McKenzie River Scenic Byway
McKenzie River Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Oregon. Within Oregon it covers roughly 35 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along McKenzie River Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
McKenzie River Scenic Byway is a 34-mile state byway on Oregon Highway 126, following the lower stretch of the 80-mile McKenzie River east of Eugene. The route runs through the Willamette National Forest, tracing the river's turquoise water past waterfalls, covered bridges, and old-growth stands as it climbs gradually toward the Cascades. At its eastern end the byway connects into the West Cascades Scenic Byway, letting drivers extend the trip further into the mountains. It's officially a state-designated byway rather than a National Scenic Byway — that federal designation instead belongs to the separate, higher-elevation McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway, which continues past this route's end toward the high lava fields near the Cascade crest. On its own, the McKenzie River byway is a shorter, lower-elevation drive well suited to summer stops at swimming holes and fishing access points along one of Oregon's most popular whitewater rivers.
- Oregon Highway 126
- 34 miles
- McKenzie River
- Willamette National Forest
- connects to West Cascades Scenic Byway
- distinct from McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass NSB
Plan a drive on McKenzie River Scenic Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along McKenzie River Scenic Byway
5 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of McKenzie River Scenic Byway.
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