Oregon Map

South Willamette Valley

Lane County

Blue River

Lane County, 97413

The hamlet of Blue River is easy to miss on the busy Highway 126 running along the McKenzie River. Belknap hot springs and McKenzie Bridge are nearby. The area had a brief gold rush starting in 1863 and by 1886 had its own post office. A local resident platted the town in 1900. The general area includes part of the Willamette national forest and is a fabulous recreational destination. Only a few miles up the Blue river a dam forms the Blue River Reservoir and of course the Mckenzie river itself is famous for fishing and rafting opportunities. When we were last there we spent two days at the Belknap hot springs with heavy snow on the ground.