So here it is, Memorial Day weekend, and in a good year (i.e., one in which much of the snow has melted by May), many folks would be thinking about taking a day trip along the popular 82-mile-loop known as the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway. The McKenzie Pass, the western leg of the byway (which begins in Sisters), is one of my favorite quick escapes because it has so much to offer with so little thought required -- you've got a little driving combined with a bit of history, some gorgeous scenery (some consider it one the most beautiful drives in Oregon) and several opportunities to venture off the beaten path, all easily doable in an afternoon. Granted, there's plenty of interesting diversions along the way if you'd like a more extended getaway.

But this year, thanks to unusually dense snowpack -- more than 30 feet in some places (that's 200 percent above average, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation) -- much of the east side of McKenzie Pass (also known as Highway 242) will be closed until possibly late July (it's usually open by mid-June and closes again in October or November, again depending on the weather). Meanwhile, the west side will be closed until possibly September so that two bridges can be replaced.

 So here's a brief rundown on what everybody's missing:

 ** Really cool geography -- everything from extensive lava fields (including a 2,600-year-old, 65-square-mile lava flow) and cinder cones to massive snowcapped peaks and the rushing white-capped McKenzie River. This is, after all, the highest concentration of snowcapped volcanoes and associated glaciers in the lower 48 states. Forests here contain rare old-growth fir, red cedar and ponderosa pine, and are home to an impressive variety of fish and wildlife.

** The path of a frontier wagon route. Originally a toll road, what's now known as McKenzie Pass once connected the Willamette Valley to Camp Polk, near what is now Sisters. The charge was $2 for a wagon drawn by two horses, $2.50 for a wagon with four horses, $1 for a man on a horse and 10 cents each for loose cattle and horses.

** Windy Point Overlook. Want a better sense of the region's dramatic contrasts? Gaze east and you're confronted with a dense forest canopy; look west and you're faced with the barren, jagged lava flows.

** The historic Dee Wright Observatory, a lava rock structure constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. Don't worry; you can't miss it -- the circular lava rock structure (elevation: 5,187 feet) is instantly identifiable and a real traffic-stopper. Named for the foreman of that CCC crew, the observatory offers visitors panoramic views (on a clear day) of six peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range, via a series of eerie "lava tube" viewing holes. There's also a bronze "peak finder" to help those who aren't Cascade-saavy to differentiate Mount Hood from Mount Jefferson.

While you're there, explore the half-mile Lava River Interpretive Trail. Located at the boundary of two wilderness areas (Mount Washington to the north and Three Sisters to the south), the 30-minute paved trail meanders through lava gutters and crevasses; interpretive signs provide geologic information on the various lava formations there.

** Scott Lake/Obsidian Trail. Keep heading west, and you'll find yourself in the Willamette National Forest. A side road leads to picnic areas at scenic Scott Lake, which offers nice views of the Cascades. Nine miles west of the summit, Deadhorse Grade drops nearly 1,200 feet in less than four miles.

** Belknap Lodge & Hot Springs. Okay, technically this isn't part of the McKenzie Pass, but it's close enough (and interesting enough) to count. Located on the banks of the McKenzie River (near the intersection of Highway 126, where the byway loop veers north) six miles east of the town of McKenzie Bridge (also worth a side-trip, see photo left), the picturesque Belknap is famous for its hot hot-springs pools (ranging from 185-195 degrees Fahrenheit). At one time known as "Salt Springs," the Belknap is famous for its mineral salt content and buoyant quality (the mineral water includes iron, calcium, potassium chloride, lithium, and many other trace minerals). The springs was officially discovered in 1854; in the 1870's, RS. Belknap began development of the mineral spa resort (the current lodge was built around the old Belknap Hotel in 1933). Today, the facility includes the lodge, pet-friendly cabins, two hot springs pools, extensive gardens and RV camping.

Other Inaccessible Destinations
Alas, it isn't just the McKenzie Pass that's on hiatus for the time being. Folks hoping to visit Elk Lake, Todd Lake and Sparks Lake are out of luck; too much snow there, too. And the road to Tumalo Falls is closed (too much snow in the parking lot), although hikers and bikers can reach the falls (but expect to venture little further; there's still 8-to-10 feet of snow on the trails).