Central Oregon is home to endless beauty, but this scenery is made even more beautiful when the landscape is blanketed in fall hues. There are countless ways to surround yourself with fall foliage when staying at Black Butte Ranch, including taking in the changing leaves right from our grounds! For a fun leaf-peeping adventure that’ll have you exploring more of Central Oregon, go for a drive along the McKenzie Pass Byway.
A Guide to Exploring the Byway
The McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass Scenic Byway is an 82-mile corridor with unparalleled beauty, like snowcapped peaks, rushing rivers, and lava fields. The route takes you around two of the Cascade Mountain peaks. On the west side of the Cascades, you’ll see red cedar and Douglas fir forests, while the drier east side is filled with lodgepole pines.
Sisters is the easternmost point of the route and makes a great starting point. After spending a day at the Sisters Harvest Faire in October, set off to explore the picturesque byway. While it only takes a couple of hours to drive, we recommend setting aside at least five or six hours so you can explore stops along the way.
- Make a stop to climb up to Dee Wright Observatory, a lava dock structure constructed in 1935 that offers views of six Cascade peaks on a clear day.
- As you drive through the hairpin turns in the Willamette National Forest, keep your eyes peeled for the Proxy Falls Trailhead. These falls are some of the most photographers falls in the area.
- After turning onto Highway 126, pull over at the Wild and Scenic River Viewpoint to walk to a viewpoint at the river’s edge.
- When you get back onto the road, drive a few more miles, and the highway turns into Koosah Falls. Here, you can find a loop trail connecting you to Sahalie Falls and Carmen Reservoir.
- As you make your way back to Sisters, take a side road to Camp Sherman to see the Metolius River.
Enjoy Fall Colors at Black Butte Ranch
While the McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass Scenic Byway is known for breathtaking fall foliage, you can take in the colors of the season without leaving Black Butte Ranch. Explore some of the places off the Ranch’s beaten path, like Homestead Lake or the Aspen grove.
During your stay at the Ranch, you have a couple of options of how to finish your day. Relax by the Lodge firepit talking about your favorite part of the day, or enjoy a movie night in the comfort of your Sisters cabin rental. No matter which you choose, be sure to rest up for another day of fun. To learn more about our Central Oregon resort, vacation rentals, and special offers, call 866-901-2961.