A 21-year-old man drowned Friday after jumping into Oregon’s Tamolitch Falls, also known as Blue Pool, officials said.
Around 8:47 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received a call that a man had jumped into the natural pool and could not get out.
The man, Kenny Truong of Kansas, was visiting the pool with friends when he decided to jump in, according to officials. Witnesses described seeing him struggling as he swam toward shore, before submerging.
Despite the best efforts of bystanders and first responders, he did not survive, deputies said.
Blue Pool, located on the McKenzie River off Highway 126, is an extremely popular destination for tourists and Oregonians alike. And while its striking turquoise-hued waters draw many in for a swim, there have been multiple deaths at Tamolitch Falls in recent years.
The surge in drownings at Blue Pool can be traced back to around 2013, when visitor numbers began to increase at the remote site. That spring, a University of Oregon tennis star died after diving into the water. In 2015, a Bend photographer died after falling from the cliffs.
The cliffs surrounding the natural pool rise between 10 and 60 feet, and the water averages 37 degrees, which is cold enough to cause immediate physical shock upon entry, according to officials.
There is also minimal to no cellphone reception in the area. So if something goes wrong at Blue Pool, it can take up to several hours to reach a hospital, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Willamette National Forest has made efforts to improve safety measures at the pool, but no concrete rules have been enacted. In 2023, a proposed ban on swimming at Blue Pool was highly publicized following a rash of incidents on the trail.
While entering the water at the site is highly discouraged, it’s not against the rules to swim in Blue Pool, according to the Willamette National Forest.
In addition to the dangerous waters, the hike to the pool is no easy task. Many hikers struggle on the trail, which runs just over 4 miles out and back from the Tamolitch Blue Pool Trailhead to a viewpoint overlooking the pool, crossing rough basalt formations in a remote forest, officials said.
The viewpoint over Blue Pool also features a sheer drop with no guardrails. In the rainy season, the trail can be muddy, and rocks can become slippery. In the winter, the trail can be slick with ice and snow.
Officials advise visitors with questions about current conditions at Blue Pool to contact the McKenzie River Ranger Station at 541-822-3381 or visit their website. And if you see someone in distress at Tamolitch Falls, call 911 immediately, as “every minute matters” at the remote location.
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