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Tamolitch Falls - The Blue Pool

4.8 (28 reviews)
Closed • 6:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Caught a rainbow
Sandy B.

Insanely fabulous view! This was well worth the 2 1/2 mile hike. Bathrooms (portable) at entrance. Rocky terrain path - hiking shoes recommended and possible trekking poles. Shaded areas to keep you cool. Beautiful scenic views along the path.

Kim R.

Fabulous and fun trail! The falls part of Tamolitch only occurs occasionally, but the stunning blue pool is there for your enjoyment year round. We knew enough to arrive in the morning (8:30 on a Sunday) to avoid the crowds. Even in March the parking area was full by the time we returned at about 11:30. We had the trail and the pool to ourselves, but encountered hikers regularly most of the way back. Lots of dogs as well, leashed and not. The trail itself is very fun, but definitely not for everyone. It's pretty short at about 4 miles total out and back. The path is varied right now as far as conditions: dry, muddy, standing water, snow. The footing is varied as well, with loads of roots and rocks...you have to watch the ground and traverse carefully most of the way. Soaking up that gorgeous, crystal clear aqua pool at the end should make the trek worth it for most anyone. It's definitely something you need to see for yourself, no picture can do it justice. During our visit we had a great mirror, but we could also easily see the bottom. If you're a nature and forest lover a visit to the Blue Pool is a must. Stunning forest, trekking through the lava rock, a spectacular pool seeming to appear from nowhere and feeding a beautiful river...equal goooood times!

Quinn A.

100% worth it. I've got some tech notes further in this review, but for the executive summary let me just say, you will regret it if you have the opportunity to visit this pool and don't take advantage of it. Life is short and hard, take a day to immerse yourself in this beautiful place. I drove south from Portland on I-5, then east on OR-20 from Salem. The roads are maintained and well marked. Once you're on OR-126 you'll go about 9 more miles and see a green Tamolitch Blue Pool sign on the right. Keep going. That's not the entrance you want. Another couple minutes down the hill you make a right at Reservoir Bridge. Head in, bear right, gravel, trailhead, basta! Don't forget to hang your forest service pass from the mirror before you set out. There are bathrooms, and signs with trail info. The bike trail heads straight up (looks hard as get out), and the pool trail is to the right. All Trails has it as moderate but I found it pretty easy. Very little gain and only a couple of scrambles. A lovely walk along a clear path, river on one side, crazy fern covered deep forest on the other. As with most places there is a leash requirement for dogs, and nobody has their dog on a leash. Rules: leash you dog. Oregonians: chillax bruh, he's good. It's only 2.25 miles to the pool, take your time, but also take some water, a snack, an additional layer, and maybe a hat. I saw folks out there in tennis shoes. That's just not respecting what a whack nature can give you if you don't prepare properly. The pool is even better in person. It's a shade of blue you usually only find in super filtered IG photos. Breathtaking. It's crystal clear; you can count the rocks in the deepest parts. I sat there quietly and watched birds come and go, listened to the river, felt the wind. I stayed still long after the cold from the rock started to seep into my bones, unwilling to walk away from such transcendent beauty. When I finally pulled myself away and started back, I honestly felt fresher, lighter, unburdened. What a gift nature is. I hope you enjoy this hike!

Will X.

Beautiful trail slightly tucked away from the main road that is about 4 miles in and out and leads to a beautiful blue reflective pool at the end of the trail. The trail is so peaceful and things look beautiful from beginning to end. Certainly try to come during hour to see the beauty of the sun rays through the trees. Free parking near the trailhead and there's a separate path for bikers

Andrea W.

Really pretty trail! I came here right after it rained, so the trail was muddy, wet, and a bit humid - but still beautiful. I really enjoyed myself, saw a lot of people though which wasn't great. Parking was also way down the street although because I came a bit later, I managed to snag a spot pretty close to the trailhead. Trail is covered by trees and it goes along the river for a bit. Super pretty blue pool at the end!

Shawn A.

Fantastic spot! A must see spot if you're in central Oregon. It's a 2.5 miles hike up, relatively easy, and you are rewarded by this beautiful spot. Don't miss it!!

Liz G.

This place is absolutely breathtaking ! Not going to lie, I'm not sure if it was because I was on a time crunch or because i stopped EVERY two minutes to take a picture because it was so pretty !!!, but the hike did seem a little longer than I thought it would be on the way to the blue pool. But it was so so so worth it. Just a heads up, there is a lot of jumping and skipping around some main paths due to muddy trails. Definitely possible by anyone but it might be a barrier to those with knee problems. Did I already say how mesmerizing this gem was ? I will definitely be back when in Oregon :)

Anita F.

