Tamolitch Falls
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
The Tamolitch Falls, now a seasonal waterfall, once had a constant flow on the McKenzie River in Lane County, Oregon. The site is located in the Willamette National Forest.
Geography
[edit]In the 1960s, water was diverted for hydroelectric use from the stream above the falls. That section of the stream and the falls, ceased to flow except during periods of heavy runoff or when water was diverted from the dams upstream. When this is not the case, the stream goes underground and now emerges below the falls. At the base of the former falls is the Tamolitch Blue Pool, a small body of water known for its blue color. Elevation: 2,487 feet (758 meters)[clarification needed]
The pool can be reached from part of the McKenzie River Trail. From the trailhead to the pool, it is a 3.6 miles (5.8 km) out and back hike. The trail is heavily trafficked during the spring and summer and parking fills up quickly. The trail welcomes hikers, bikers, runners, and dogs as long as they are on a leash. The beginning of the hike is through an old growth Douglas fir forest.
As the McKenzie River flows below, the trail goes up along a cliff, which descends into a dry river bed. From there it eventually goes through an old lava flow. The trail isn’t too strenuous, but it does have an elevation gain of 285 feet (87 m). The trail passes by multiple steep cliffs which are hazardous.
The area has minimal to no cellphone service. Rescue efforts can be complicated by the remote terrain.[1]
Temperature
[edit]The water temperature of the pool is around 38 °F (3 °C) which is too cold for even microorganisms to live in.[citation needed] The pool is 30 feet (9.1 m) deep, though appears to be shallower.
Such low temperature have proven deadly to attemptive swimmers.[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ Rumpf-Whitten, Sarah (June 30, 2026). "Wichita State University student drowns after jumping into frigid waters with deadly track record". New York Post. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ Rumpf-Whitten, Sarah (2026-06-30). "Kansas college student drowns after jumping into 'breathtaking' destination with deadly track record". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- "McKenzie River — Oregon". Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- "Tamolitch Falls, aka Blue Pool". Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- "Tamolitch Falls". Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- "Tamolitch Blue Pool via McKenzie River Trail". Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- "What You Don't Know About Blue Pool Could Kill You". Retrieved 10 November 2021.
External links
[edit]- https://web.archive.org/web/20110722102425/http://www.kval.com/younews/22696999.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110726211430/http://www.oregonwild.org/about/blog/waterfall-showcase-showdown
- Tamolitch Pool - McKenzie River
| Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
44°18′42″N 122°01′34″W / 44.311788°N 122.026172°W
 | This Linn County, Oregon state location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |