Chris L, Author at Visit McKenzie River

Shaping the Future of Tamolitch Blue Pool: A $3.4 Million Environmental & Recreational Upgrade

Chris L — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:51:18 +0000

Massive, forward-thinking face-lift

One of Oregon’s most breathtaking natural wonders is getting a massive, forward-thinking face-lift. The Willamette National Forest has launched a $3.4 million redevelopment project at Tamolitch Blue Pool along the McKenzie River.

Construction is currently underway, with the grand reopening scheduled for 2027. Far from just a cosmetic upgrade, this project represents a modern approach to conservation: concentrating high-traffic tourism into a well-engineered, manageable footprint to protect the vast, surrounding wilderness from human impact.

Concentrating Impact: A Win for Wilderness Preservation

When a natural site goes viral, the resulting “social trailing” (unplanned footpaths) can erode soil, destroy delicate vegetation, and disrupt local wildlife. By intentionally designing robust infrastructure at Blue Pool, forest managers are utilizing a proven conservation strategy:

Sacrificing Feet to Save Miles: By centering the crowds onto durable, hardened surfaces and clearly defined overlooks, the vast majority of the surrounding forest remains completely untouched and pristine.
Controlling Erosion: Engineered pathways prevent hikers from scrambling down loose banks, keeping the McKenzie River’s legendary water clarity safe from sediment runoff.
Restoring Damaged Areas: Part of the project includes decommissioning impacted user-created trails and allowing nature to reclaim those spaces.

What This Means for Blue Pool Visitors

If you are heading out to witness the famous topaz waters, the 2027 upgrades will offer a much safer, more seamless, and stress-free experience.

Stress-Free Parking: A brand-new, expanded trailhead parking lot will pull vehicles safely off Highway 126, eliminating the dangerous highway shoulder parking that has plagued the area for years.
Enhanced Viewpoints: New, strategically placed viewing platforms will offer stunning, unobstructed sightlines of the pool without requiring visitors to scramble over hazardous cliff edges.
Better Accessibility: Upgraded trail sections will feature a smoother, more predictable grade, making this iconic Oregon landmark accessible to a wider range of physical abilities and families.

Elevating the McKenzie River Trail for All Users

The project isn’t just about the pool itself; it also brings major improvements to the historic McKenzie River National Recreation Trail (MRT). By rerouting sections of the trail around the high-congestion zone, the project drastically improves the experience for multi-use recreation:

For Trail Runners & Hikers: The rerouted paths separate casual sightseers from those looking for a continuous, uninterrupted trek. Runners can maintain their pace without constantly navigating dense crowds of stopped tourists.
For Mountain Bikers: The MRT is world-renowned for mountain biking. The new trail design aims to reduce user conflict by creating better sightlines and flow, allowing riders to pass through the Blue Pool corridor safely and smoothly.
Improved Signage and Navigation: New, clear wayfinding signage will make it easier for long-distance trail users to navigate the network and understand trail etiquette between bikers, runners, and hikers.

Planning Your Visit

While construction progresses toward the 2027 completion date, outdoor enthusiasts planning to visit the McKenzie River area should expect periodic detours. Be sure to check the Willamette National Forest advisory updates before heading out.

Mountain Biking and Hiking Information: McKenzieRiverTrail.com

by Chris LaVoie

The post Shaping the Future of Tamolitch Blue Pool: A $3.4 Million Environmental & Recreational Upgrade appeared first on Visit McKenzie River.

Oregon’s Aufderheide Drive: A New Jewel in the Scenic Bikeway Crown

Chris L — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:43:48 +0000

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By Chris LaVoie

When you think of Oregon, what comes to mind? Towering evergreens. Rivers that shimmer in the morning light. A sense of adventure that whispers through every curve of our mountain roads. Now, add one more crown jewel to the list: Forest Service Road 19—better known as Aufderheide Drive—has officially been named Oregon’s newest Scenic Bikeway.

Yes, you read that right. The same winding, soul-stirring stretch that has long been a secret among cyclists and nature lovers has now been recognized statewide for what we locals have always known—it’s breathtaking, exhilarating, and absolutely worthy of a spotlight.

What Makes the Aufderheide Special?

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Let’s start with the basics. FS Road 19 connects Highway 126 near the McKenzie River to Highway 58 near Oakridge, threading about 60 miles of smooth pavement through the Willamette National Forest. Picture this: one moment you’re pedaling past old-growth giants, the next you’re tracing the edge of a sparkling reservoir, and then—just around the bend—you’re met with alpine vistas that seem almost painted onto the horizon.

This is not your ordinary ride. It’s a destination experience, one that combines Oregon’s raw beauty with the freedom of a bike.

