McKenzie River: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The McKenzie River is a tributary of the Willamette River, approximately 86 mi (138 km) long, in northwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains part of the Cascade Range east of Eugene into the southernmost end of the Willamette Valley.

It rises in two short forks in the high Cascades in eastern Lane County in the Willamette National Forest. The South Fork rises near the Pacific Crest Trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area and flows NNW approximately 30 mi (48 km) through Cougar Reservoir. The main branch rises in the northeast corner of Lane County, near the Three Sisters and flows west past McKenzie Bridge for approximately 25 mi (40 km) to where it receives the South Fork from the south approximately 3 mi (5 km) east of Blue River. It flows west down through a narrow valley in the mountains, past Vida and Waterville. As it emerges from the mountains it passes along the north side of Springfield and joins the Willamette from the east approximately 5 mi (8 km) north of Eugene.