McKenzie River Trail Fun Runs
The 38th annual McKenzie River Trail Run (MRTR) 50k race will take place on June 7th of this year. Maybe you’re training for this event or just looking for a fun run along the McKenzie River Trail (MRT)— either way, the McKenzie River Trail Run crew is here to offer you our trail recommendations that are guaranteed to get you excited to run! All of the runs described here will take you in the direction of the race, and begin/end at or near marked points where the our June trail run will start, finish, or provide runners with an aid station.
Keep in mind, the winter months cause significant damage to the trail and dedicated volunteers and USFS staff are out repairing that damage regularly (if you are interested in volunteering to help with trail maintenance, check out the Cascade Volunteers https://cascadevols.org/ ). If you go out this spring, be prepared to scramble over downed trees, navigate damaged or missing bridges, trail washouts, and/or uprooted root balls. Sometimes this means turning around early due to impassable conditions. Additionally, the MRT gains about 1500 feet of elevation over the 26 miles of the trail, so expect increasing snow as you gain elevation. The section from the Blue Pool trailhead up to the very top at Fish Creek has stretches of trail that are very technical—there are lots of lava rock, uneven trail surface, roots, etc. on the trail. Plan to take extra care on these sections.
A map of the McKenzie River Trail Run, use it as a reference to the routes below! Courtesy of the MRTR team
Training Routes
Ridgeline 5 mile (1100 ft elevation gain)
Good trail right in Eugene for training for the upper portion of the MRTR, from the starting line to the first aid station. It’s good for when the upper section is not accessible, or you need something close to home.
How to get there: Park at Dillard East Trailhead at the Intersection of Dillard Road and Hidden Meadows Drive.
Head uphill on the trail to the right. You’ll reach the top of Mt. Baldy and continue straight down the trail to Spring Boulevard. Wind down the trail to reach the end and turn around! Head back up to the top of Baldy and take the right turn. You will reach the same parking lot where you started and be about halfway finished. This time, continue across the street and down (right) the road a little ways to the telephone pole road. Turn left and head down on the gravel road (good practice for the technical sections of the MRT), cross the very end of a dead end street, then up and back down a bump until you reach a 4-way intersection with a trail marker. Go left towards Fox Hollow and go uphill until you reach the parking lot. Take a left after the big sign and take the left branch of the trail at the split. You’ll come across one more large Y intersection, stay left and continue on the main trail back to the road crossing where you started!
McKenzie River Trail 12 Miles, loop trail (upper section)
This is a double loop run that circumnavigates Clear Lake and gives you views of both sides of some amazing waterfalls. Both loops are described as going counterclockwise for you to get the most uphill exercise possible. This is the upper most section of the trail and will have the most snow for the longest, so definitely check trail conditions before going.
How to get there: Traveling east on Highway 126. Turn left into the Koosah Falls Day Use/Ice Cap Campground. The day use area is to the right. Park at Koosah Falls Day Use area. The MRTR 50k starts at the Carmen Reservoir, but access is closed to the public. This is as close as we can get.
Follow the waterfalls trail upriver (turn right) for a little more than a mile to the highway crossing at the road to Coldwater Cove. The trail connects directly across the highway, so use caution when crossing. Follow the trail another 3/4 of a mile to a Y intersection and go right/straight. Keep Clear Lake on your left side as you follow the trail around the lake. During this run, you’ll need to cross the end of the boat launch at Coldwater Cove—the best way to spot the trail here is to look ahead and towards the water.
At the top of the lake you will cross a bridge over Fish Creek (the inlet to Clear Lake). Turn right and follow the trail about a mile to the very top of the McKenzie River Trail, the location of the Santiam Aid Station, otherwise called Aid 1, of the MRTR 50k. There will be a bridge, a sign, and a small parking lot. Turn around and head back the way you came. The directions above are for the full run, but if you’d like to cut out two miles, turn left after the Fish Creek bridge to continue around the lake.