I'm honestly surprised that this little trail isn't more popular! My boyfriend and I stumbled across this hidden gem on Instagram and decided to stop by on our way to Portland. Let me just say that the photos do not do this beautiful place justice! If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by. Not knowing the area we had a bit of trouble finding the exact location so here's a few tips based off my own personal experience. Once you drive in to the parking area, you'll see signs to parallel park on your right hand side. DO NOT park on your left. The parking doesn't look like a parking area, to us it just looked like a road. But just look for the small signs and you should easily find where to park. DO NOT drive up the little hill past the restrooms, if you pass the restrooms you drove too far. This leads me to my next tip. Yes, there are restrooms, no they aren't clean. Use at your own risk! Once you park, walk up toward the hill and the trail is on your right hand side just a bit past the map. We were the first ones to arrive on a Saturday morning. On our way back it was about 8am and there were plenty of people starting off their hike, so plan accordingly. Some locals told us that this place gets packed! The hike to the Blue Pool is about 2.08 miles one way according to my Apple Watch. I would call it a relatively easy hike but recommend hiking boots due to the lava rock. We had hiking shoes and our feet were still sore afterwards. COVID 19 PANDEMIC ADVICE: Hardly anyone we saw was wearing a mask. I recommend you arrive early to avoid large crowd interactions.

John B.

I took a trip to Oregon recently and oh my lord, I am having some serious withdrawals! Walking in to work Monday morning was rough lol. Anyway, I wanted to spend quality time in the great outdoors AND OREGON DELIVERED! Here are a few things to know about the trail. -Part of the McKenzie River National Recreational Trail, Tamolitch is best known for breathtaking views of a clear and gorgeously blue pool. So peaceful and serene. -When driving, in, do not park on the left side of the road closer to the trail. Several cars received tickets when during my trip. If you have trouble finding parking close by, drive back to the overflow lot. -Sometimes, there is a man and a woman selling drinks/snacks in the parking lot. They are really nice and chill. No fixed prices so pay what you want. -I HIGHLY recommend having a picnic once you get to the blue pool. -There are no rubbish bins at the falls so please take your trash back with you. Don't be THAT person... -During my hike, I was passed a few times by people who were in a rush to see the falls/pool. I implore you to take your time on the trail and appreciate the views of the forrest. -Unfortunately, this is apparently a rather popular destination so do try to arrive early to avoid the crowd. -Tamolitch is also not the best choice if you are in search of a challenge. I started at the reservoir and the hike was only about 2 miles to the falls. -Still, wear closed-toe shoes with grip and mind your footing. There are a few challenging spots along the trail as well as loose lava rock. A few of my friends fell and I nearly fell a number of times. -This trail is heavily shaded. I loved that as the trails in my area are mostly open and the sun just beats down during the summer. -Don't forget to pack bug spray. -This is not a swimming hole as the water is cold (37 degrees on average)! Muscles start to cramp up and it becomes difficult to move. Take a short dip if you like but don't expect to play in there as if it were your local swimming pool. -On that note, do not go cliff diving! One guy attempted it while we were there and we watched him struggle to swim back to shore. One bada** woman swam out to save him. -Pack a camera. Take plenty of photos. Collect memories instead of things. Enjoy! :]

Not a filtered photo. So crazy blue it blue my mind.
Whitney B.

This place was magic. We did the short hike from the trailhead, probably 4 miles round trip to the pool. We didn't see a water fall, but it is mid August. Honestly the pool was magical enough without the waterfall.

Kristen S.

I still cannot get over how beautifully blue this pool is! We accessed it by parking at the Koosah Falls trailhead, then hiking the Waterfalls Trail down to the bridge at Carmen Reservoir, then picking up the McKenzie River Trail from there (there is a sign to the right of the restroom at the end of that road marking the spot where the trail begins). It was definitely a longer hike, but I am so glad we did it. I am sure it can probably be accessed more closely from the road, but we wanted to see the waterfalls also, so we figured we'd just hike the trail all the way down. Such a beautiful area, and there's nothing quite like being in the presence of trees all day :) Little tip: There's a bunch of chipmunks that hang out above the Blue Pool, and they REALLY like nuts! So fun to watch them scurrying around with their cheeks shoved full of snacks from their new friends :)

The blue pool!! so blue and clear!
Vivian W.

