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Mckenzie River Trail Mountain Bike Trail
Eugene, Oregon
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
19 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 6/29/08 by ryanfrei |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 26 miles | Global Rank: #12 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Other |
| Ridden: 74 | Wishlist: 106 |
| Avg. Speed: 5.3 mph | Avg. Time: 3hr 23min |
Directions:
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Description: The first 10 miles go thru a lava field making it the toughest part. Beyond there is a picnic area with water and smoother riding and easier. The whole ride is in old growth forest and the water is crystal blue. Waterfalls, pools and log bridges (walk across) and the forest make this the most fun and most beautiful ride I have ever done. Bring a camera. Difficulty is due to length, not climbs.
added on March 21, 2005 by guest
Description: The first 10 miles go thru a lava field making it the toughest part. Beyond there is a picnic area with water and smoother riding and easier. The whole ride is in old growth forest and the water is crystal blue. Waterfalls, pools and log bridges (walk across) and the forest make this the most fun and most beautiful ride I have ever done. Bring a camera. Difficulty is due to length, not climbs.
added on March 21, 2005 by guest 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by cani13 on February 4, 2012
Had a great ride, fun And Challenging ride will ride again next year!!!
reviewed by senseney on July 11, 2011
Rode this trail with my husband and our best friends. It is a great trail with some tricky lava to get through in the first half. Beautiful places to stop for pictures. Can't wait to do it again. Parked one car at bottom then drove up to the lot above Clear lake to start the trail. Took the four of us almost all day.
reviewed by dgjessee on May 30, 2011
Gorgeous setting. Trail is definitely more suited to hikers and full-suspension bikes. Has a very wilderness feel to it.
reviewed by LuxMalleus on September 10, 2010
A fantastic ride. Plenty of technical areas, downhill, climbing and scenery. Nearly 100% singletrack.
Similar Trail: Hardesty
reviewed by dauw on May 31, 2010
Great trail with great scenery. Top part is technical fun, and the bottom can be fast and furious. Bring a camera.
reviewed by Carrie111 on January 27, 2010
Does anyone know a place to stay that is close to this trail? I want to send my boyfriend and his buddies away for a weekend (as a gift) and i need to find a lodge, or they'd even be fine with a little dinky cabin, as long as there is a bed. Not exactly sure what town is closest to the 'the best part' of this trail, i'm from Idaho. Any recommendations for a 'cheap' stay? =D please email me at misscehollingsworth@hotmail.com
reviewed by riverman on August 21, 2009
This is perhaps the BEST trail I've ever been on. It's that good. Use a Shuttle - I'm glad I did. The closest shuttle is at McKenzie River Mountain Resort - I found them at www.mckenzierivertrail.com
reviewed by stacitay on August 10, 2009
I look forward to going! I live IN Eugene, this is definatly NOT IN Eugene. My husband and I were just at the Finn Rock restaurant where they have a pic of the falls on the menu and I decided to look more into it.
reviewed by Cog_Wild on May 27, 2009
MRT riders - Contact Cog Wild for a shuttle ride of the MRT. We are the only company that offers shuttles for the entire trail. The MRT is a must ride for riders visiting Central Oregon!! The top is designed for intermediate and advanced riders with the bottom 12 miles perfect for riders of all levels. There are many ways to ride the MRT - give us a call for ideas and details. Cog Wild Bicycle Tours, Bend OR 541-385-7002 www.cogwild.com
Similar Trail: Umpqua River Trail and the 200+ miles in Bend.
reviewed by abegold on May 26, 2009
One of the most beautiful trails in America. Old growth forest with crystal blue waters. The upper 10 miles is thru a lava field and more technical. You'll descend the river valley if run as a shuttle mostly down hill. Bring your best camera, beautiful.
Similar Trail: Umpqua Trail
reviewed by Terry_Tiessen on February 23, 2009
The person that rated this a beginner trail must not have rode the top part, because I've seen some pretty good riders look silly as they flew over the bars and sc***ed against the lava rock. The upper part of the trail is also the most beautiful part. The falls and the Blue Pool are great picture and rest spots. The bottom half of the trail is pretty easy, but it can be a bit warmer and dustier at the bottom too. This is definitely one of my favorite rides.
