McKenzie Pass: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 44°15′35″N 121°48′35″W / 44.25972°N 121.80972°W / 44.25972; -121.80972
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{{Infobox Mountain Pass
{{Short description|Mountain pass in Oregon}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
|Name = McKenzie Pass
| name = McKenzie Pass
|Photo = McKenziePassOR242.png
| photo = McKenziePassOR242.png
|Caption =
| photo_caption =
|Elevation = 5335 ft./1623 m.
| elevation_ft = 5325
|Location= [[Oregon]], {{USA}}
| elevation_ref = <ref name=odot>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Regions/Pages/McKenzie-Highway.aspx|title=McKenzie Highway|publisher=Oregon Department of Transportation|accessdate=January 8, 2018}}</ref>
|Range = [[Cascades]]
| traversed = {{jct|state=OR|OR|242}}
|Coordinates = {{coord| 44.260090|-121.809154 |display=inline,title|type:pass}}
| location = [[Deschutes County, Oregon|Deschutes]] and [[Linn County, Oregon|Linn]] counties, [[Oregon]], [[United States]]<ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1145999|name=McKenzie Pass|entrydate=November 28, 1980|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
|Topographic map =
|Traversed by = [[Oregon Route 242]]
| range = [[Cascade Range|Cascades]]
| topo =
| map = USA Oregon
| map_caption = Location in Oregon
| coords = {{coord|44|15|35|N|121|48|35|W|type:pass_region:US-OR_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name=gnis/>
}}
}}


'''McKenzie Pass''' (elev. 5335 ft/1623 m) is a [[mountain pass]] in the [[Cascade Range]] in central [[Oregon]], [[United States]].
'''McKenzie Pass''', elevation {{convert|5325|ft|m}},<ref name=odot/> is a [[mountain pass]] in the [[Cascade Range]] in central [[Oregon]] in the [[United States]].<ref name=gnis/>


It is located at the common border of [[Linn County, Oregon|Linn]], [[Lane County, Oregon|Lane]], and [[Deschutes County, Oregon|Deschutes]] counties, approximately 20 mi (32 km) northwest of [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]], between the [[Three Sisters (Oregon)|Three Sisters]] to the south and [[Mt. Washington (Oregon)|Mt. Washington]] to the north. [[Oregon Route 242]] passes over the pass.
It is located at the border of [[Linn County, Oregon|Linn]] and [[Deschutes County, Oregon|Deschutes]] counties,<ref name=gnis/> approximately {{convert|25|mi|km}} northwest of [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]],<ref name=arcgis>{{cite map|url=https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/advanced-viewer/viewer/index.html?marker=-121.8097723,44.2598397&level=13|title=ArcGIS Web Application|work=The National Map|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|accessdate=January 8, 2018}}</ref> between the [[Three Sisters (Oregon)|Three Sisters]] to the south and [[Mount Washington (Oregon)|Mount Washington]] to the north. [[Oregon Route 242]] goes over the pass.<ref name=odot/>


<!--it needs to be made clearer what this has to do with McKenzie Pass, otherwise it should be added to the Oregon Route 242 article instead-->
<!--it needs to be made clearer what this has to do with McKenzie Pass, otherwise it should be added to the Oregon Route 242 article instead-->
Oregon Route 242 crosses a 65-square-mile lava flow just west of [[Sisters, Oregon|Sisters]]. Surrounded by lava, the [[Dee Wright Observatory]] was constructed in [[1935]] by [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] workers and named after their foreman. Visitors climb to the observatory to view the [[Cascade Range|Cascade]] peaks visible from McKenzie Pass. Highway 242 is not recommended for large trucks, trailers or motor homes due to numerous tight switchbacks. The pass is closed from November to July due to snow.
At the summit of the pass, Oregon Route 242 crosses a {{Convert|65|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} lava flow just west of [[Sisters, Oregon|Sisters]]. Surrounded by lava, the [[Dee Wright Observatory]] was constructed in 1935 by [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] workers and named after their foreman. Visitors climb to the observatory to view the Cascade peaks visible from McKenzie Pass. Also near the summit is [[Clear Lake (Linn County, Oregon)|Clear Lake]], a renowned location for fresh-water diving.


