How Trail Bridge Reservoir Was Formed

Before 1963, there was no reservoir here. That year, the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) completed Trail Bridge Dam, the downstream of three dams in the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project, about 70 miles east of Eugene.

The setup is pretty clever. Water from the upper McKenzie River is diverted through tunnels to Smith Reservoir, then sent through another tunnel to the Carmen Powerhouse. From there, the water flows into Trail Bridge Reservoir.

Trail Bridge acts as a re-regulating reservoir before the water continues downstream through the Trail Bridge Powerhouse and back into the McKenzie River. During winter cold snaps, the Carmen-Smith project can provide about a quarter of Eugene's energy needs.

The lake has had some drama, too. In 2021, crews found sinkholes in the reservoir near the dam. EWEB lowered the water level about 7 feet as a precaution. A sinkhole investigation completed in 2025 found that the sinkholes do not pose an immediate threat to the dam, but they still require ongoing monitoring and risk-reduction measures.

EWEB has also been using temporary trap-and-haul measures to move migrating Chinook salmon and bull trout past the dam while permanent fish-passage facilities are being developed.

Where the Water Comes From

Ever wonder why the water looks so clean? Here's why. Much of the upper McKenzie flows through a volcanic landscape, including the lava flows around Tamolitch Blue Pool.

The porous lava allows water to move underground through parts of the river system, helping explain the remarkably clear water around Blue Pool.

By the time the water reaches Trail Bridge Reservoir, the flow is also influenced by the Carmen-Smith hydroelectric system.

Snowmelt and high-elevation runoff help keep the reservoir cold.

Things to Do at Trail Bridge Reservoir

Fishing

Trail Bridge Reservoir offers trout fishing in a quiet, forested setting. Shore fishing is popular, especially in the early morning when the water is calm. The reservoir also provides habitat for bull trout, which are protected and must be released if caught.

Both wild and hatchery trout may be found here. Wild trout must be released, while current regulations allow anglers to keep up to five hatchery trout per day. Artificial flies and lures are required.

Fishing regulations and stocking information can change, so check the current ODFW regulations before you cast.

Boating & Paddling

There's a boat ramp, but parking is tight. The reservoir stays relatively quiet, making it great for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. My buddy paddled his SUP up toward the inlet last July. He swore he could count the stumps on the bottom.

One thing to know: the water level can swing by as much as 7 feet in a single day as EWEB adjusts flows through the hydroelectric system. So pull your boat up high and tie it off.

Scuba Diving

Yep, divers love this place. The old McKenzie riverbed still runs along the bottom. It's lined with stumps, old logging cables, and trout. Most of it sits 25 to 30 feet deep, and you'll usually see about 20 feet ahead of you.

Divers say it reaches nearly 50 feet deep near the dam. Stay well away from the dam and its water-control structures. Since the lake sits at around 2,000 feet, it's also considered an altitude dive.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Scuba diving requires proper training and gear for cold-water, high-altitude conditions.

Hiking & Mountain Biking

The 26-mile McKenzie River National Recreation Trail follows the McKenzie River through this area, with access near the reservoir. Hikers and mountain bikers both use it.

Want my favorite plan? Camp here, then hit the Tamolitch Blue Pool trail at 7 a.m. It's about 4.2 miles round trip. By late morning on a summer weekend, the parking lot is a zoo.

Trail Bridge Campground sits along the shore of the reservoir. You can camp under huge old-growth Douglas firs or out in an open grassy meadow with a lake view.

It has 26 walk-in tent sites and 7 pull-through RV sites. The walk-in sites are tent-only; trailers, camper vans, and campers aren't allowed there. There's also a group camping area with four sites. You'll get drinking water spigots, four vault toilet buildings, one flush toilet building, and a day-use area. There are no hookups.

Other accommodations are available at Clear Lake Resort, as well as in Sisters or Bend.

Lodging in Sisters 

Lodging in Bend