Spring Sights and Sounds of the McKenzie River Trail

May is such a good time to take a walk along a river and see what Spring has been up to. I feel incredibly fortunate to live so close to so many wonderful hiking trails in the McKenzie River watershed, one of which being the McKenzie trail itself. Simply walking along a riverbank is one of the most rejuvenating experiences I have found in the midst of life’s busy happenings. I went out on an afternoon walk last week, and thoroughly enjoyed taking in all the sights and sounds of spring by the riverside.

The McKenzie is running fast, full and blue-green right now, making a stunning backdrop for all the new leaves. Leaves at different stages, mosses revitalized by all the rainfall and
sun, and the river heavy with sediment reflecting the light from the newly
restored tree canopy all display their own un-named hues of green.

The Vine Maples’ delicate, light green leaves are translucent at this stage, almost like tissue paper, with the sunlight shining right through.

There is so much water right now from all the rain that you can hear it everywhere as you move along the trail. 

Whether in the rhythmic singing of side streams…

The loud roar of rapids over rocks…

Or the low, rushing sound of the river in wide, slower places where it fans out…

 there is a musical quality to moving water that makes walking along these river trails such a rich experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon of walking to the sound of water music, and was reminded of these words by John Muir: 

Rivers flow not past, but through us; tingling, vibrating,
exciting every cell and fiber in our bodies, making them sing and glide.