Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool) — Attraction in Sisters

By god this is one of the coolest places in the Pacific Northwest. I had seen plenty of photos of the “blue pool” before deciding to make the hike out to see it myself.

The entire hike I kept setting myself up for disappointment and repeatedly telling myself to not expect it to look anything like the photos, there’s no way the water could be THAT blue. Thinking people used filters and edited photos in post to make it look so special.

Boy was I wrong. The water here really is THAT blue. It was absolutely gorgeous! I spent at least an hour here just taking it all in.

I’m glad the pool isn’t easily accessible with a parking lot right next to it. You do have to hike a few miles out if you’d like to see this place in person which helps keep it from becoming too crowded.

Also be wary, the water here is absolutely freezing. It stays at around 33-34 degrees Fahrenheit so it’s literally a degree above freezing and jumping into this pool is a horrible idea and a good way to die. So don’t. There is a place you can wade into the pool if you must but you need to hike down a relatively steep hill and be prepared to climb back up it afterwards.

Please don’t underestimate how cold this water really is. Even wading in (which we did) can have profound and sudden effects on the body that can result in unwanted things. Definitely not a place to go swimming.

I recommend just staying up around the ridge and enjoying some time here and taking it all in before hiking back out.

The trailhead is wonderful too and everything about it...

Finally made it here after seeing everyone else's videos and pix. Arrived here at 0915 am on 07/02/23 and was able to park along the dirt road not too far from the entrance of the long trail to Tamolitch Falls (Blue pool). Barely missed the huge crowds by minutes and would have to park further back. Posted sign at the entrance said 2.25 miles to Blue Pool. However, add probably another 0.75miles through semi to rather rough and rocky terrain around and down to the base of the pool. From the entrance to the destination, it was very scenic and beautiful. At certain parts along the trail, surroundings could be scenes for a Hollywood movie. First 0.75 miles, it was mostly dirt trail path. Then rocks, zig-zags, slight up and downs for approx 1mile. Terrain difficulty increases closer to the destination. From the top view point to the base of the pool, especially the last rocky steep descent, terrain was very rocky. Be careful. Overall terrain difficulty, about moderate, with the exception of the last descent to the base, see pix. Strangely, there wasn't a waterfall but the Blue Pool was scenic. Without the waterfall, I was rather disappointed upon arrival but it's not nature's fault. We arrived during the heat wave week and glad that we started early. I would recommend shoes with traction, although we saw a few people with flip flops or dress-to-impress outfits, even a couple girls wore all white long sleeve top and pants (i would have loved to be "a fly on the wall" and watch these people...

I had been wanting to go here for years, and finally did. So worth the hike! We got here a little late, not till 6pm, and contemplated not going (in fear it would get too dark), but the people coming back that were parked next to us said it was worth it even if we were just arriving..Tons of people were coming off the trail back to their cars, and other than us only one other group were just starting the hike. Slightly rough terrain. Bring sturdy shoes. We took our little dog but were confused on how to get down to the pool without scrambling over large boulders (which we tried- too difficult with a little dog); we also hiked around to somewhere near the back of the pool (we saw signage but someone wrote on it "does not lead to Blue Pool") so we double-checked a picture of a map on our phone and turned around. BE AWARE:THERE IS NO CELL SERVICE HERE. By this time, it was getting late, so we decided to head back. We got to our car as the moon was high in the sky, and headed home (our legs covered in dirt, cause we did run some of the way back). Bring water, towels. The port-a-potties were clean, not the actual bathrooms. We did not regain cell service till over an hour after leaving Blue Pool, on our way back home through Eugene. But in all. The Blue Pool was gorgeous and crystal clear; the landscape: serene and majestic; and the hike in-and-out never drab. A highly recommended...