McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
Tour of McKenzie-Santiam Scenic Byway
| Departure: | Proxy Falls, Oregon |
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| Destination: | McKenzie Ranger Station and Information Portal - West, Oregon |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Full of beautiful forests and dazzling waterfalls, the McKenzie-Santiam Scenic Byway Tour will treat you will the stunning beauty of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area.
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Start: Proxy Falls
Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour The Upper Proxy Falls and the Lower Proxy Falls, referred to collectively as the Proxy Falls, can be accessed by hiking a loop trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness area. Upper Proxy Falls is interesting because there is no direct outlet for its circular basin's calm pool of water: its substantial volume of water (which originates from a group of small springs that originate about 600 feet above the valley floor) can only percolate into the lava subsurface. The water for Lower Proxy Falls, supplied by Proxy Creek and Shadow Creek, rushes over a steep, bulging rock for 200 feet before it free falls to the base.
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Stop 2: Windy Point
Directions from previous place: Drive northeast on McKenzie Hwy toward NF-1624 and after 16.4 miles, end at Winy Point.
Distance from Previous Site: 16.48 miles / 26.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 40 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Geologic interpretive information is available here. At an elevation of 4,909 feet, Windy Point offers a picturesque view of the lava flows and volcanic peaks. Although there is little vegetation on the lava fields, as you make your descent down from the summit of the McKenzie Pass, a mixed conifer forest returns, eventually giving way to Ponderosa Pines at the lower elevation. It is the dramatic transition between these diverse natural environments that defines the uniqueness of this byway.
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Stop 3: Sisters-Eastern Portal
Directions from previous place: Drive east on McKenzie Hwy toward NF-1040 for 10.9 miles. Continue straight after road turns into W Cascade Ave, then make a right onto Santiam Hwy to end at Sisters.
Distance from Previous Site: 11.53 miles / 18.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 9 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours A lively town chock-full of arts and crafts offerings and special events such as the annual quilt show and jazz festival, following an early western theme set back in time to the 1800s.
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Stop 4: Sahalie Falls
Directions from previous place: Drive northwest on E Cascade Ave for 29.1 miles, then take a left onto OR-126. After 5.1 miles, end at Sahalie Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 34.29 miles / 54.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 37 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes The McKenzie River surges over a 70-foot high basalt cliff. This waterfall derives its name from the Chinook jargon meaning "heaven" or "sky." Plan to spend a half hour here to take pictures and view the interpretive panels featuring geologic history. Or hike for an hour on the Waterfalls Loop trail that connects this site with Sahalie Falls.
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Stop 5: Koosah Falls
Directions from previous place: Drive south on OR-126 and turn right to end at Koosah Falls.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.47 miles / 0.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Sahalie and Koosah Falls are located on the old historic route locally known as the Clear Lake Cutoff.
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End: McKenzie Ranger Station and Information Portal - West
Directions from previous place: Drive south and take a right onto OR-126. Drive for 16.8 miles to end at the McKenzie Ranger Station.
Distance from Previous Site: 17.15 miles / 27.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 18 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Get McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway and area information here. You can get maps for and information on whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, camping and other recreational activities in the Willamette National Forest.