Highway 242 is not recommended for large trucks, trailers or motor homes due to numerous tight switchbacks. The pass is closed from November to July due to snow.

The pass is named for [[Donald McKenzie (explorer)|Donald McKenzie]], a [[Scottish Canadian]] fur trader who explored parts of the [[Pacific Northwest]] for the [[Pacific Fur Company]] in the early 19th&nbsp;century.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19420104&id=v81YAAAAIBAJ&pg=6678,4684615&hl=en | title=Indians, Surveyors, Incidents Gave Names to Streams, Lakes and Mountains | work=[[The Register-Guard|Eugene Register-Guard]] | date=January 4, 1942 | accessdate=April 26, 2015 | page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite OGN|7th|p=628}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mackenzie|first=Cecil Walter|title=Donald Mackenzie, "King of the Northwest"|year=1937|publisher=I. Deach, Jr|location=Los Angeles, California|page=91|oclc=3023859}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = McKenzie Pass, Oregon(1981–2010)
|single line = Y

|Jan high F = 32.9
|Feb high F = 35.8
|Mar high F = 39.0
|Apr high F = 43.1
|May high F = 51.9
|Jun high F = 62.0
|Jul high F = 72.1
|Aug high F = 71.2
|Sep high F = 61.0
|Oct high F = 51.0
|Nov high F = 37.5
|Dec high F = 32.6
|year high F =51.0
|Jan low F = 18.9
|Feb low F = 22.0
|Mar low F = 23.0
|Apr low F = 24.9
|May low F = 29.9
|Jun low F = 36.1
|Jul low F = 42.1
|Aug low F = 42.3
|Sep low F = 37.1
|Oct low F = 29.9
|Nov low F = 25.3
|Dec low F = 20.8
|year low F = 29.4
|Jan snow inch = 69.7
|Feb snow inch = 75.9
|Mar snow inch = 75.4
|Apr snow inch = 47.5
|May snow inch = 13.5
|Jun snow inch = 1.4
|Jul snow inch = 0.1
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 1.4
|Oct snow inch = 16.5
|Nov snow inch = 59.4
|Dec snow inch = 83.7
|year snow inch = 444.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 12.2
|Feb precipitation inch = 10.8
|Mar precipitation inch = 9.0
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.8
|May precipitation inch = 3.6
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.6
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.1
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.8
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.8
|Oct precipitation inch = 5.8
|Nov precipitation inch = 11.7
|Dec precipitation inch = 15.2
|year precipitation inch=84.4
|date=April 2023}}
==Astronaut training==
Parts of central Oregon were used as a training grounds for [[Apollo program|Apollo]] astronauts between 1964 and 1966. The astronauts would practice walking on terrain that was similar to the surface of the Moon. On August 25, 1964, [[Walter Cunningham]] struggled in a lava flow at McKenzie Pass, where he eventually fell and tore his space suit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Before the moon, NASA came here—Locations from Lava Butte to McKenzie Pass served as training ground for astronauts starting in the mid-1960s |publisher=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]] |date=August 25, 1964}}</ref> Cunningham flew on [[Apollo 7]] in 1968.

==See also==
*[[McKenzie Bridge, Oregon]]
*[[McKenzie River (Oregon)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*Gerald W. Williams, [https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mckenzie_pass/ McKenzie Pass] at ''The Oregon Encyclopedia''

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mckenzie Pass}}
[[Category:Cascade Range]]
[[Category:Cascade Range]]
[[Category:Deschutes County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Linn County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Oregon]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Oregon]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Cascades]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Cascades]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lane County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Transportation in Deschutes County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Transportation in Linn County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Landforms of Deschutes County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Landforms of Linn County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Deschutes National Forest]]
[[Category:Willamette National Forest]]




