McKenzie River Trail

Spent most of yesterday in the mountains just east of Eugene, on a trail run along the McKenzie River Trail and around Clear Lake. I’ve been going to Clear Lake for years now and find it a beautiful place, nestled among the lava flows, a few giant sequoias and many vine maple trees. Yesterday was simply beautiful. Photos below. The trail itself is a trail along a “National Wild and Scenic River,” the McKenzie River and the trail parallels the river for most of it. It starts just north of Clear Lake and my goal was to run from the parking lot, around Clear Lake, and back. This is the bridge at the start of the run that goes across a dry creek bed. The light and colors were fantastic yesterday. I started my run at 8:30 am and this view looks west across the tip of Clear Lake. Clear Lake itself is a volcanic lake, that is fed by an underground spring in which the temperatures stay about 36 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. It is very clear (hence the name), has a lodge and cabins that one…