Oregon’s 18th Scenic Bikeway

With this designation, Aufderheide becomes Oregon’s 18th official Scenic Bikeway—part of the only statewide program of its kind in the nation. That means it’s not just beloved by the locals; it’s recognized as a route that captures the very essence of Oregon’s outdoor spirit.

And for cyclists? Oh, what a dream. Low traffic, sweeping curves, and a climb that challenges without overwhelming—every mile is a reminder of why we ride.

More Than Just a Road

Aufderheide isn’t simply about the miles you cover. It’s about the discoveries along the way. Take a dip in Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs. Pause at Constitution Grove and pay homage to century-old trees, each one named after a U.S. Constitution signer. Stop for a lakeside breather at Cougar Reservoir. Or simply roll down your kickstand, breathe deep, and listen to the chorus of birdsong that drifts through the forest.

This bikeway is as much about connection—to nature, to history, to yourself—as it is about the ride.

Why This Matters

In a world where life seems to accelerate at breakneck speed, designating Aufderheide Drive as a Scenic Bikeway is more than a title. It’s an invitation. An invitation to slow down, to pedal with intention, to notice the way sunlight filters through Douglas firs and how the air feels fresher the higher you climb.

It’s also an economic spark for nearby communities like McKenzie Bridge, Blue River, and Oakridge, where a hot meal or a cozy bed at day’s end turns a cycling trip into a full-blown adventure.

Final Thoughts

As someone who believes in making bold moves and celebrating milestones, I have to say: this designation is a game-changer. Aufderheide Drive has always been magnificent—but now, it gets the recognition it deserves.

So pump up those tires, pack your water bottle, and grab your sense of wonder. Oregon’s newest Scenic Bikeway is calling. And trust me, you’ll want to answer.

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Ski or snowshoe green tunnels of old-growth forest at Big Springs Snow Park

Chris L — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:40:36 +0000

“When the snow drops low and the temperatures stay cold in western Oregon, I head for the green tunnels of Big Springs Sno Park.

The old-growth forest, covered in white, creates the sensation of snowshoeing or skiing through a silent labyrinth with pathways that rise and fall through a green and white landscape.

It’s not the most popular of the winter access points in the Santiam Pass area off Highway 22/20, southeast of Detroit. There’s no big mountain views or snow shelters similar to Maxwell Sno Park, which is right across Highway 22 and considerably more popular.

What Big Springs does have is lots of big trees and routes that are a nice mix of easy, medium and challenging at a site that’s almost never busy.”

Big Springs Snow Park was in the news!! Zach Urness of the Statement Journal writes to tell us that this is a great place to snow shoe or nordic ski.

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Now Under Development

Chris L — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:17:15 +0000

New Website to Support Tourism & Local Businesses

It’s happening!! We are putting together the best, largest and most impactful website promoting the McKenzie River area our local businesses.

The goal is this:

To create an amazing, living online tourism magazine that integrates local McKenzie Businesses with our attractions.

This will be an attractive and easy to navigate website, and possibly an app, that makes it easy for locals and tourists to find businesses, services and great places to visit in our area.

Subgoals:

Focus on attracting high value tourists that have a light ecological impact and a big financial one
Ensure that local businesses are promoted with natural attractions to encourage visitors to spend money locally.
Promote local business resources to locals (not tourists)

After creating a high powered community portal, McKenzieCommunity.org supporting fire recovery, community improvement and other non-profit activity, McKenzie Community Partnership is taking what we learned, and creating an even bigger website aimed at supporting local businesses unlike any our community has ever had before.

We have done our homework, researching best practices for using websites and social media to support and grow local businesses. We have also been participating in local community meetings where locals have discussed their struggles and concerns. We have been attending many community meetings including the most recent “60 Mile Main Street” meetings. Gathered input form surveys and words shared by local businesses. Our team includes people who have been and currently are, operating small businesses here.

We will continue to reach out to local business owners for your insight on how we can best help support your business.

Our Executive Director and project lead, Chris LaVoie, has Masters in Business w specialization in Marketing and Entrepreneurism (starting and operating small businesses). He has taught at Bushnell University and Lane Community college. His first company in Oregon, Nu-World Communications, grew to be the largest independent local internet service providers in Lane County before selling the company. His company specialized in creating and running online stores (large websites) that generated millions of dollars in revenue. Chris has also owned and operated McKenzie River Mountain Resort, a local guide and shuttle business as well as setting up food carts, operating AirBnBs and over 20 years of property management experience. This experience provides him a wide range of connection points to help other local businesses.

This project is made possible by the generous support of local donors, our executive director, Chris LaVoie.

As any of you who have hired professional web developers know, web development is not cheap. We have funds to support our initial build out. We will be need ongoing support from our community business members to help us grow our impact and potential.

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