The McKenzie River is a distinctive stream. It has clear, cold water, a swift current from the headwaters to its mouth, and a steep, narrow valley. The cold, swift water produces fighting trout and the river is one of the best known fishing streams of the country. A fine highway parallels the river for over forty miles and the narrow valley brings road and river together frequently and affords some wonderful river scenes. Being fed in part from snow water the river has a steady flow, both summer and winter. This steadiness in flow and the swift current gives the river great potential power resources and Eugene has already taken advantage of them and depends on the McKenzie for both hydro-electric power and water supply. The river probably gets its name from Donald McKenzie, a member of Astor's fur company who traveled up the valley in 1812 on an exploring trip.
This shows the river some three miles above Blue River. The mountain in the distance is Death Ball Mountain which got its curious name in this manner--some government surveyors were working around the mountain; their cook was a heavy handed man who made such hard solid biscuits that the men called them "death balls". The mountain had no name, so it was put on the map as Death Ball Mountain.
