How difficult is McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)?

McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242) is rated easy. The route runs 82 miles.

When is the best time to visit McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)?

The best months are Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Avoid Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun.

Guides/Overland routes/Oregon

Overland route82 midifficulty: easy

McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)

RegionOregonAgencyU.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of TransportationLast verified—

U.S. Forest Service - Pacific Northwest Region

Trail vitals6 facts

Length

82mi

Technical difficulty

Easy

Direction

Loop

Vehicle

Standard passenger vehicle. OR-242 has a 35-foot length restriction; trailers and large RVs use OR-126 / US-20 instead.

Best months

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Cell coverage

Reliable in Sisters, Bend, McKenzie Bridge, and Eugene; gone over the OR-242 summit and through the lava field.

Take action

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The McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway is an 82-mile loop across the central Oregon Cascades on the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests. The route combines OR-126 west of Sisters with OR-242 over McKenzie Pass and US-20 over Santiam Pass, designated a National Scenic Byway in 1998. The high point is McKenzie Pass at 5,324 feet, where the road crosses a 2,000-year-old lava flow at the Dee Wright Observatory.

OR-242 is closed by snow most of the year and typically reopens in late June or early July. Trailers and vehicles over 35 feet are prohibited; the byway funnels them onto US-20 over Santiam Pass instead. Most drivers run the loop counterclockwise from Sisters or as an out-and-back to the observatory.

Hazards

Read before you go

Seasonal closure. OR-242 closes by snow most of the year. Confirm status before driving October through June.
Vehicle length restriction. Trailers and vehicles over 35 feet prohibited on OR-242. Use US-20 instead.
Tight switchbacks. The west descent from McKenzie Pass has multiple switchbacks with limited shoulder. Slow down behind cyclists.
High-altitude weather. McKenzie Pass tops 5,324 feet and can hold snow into July. Carry a layer.
Heavy summer cyclist traffic. OR-242 is a popular bicycle climb during the open season. Pass with care.

Location

82 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 44.261, -121.809

Trail facts

5 fields

Agency	U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Transportation
Nearest town	Sisters, Oregon
Website	www.fs.usda.gov/r06/willamette/recreation/dee-wright-observatory
Closed	Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Approx. location	44.261, -121.809

Getting there

Directions

From Sisters (counterclockwise loop). Take OR-242 west from Sisters through Cold Springs Campground and the Three Sisters Wilderness boundary to McKenzie Pass and the Dee Wright Observatory. Continue down the west switchbacks to OR-126 at McKenzie Bridge, north along the McKenzie River to US-20, and east over Santiam Pass back to Sisters.

From Eugene (out-and-back to the observatory). Take OR-126 east from I-5 about 50 miles to McKenzie Bridge. Turn east on OR-242 and climb to the summit. The observatory parking lot is well-signed.

Photos

2 photos

Photos · 2

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The byway forms a loop in the central Cascades between Sisters and McKenzie Bridge. From Sisters, OR-242 climbs west to McKenzie Pass and the Dee Wright Observatory, drops down switchbacks to McKenzie Bridge, joins OR-126 north along the McKenzie River past Sahalie and Koosah Falls and Clear Lake, and returns east on US-20 over Santiam Pass back to Sisters. The Willamette National Forest covers the western portions; the Deschutes National Forest's Sisters Ranger District handles the east end.

Trail Overview

Eighty-two miles of paved two-lane highway, loop. OR-242 is narrow, winding, and slow; figure 90 minutes from Sisters to McKenzie Bridge. The 65-square-mile lava flow at the summit is the route's signature feature. The Dee Wright Observatory, a stone-turret building completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, sits in the middle of the flow with bronze peak finders pointing to Cascade summits.

OR-242 closes for the winter season, typically November through late June or early July depending on snowpack. The loop runs only during the OR-242 open season; outside that window, US-20 over Santiam Pass is the only crossing.

Points of Interest

Dee Wright Observatory. Stone observation building at the McKenzie Pass summit, built by the CCC in 1935 in the middle of a 2,000-year-old lava flow. Bronze peak finders identify North Sister, Middle Sister, Belknap Crater, Mount Washington, and Mount Jefferson.
Lava River Interpretive Trail. Half-mile paved loop from the observatory through the lava beds with interpretive panels.
Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls. Twin waterfalls on the McKenzie River off OR-126 between McKenzie Bridge and Clear Lake. Short paved trails connect them.
Clear Lake. Spring-fed lake on OR-126 with a Forest Service resort, campground, and a submerged 3,000-year-old lava-flooded forest visible from the surface.
McKenzie River. Wild and Scenic Rivers segment along OR-126 with five Forest Service campgrounds.
Sisters. High-desert town on the east end with restaurants, breweries, and the Sisters Folk Festival.
Belknap Crater and Mount Washington. Both visible from the observatory; the lava flow at the pass came from Belknap.

Where to Camp

Forest Service campgrounds on the byway include Olallie, Paradise, McKenzie Bridge, Coldwater Cove (Clear Lake), Trail Bridge, and Lava Lake. Most run reservations through Recreation.gov in summer. Dispersed camping is allowed on Forest Service land off most spur roads. The Sisters and McKenzie Bridge ranger stations hold current site information.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

Confirm OR-242 is open before driving. The segment closes by snow most of the year and reopens between mid-June and early July depending on conditions.
OR-242 has a 35-foot vehicle length restriction. Trailers and large RVs must use US-20 over Santiam Pass.
The Dee Wright Observatory parking lot fills on summer weekends. Arrive early or weekday for parking.
Dress for cool weather at the pass even in summer; the observatory sits at 5,324 feet and stays 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Sisters.
The McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass loop pairs naturally with a side trip to the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway out of Bend.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)?: McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242) is rated easy. The route runs 82 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)?: Standard passenger vehicle. OR-242 has a 35-foot length restriction; trailers and large RVs use OR-126 / US-20 instead.
When is the best time to visit McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)?: The best months are Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Avoid Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun.
Is there cell service at McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (OR-242)?: Reliable in Sisters, Bend, McKenzie Bridge, and Eugene; gone over the OR-242 summit and through the lava field.