The McKenzie Highway was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February, 2011.

This highway was built in the 1920s and was the only highway over the Cascades going east out of Eugene until 1962, when a gravel road heading north from Belknap Springs to U.S. Route 20 at Santiam Junction was widened and paved.

Snow packs of up to fourteen feet are common on the summit of the road; snow gates are located 7 miles (11 km) east of the junction with OR 126 at Belknap Springs, and 8 miles (13 km) west of Sisters.

[7][8] The American Association of State Highway Officials approved to change US 28 between Eugene and Prineville to US 126 in 1952.

[5] In September 2011, McKenzie Pass was designated as an Oregon Scenic Bikeway