Mission3

Tamolitch Blue Pool Hike

Hike 4.2 miles round trip on the McKenzie River Trail to the impossibly blue Tamolitch Pool.

Follow the McKenzie River Trail about two miles through old lava flows and mossy forest to the rim of Tamolitch Blue Pool. Before you look anything up, each guess how deep the water is, since it looks shallow enough to wade. Then find a spot on the rim, eat a snack, and take a photo straight down into the blue. Look for the dry falls above the pool on your way back.

Date or adventure
Half day
Moderate
Free
Outdoors
Spring, summer, and fall
Daytime

Good with just you, friends, and family

Check before you go: weather and trail conditions

The water is 37–42°F and about 30 feet deep. Don't jump or swim: cold shock can be deadly.

Tamolitch Blue Pool trailhead, McKenzie River, Willamette National Forest

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Checked November 2026

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About this place

About 1,600 years ago, lava from Belknap Crater filled this valley. Today the McKenzie River runs underneath the lava and comes back up in Tamolitch Blue Pool, which is why the water is so clear and so blue. It looks shallow, but it's about 30 feet deep, and the falls above it only run in heavy snowmelt.

The hike is 4.2 miles round trip with a little climbing. Parking is free but fills up fast, so go early or late in the day, and never park along Highway 126.

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Amble Oregon · Mission 18

Tamolitch Blue Pool Hike

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