Boat Landing · McKenzie River · Near Blue River / Vida
Forest Glen Landing
A proper Lane County ramp where the upper McKenzie’s whitewater starts easing into the driftboat water below.
On the water here
confirm ratings locally
KayakPopular take-out for upper-river runs and put-in for calmer water downstream
Whitewater raftClass II verify
Drift boatImproved ramp suited to trailered driftboats
FishingWell-used bank and boat fishing access for redside trout
CanoeStill moving water immediately around the ramp
PaddleboardCurrent present near the launch — check conditions before heading outForest Glen Landing is the first proper county-maintained ramp paddlers reach coming down from the wilder water above Bruckart and Hamlin, and it shows: there’s a real boat ramp here, restrooms, and enough of a lot to handle a trailer, all managed by Lane County Parks as Forest Glen Landing County Park. It’s the standard take-out for the popular Paradise-to-Blue-River run — roughly 13.5 miles of continuous Class II whitewater — and it works just as well as a put-in for guides and paddlers heading into the calmer, driftboat-friendly water further downstream toward Finn Rock and beyond.
After a run of primitive gravel bars and hand-carry landings upstream, it’s a welcome bit of infrastructure — a place to load boats properly instead of muscling them up a bank.
More detail
Getting there & parking +
Forest Glen Landing is in the Blue River area, just off Highway 126. Watch for the signed Lane County Parks turnoff near Blue River; the access road leads down to the ramp and parking area. Exact mile marker and turn were not independently confirmed verify.
Facilities & accessibility +
- Boat ramp
- Restrooms
- Parking area
Lane County Parks may require a day-use parking pass at some of its landings; it’s unconfirmed whether that applies specifically here parking pass requirement.
River conditions & hazards +
The water approaching Forest Glen is still Class II and moving with purpose, so boaters should be alert on the final approach to the ramp, especially at higher flows. Below this point the McKenzie gradually mellows on its way toward Finn Rock and the Vida/Leaburg canyon stretch, but this landing itself sits in current, not flatwater. As with the rest of the upper river, water temperatures stay cold well into summer.
Nearby landings & float planner +
Forest Glen marks a real shift in character — the last big ramp before the upper river’s continuous whitewater gives way to easier floating downstream.
Fishing at this landing +
A well-used access point for wild redside trout fishing, both from the bank and by boat, benefiting from the easier parking and facilities that busier landings tend to attract.