On your way back down, pass the Fish Creek Bridge (do not cross it) and go straight, again keeping Clear Lake on your left side. There is a small inlet creek with a missing bridge here, so prepare to get your feet wet if you do this in the spring! You will need to run through Clear Lake Resort (about 3 miles from your end point, so bring some money to buy snacks or water if you want aid) and then continue to cross a bridge at the outlet of Clear Lake and the very top of the McKenzie River. There are a lot of social trails on the far side of this bridge and you’ll need to stay on the main one to take you back to the Y intersection where you went straight, which is about a quarter mile from the bridge. This intersection can be easily missed from this approach. If you miss it you will make a second loop around Clear Lake! At the intersection, turn right to go back to the highway crossing.
About a quarter mile downriver from the highway crossing, you will turn right to cross a bridge and follow the McKenzie River Trail down on the other side of the waterfalls.
After both Sahalie and Koosah Falls, watch for a small access trail on your left. You’ll take this down to the Carmen Reservoir, cross the bridge, and take the Waterfalls Trail on your left to get back to your car at Koosah Falls Day Use Area.
One of the many waterfalls along the McKenzie River Trail
Photo courtesy of the MRTR team
McKenzie River Middle Section: 12 (ish) miles, one way, Koosah Falls to Deer Creek
This is the very middle of the MRTR 50k. The overall trend is downhill with some small bumps.
How to get there: Leave a car (or arrange for pickup) in the day use area at Deer Creek. To get there, travel east on highway 126 from Eugene, turn left on Deer Creek Road, cross the bridge, and the parking area is immediately on the right. Return to the highway and travel east on 126. Turn left into the Koosah Falls Day Use/Ice Cap Campground. The day use area is to the right.
Start on the Waterfalls trail heading downriver. This will end at a gravel road at Carmen Reservoir (currently closed to private vehicle access), turn right to cross the bridge. Find the access trail to the right of the USFS toilets and follow that about 100 yards to the McKenzie River Trail, the location of the Carmen Aid Station (or Aid 2), on the MRTR 50k. You’ll turn left here, which takes you downriver. In about 3 miles you will pass Tamolitch Falls/Blue Pool, there are a lot of social trails here from which you can view the pool, so take a break and enjoy them if you need!
From there, the trail picks up lots of lava rock and becomes technical for 2.5 miles until you cross the road. This is the location of the Trailbridge Aid Station (or Aid 3) on our 50k. Continue on the trail for another 6-ish miles through the Knoll Fire area. Near the end, you will cross a new large bridge over Deer Creek and come out at the road, the location of the Deer Creek Aid Station, or Aid 4, of the MRTR 50k. Turn right on the road, cross the bridge, and find your ride!
Option: This trail can be ran as an out and back for those looking for more miles.
McKenzie River Trail, Lower Section: 9 miles, one way, Deer Creek to the Ranger Station (the finish!)
This is the lowest section of the course and has the least elevation gain/loss, but expect some bumps!
How to get there: Travel east on highway 126 from Eugene, after the Ranger Station, turn left on Deer Creek Road, cross the bridge, park in the area immediately on the right. There are no toilets at this location. Leave a car or arrange for a ride at the McKenzie District Ranger Station.
If you have never been on the trail at this section, we recommend crossing the highway (safely) and viewing the location on the trail to help you to identify it when you are running.
The trail picks up on the downriver side of the bridge, across from where you parked. There are two trails from the same point—take the one to the right and run downriver. Follow this trail for 3 miles and you’ll arrive at the Frissell boat launch, the site of the Buck Bridge Aid Station (Aid 5). Turn left, cross the bridge, and the trail picks up immediately on the right after. You will run for a little bit along the highway, but not very long. About 4 miles after the boat launch, you will cross the Paradise day use and campground road, and you’ll have less than 2 miles to go. Towards the end you will follow a curve to the right and a small bump up the hill to the MRTR 50k finish line! This is across from the ranger station, so follow the short access trail out to the highway, cross safely, and find your car.
Option: Add a mile to your run by parking at the very start of the MRT one mile west of the Ranger Station.
Another Option: Make this an 18 miler by doing an out and back from either the beginning or end!
You may work up an appetite on one of these runs! If you do, there are a few excellent restaurants in the communities just downriver from the trail. Consider stopping at the McKenzie Station Pub or the McKenzie General Store in McKenzie Bridge or at the Indigo Cafe, just off the highway in Blue River.