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Oregon's Newberry National Volcanic Monument
By Shelly Hemig
When travelers think of Oregon, they usually imagine lush, green tree-covered hillsides, or possibly fog-enshrouded rocky coastlines. Mention of the volcanoes in the high desert is likely to be met with blank stares. That's a shame because the area just east of the Cascades is a wonder to behold -- a geological treasure rich in volcanic history.
After a business trip to Bend, the largest city in Central Oregon, my husband decided to bring the whole family back for a weekend excursion to explore nearby Newberry National Volcanic Monument and its surrounding attractions.
Driving north along Highway 97 just south of Bend, we were met with the sights of cinder cones and charcoal gray lava rock at the base of Lava Butte, disappearing into the distance. We were able to drive up to the top, and the kids were especially impressed that we could walk around the rim of an actual volcano. Interpretive signs along the rim trail explained the formation of this volcano.
Looking down, we viewed a sea of lava stretching for nine square miles away from Lava Butte. Dotted here and there were small islands of trees and scrub brush that have carved out an existence for themselves despite the rocky terrain.
Looking straight out from that 5,000-foot vantage point, we could see dense evergreen forests at the edge of the lava field leading up to the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Some that can be seen on a clear day include Mt. Jefferson, the North, Middle and South Sisters, and Mt. Bachelor, a nearby ski resort. All are more than 9,000 feet high. Five hundred feet below Lava Butte lies the Lava Lands Visitor Center.