{{Oregon-geo-stub}}
{{DeschutesCountyOR-geo-stub}}
{{LinnCountyOR-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:53, 3 April 2024

McKenzie Pass
Elevation5,325 ft (1,623 m)[1]
Traversed by OR 242
LocationDeschutes and Linn counties, Oregon, United States[2]
RangeCascades
Coordinates44°15′35″N 121°48′35″W / 44.25972°N 121.80972°W / 44.25972; -121.80972[2]
McKenzie Pass is located in Oregon
McKenzie Pass
Location in Oregon

McKenzie Pass, elevation 5,325 feet (1,623 m),[1] is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States.[2]

It is located at the border of Linn and Deschutes counties,[2] approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Bend,[3] between the Three Sisters to the south and Mount Washington to the north. Oregon Route 242 goes over the pass.[1]

At the summit of the pass, Oregon Route 242 crosses a 65-square-mile (170 km2) lava flow just west of Sisters. Surrounded by lava, the Dee Wright Observatory was constructed in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps workers and named after their foreman. Visitors climb to the observatory to view the Cascade peaks visible from McKenzie Pass. Also near the summit is Clear Lake, a renowned location for fresh-water diving.

Highway 242 is not recommended for large trucks, trailers or motor homes due to numerous tight switchbacks. The pass is closed from November to July due to snow.

The pass is named for Donald McKenzie, a Scottish Canadian fur trader who explored parts of the Pacific Northwest for the Pacific Fur Company in the early 19th century.[4][5][6]

Climate[edit]

Climate data for McKenzie Pass, Oregon(1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 32.9
(0.5) 		35.8
(2.1) 		39.0
(3.9) 		43.1
(6.2) 		51.9
(11.1) 		62.0
(16.7) 		72.1
(22.3) 		71.2
(21.8) 		61.0
(16.1) 		51.0
(10.6) 		37.5
(3.1) 		32.6
(0.3) 		51.0
(10.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 18.9
(−7.3) 		22.0
(−5.6) 		23.0
(−5.0) 		24.9
(−3.9) 		29.9
(−1.2) 		36.1
(2.3) 		42.1
(5.6) 		42.3
(5.7) 		37.1
(2.8) 		29.9
(−1.2) 		25.3
(−3.7) 		20.8
(−6.2) 		29.4
(−1.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 12.2
(310) 		10.8
(270) 		9.0
(230) 		5.8
(150) 		3.6
(91) 		3.6
(91) 		1.1
(28) 		1.8
(46) 		3.8
(97) 		5.8
(150) 		11.7
(300) 		15.2
(390) 		84.4
(2,140)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 69.7
(177) 		75.9
(193) 		75.4
(192) 		47.5
(121) 		13.5
(34) 		1.4
(3.6) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.4
(3.6) 		16.5
(42) 		59.4
(151) 		83.7
(213) 		444.4
(1,129)
[citation needed]

Astronaut training[edit]

Parts of central Oregon were used as a training grounds for Apollo astronauts between 1964 and 1966. The astronauts would practice walking on terrain that was similar to the surface of the Moon. On August 25, 1964, Walter Cunningham struggled in a lava flow at McKenzie Pass, where he eventually fell and tore his space suit.[7] Cunningham flew on Apollo 7 in 1968.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "McKenzie Highway". Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "McKenzie Pass". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  3. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application" (Map). The National Map. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "Indians, Surveyors, Incidents Gave Names to Streams, Lakes and Mountains". Eugene Register-Guard. January 4, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  5. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 978-0875952772.
  6. ^ Mackenzie, Cecil Walter (1937). Donald Mackenzie, "King of the Northwest". Los Angeles, California: I. Deach, Jr. p. 91. OCLC 3023859.
  7. ^ "Before the moon, NASA came here—Locations from Lava Butte to McKenzie Pass served as training ground for astronauts starting in the mid-1960s". The Bulletin. August 25, 1964.

External links[edit]


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