some soaking time in the hot springs pool. Then it was another campfire evening at Vern's RV site. The McKenzie River Trail this time of year is a real gem. Crowds are light and really only in the area of the falls and pool. With this being a very popular mountain biking trail, we only encountered 6 bikers all day.