The McKenzie Regenerative Travel Project is a collaborative effort to support communities along the McKenzie River corridor. These gateway communities are known throughout the Pacific Northwest for their proximity to incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. Hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and rafting can be found only minutes away in the Willamette National Forest. This project seeks to create volunteer tourism packages that will actively engage visitors in stewardship of these critical outdoor recreation sites.
In 2020, some of these recreation gateway communities were decimated by the Holiday Farm Fire. Other communities remained relatively untouched, but are now lacking visitation to support their small businesses. The historic wildfire took a toll on the Willamette National Forest as well; with staff stretched thin responding to fire devastation, seasonal housing for employees destroyed, and high winds damaging several recreation sites.
The McKenzie Regenerative Travel Project hopes to increase visitation to our McKenzie River gateway communities while improving access to recreation opportunities. Voluntourists will be lodging in the McKenzie River corridor, eating at local restaurants, and volunteering throughout the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest.
Travel packages led by First Nature Tours are now available for purchase. Click here to learn more.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