Similar Trail: Mary's Peak, Brice Creek (Cottage Grove)
reviewed by lmarut on July 1, 2008
I rode this trail on 6/29/08. It rained pretty hard the night before I had arrived for about an hour. I rode from Clear lake down to the Belknap lodge in less than 3 hrs and took one less than 5 minute break to down some protein and a banana. I did spend at least 1/2 an hour+ taking photos at various waterfalls and river spots and at least 1/2 an hour backtracking due to very little trail signage. The trail was very fast and technical in most sections. Overall pretty smooth with lava rock and roots in various sections. It was pretty hot and humid that day. But when you went along the river and hit the valleys where the river mist engulfs the trail it felt like arctic air on you sweat (very nice). The river was extremely cold. Some long stair descents around the various waterfalls added to the fun. I was confused a couple of times after switching sides of the river on the various bridges and riding the shoreline I could swear I was traveling back upstream based on the waters direction. I rode hard and fast and really enjoyed it. (definately very Jedi like or Zen like as mentioned in a previous review) A little slippery due to the rain, but it was already starting to dry up. I will definitely be coming back again in the near future with friends. At the Clear Lake store/dock I asked the Park guy how well the trail was marked and he said very clearly and I would not have a problem finding my way to the Belknap Lodge. Not too clearly if you ask me from experience. My first mistake was to cross the first bridge you come to after leaving the Clear Lake Store I must have missed a turn around there somewhere anyway I make my way to the campground and remembered on the google map that the trail didn't go this far. So I hoofed down the road and after I came Highway 126 I noticed the trail sign again and it went to the left and must have crossed the road, no sign on the other sided but checked and there it was. Yeah so far so good back on track. Down the trail along this awesome looking river I went and before long some of the most awesome water falls! I first passed a footbridge that crossed the river there was a sign next to it clearing showing the MRT continuing on the same side I was. I followed and came upon the multiple water falls and lookouts! Extremely impressive. After that I continued along and came out to this reservoir and asked multiple people there and ever some hikers, were the trail was. I found a trail again on the other side marking hiking and was told it went back up to the falls and looped to the first bridge but no markings on any sort that said MRT. I rode around the reservoir and couldn't find it. Low and behold after you enter the trail that goes back up there is another trail to the left that T's off to the left that is the continuation of the MRT. Lots more cool single track and then Trailbridge campground. At the end of the campground there is a hiking sign pointing to the right about 100ft from the trail which is right next the road and drops down to another river bridge. This is the MRT again! Good I found it. Lots more sweet single track and bridge crossings and water going the opposite way you would think it should be going and then you pop out to an old road where the trail clearly seems to cross over and continue along. It's surely continues because everyone bikes or hikes it the first time continues on and then it fades out after everyone figures this is no the trail. So you head back and make a right (left from the north) onto the old road and you quickly come to an old road bridge an then hwy 126 again with an old sign saying trail right along the road! YES I found it again! Lots more sweet single track and then pay close attention on a road crossing and look to you right you will see a Belknap Lodge sign. I almost missed it but caught it and that's as far as I went. Overall it didn't feel too too long of a ride but it was a ton of fast fun single track I can't wait to tackle again! Some tight high cliff like single track in a few spots that might seem a bit scary but totally doable. Hope this helps other riders from getting lost. Enjoy!!!!
* Review edited 7/1/2008
Similar Trail: Brown Mountain Trail and connecting trails.
reviewed by coreyvisto on May 31, 2008
We didn't get to go up pretty far as we didn't have a shuttle and there was supposedly snow starting at blue pool. Definitely a good ride going down though
reviewed by Evocatas on March 24, 2008
Currently, this trail is unreachable due to 10 foot snow drifts. I went up last weekend and couldnt' even find the turn off since there was so much snow. aslo, it's 50 miles EAST of Eugene, it's not actually IN Eugene (for those that travel from afar to get here.
reviewed by tumbleweed14 on July 7, 2007
Definitely one of the epic rides in OR. Can be diverse depending on where you start. Very Jedi-like.
reviewed by mboire31 on March 1, 2006
This is one of the most scenic trails i've ever been on...i shuttled it starting just above clear lake...there is a fork in the road just before you come to the lake...i took a left and went the more difficult way...but if you take a right then you go through the campground and it is much easier...but left was fun...some of this section you can't ride...after you get by clear lake you follow the river down toward the waterfalls...and more lava fields...i had to walk my bike through some of the lava fields but i'm sure there are people that can clear this section...the river disappears underground for a few miles...but reappears as a giant blue pool...one of the neatest things i've ever seen on a ride...the trail seems to smooth out from this point...watch out for hikers and novice bikers...there is a hot springs right on the river about 16 miles in...it was nudist week or something and caught a few nakeds in the springs...that was interesting...lots of bridges and things to look at...very different ride than i've ever done before...the upper 8 miles is the most technical and there are many places to catch the trail along the way.
reviewed by wick331978 on May 23, 2005
This is as good as it gets in terms of scenery. The lava at the start (upper end) of the ride is technical. Take tubes and patch kit-one time we saw a guy with a torn tire-you don't want to have to bail out on this ride! Be alert to the Blue Pool (about the halfway point). You don't want to miss it!
Similar Trail: Crater Rim Trail (Newberry Crater)
reviewed by mtnbkrchik on March 21, 2005
I rode this trail in 1996 and it was unbelievable. We didn't do the shuttle, rode to and fro. Had awesome elevated singletrack beside and above the McKenzie river (which was raging). The foilage and mammoth trees were absolutely breathtaking. I would def recommend this ride to anyone traveling in the Bend, Oregon area. It was memorable.
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