Tamolitch Falls, aka "The Blue Pool", is a hidden gem located within the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, approximately 3 hours south of Portland. To get to the Blue Pool, we started at the Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls trail. Just google the Sahalie Falls and Google Map should take you to the trailhead. The trail to the Blue Pool is roughly 8 miles roundtrip. Sahalie Falls can be seen right by the parking lot. As you follow the steps/trail further down the river, you'll find Koosah Falls in about 0.4 miles. Both of the waterfalls are not tall but are extremely powerful. It was super neat to see the gallons of water flowing right down the waterfall and into the McKenzie River. It was like water coming out of a fire hydrant. As you continue along the blue-colored McKenzie River, you'll stumble upon the Carmen Reservoir. Just FYI, there is a restroom here. From the Carmen Reservoir, turn right and continue on the McKenzie River Trail (you'll see a small sign). You won't see the river here as it has gone underground. It is about a 3 mile through the Douglas fir forest until you get to the Blue Pool. Once you've made it, you'll realize it was all worth it. Tamolitch Falls used to be a waterfall until the McKenzie River changed its course and went underground, leaving just a pool of standing water, hence the name "Blue Pool". The water is so neon blue and clear that it looks more shallow than it really is. On a hot summer day, people like to jump into the pool. You can find a trail to get down at the top of the "waterfall". Just be careful as I heard the water can be quite cold. My friend and I started the trail around 3pm and didn't get back until 8pm. I swear I thought we were going to have to hike in the dark since the sun was setting but we eventually made it out. Thank goodness! It was also drizzling when we hiked this trail but despite the rain, I still enjoyed myself. The scenery was beautiful and there's always something to look at along the trail.

Had to do a silly selfie, obviously
Jess C.

Oh man, I just realized you can Yelp anything, including the outdoors, sweet! Blue Pool is really something special. Surrounded by-god only knows how old-trees, towering high above, shining their wisdom down upon you.... I hiked it alone on a rainy Sunday and had a lovely solitary experience the majority of the time and only saw a few couples and some single runners along the way. From far away, blue pool is really nothing to get excited over, but just wait...up close it is majestic!

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To many people. Hard to park anywhere. People jump in the water and go into shock and pass away yearly here. Cool view though

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Review Highlights - Tamolitch Falls - The Blue Pool

“Get there early, if you go in a weekend or you might have to walk 1/2 mike just to get to the trailhead.”

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Tamolitch Blue Pools - You've passed the blue pools if you see this bridge!

Tamolitch Blue Pools

4.7(13 reviews)
16.4 km

This is my second time completing this trail. It is very popular so make sure to get here early if…read moreyou don't want to park far from the trailhead. There are dig out restrooms available at the trailhead as well as a trash bin. The trail is easy though there are some boulders you need to scramble over in the lava fields. You will walk along a beautiful river and cross a couple foot bridges and streams along the way. Once at the blue pool you will truly see that the photos you've seen online are not edited! The water is unbelievable. You can walk down to the water but it is not recommended to jump in unless you are experienced. The water is 30 degrees year around and several injuries have occurred here- so be wise and have fun.

It rained the whole drive over it seemed! But the trees kept the hike dry. Free parking and porta…read morepotties at the front entrance. The trail is a fairly easy one but you have to watch where you step. The first .75 miles was quite flat but the next .75 miles was fairly rocky. My husband and I both rolled our ankles at different points. Once you get to the actual spot to see the blue pools, there is one sign that says no biking. At that point, veer off towards the water area to see the pool! We missed it and were in the zone of walking and we ended up going too far! Don't go to the bridge that only has one side to hold on to. That means you've gone too far

Photos
Tamolitch Blue Pools
Tamolitch Blue Pools - Standing at a ledge overlooking the Blue Pool.

Standing at a ledge overlooking the Blue Pool.

Tamolitch Blue Pools - Mossy rocks

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Mossy rocks

East Lake - East Lake

East Lake

4.5(2 reviews)
78.1 km

East Lake is next to Paulina Lake just south of Bend. I brought my nephews to swim while I was…read morefishing from the shore. They had a great time playing out in the water. I had a few on and only reeled in one, but I was happy with my nice Kokanee. I tried different ways to interest the fish, but worms are what they really seemed to like. What I really didn't like about where we were had to do with people that had previously been there. We picked up quite a bit of broken glass. I wish people would respect the outdoors and everyone's right to enjoy it.

This lake is located in the Newberry National Monument. It is one of the two lakes that are located…read morein the crater below Paulina Peak. Both of these lakes have hot springs in them, but in my opinion, the hot springs at Paulina Lake are much better than the ones here at East Lake. But as with those springs be better in quality, you might find the East Lake springs to be less crowded. East Lake is a bit further away than Paulina, but very much worth the trek. Both of these lakes can be fished from shore or a boat. Sailboats are often found at these locations and make for some really stunning photos. You can hike the shore from around this lake and will have many photo opportunities if you are a fan of wildlife. All while hiking through this lake you can see the peaks from the Paulina Crater that constantly remind you, that you are traveling inside of an active volcano. If you have an interest in geology you need to come here and just soak it all in. Nearby there are cinder cones, shield volcanos, calderas, and obsidian lava flows all within a few square miles. If it's hot out and you need a break from the heat, this lake is a great option. Just remember to bring some cash for the fees and to respect the environment to avoid any tickets. Here is a link to the land management agency that manages this area. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159 Here is a link to some other information about this lake https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recreation/recarea/?recid=71988&actid=42

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East Lake
East Lake
East Lake

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Tamolitch Falls - The Blue Pool - hiking - Updated October 2026

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