Newberry showed us just how varied one volcano can be. From Lava Butte and the basalt flows near the Deschutes River to Paulina Falls, the Big Obsidian Flow, and the view from Paulina Peak, every stop felt like a different chapter of the same volcanic story.
Pick a stop to see its story and photos.
Lava Lands Visitor Center explains Newberry's northern lava fields and provides shuttle access to Lava Butte. We walked the cinder-cone rim and the Trail of the Molten Land through a basalt flow where plants are slowly returning.
Benham Falls is a fast, rocky section of the Deschutes River where the water meets the edge of Newberry's lava flows. The riverside trail also provided osprey sightings and a clear look at the boundary between forest, lava, and water.
Paulina Falls drops over the western side of Newberry Caldera in twin cascades. We started our caldera day here before continuing to Paulina Lake and the Big Obsidian Flow.
Paulina Lake sits inside Newberry Caldera near the visitor center and day use area. We stopped along the shoreline after Paulina Falls, taking in the lake views and spotting a female Gadwall duck.
Paulina Peak is the highest point in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, with summit views over Newberry Caldera, Paulina Lake, East Lake, and the surrounding volcanic landscape. We drove up at the end of the day for the big-picture view from above.
Big Obsidian Flow is Newberry's youngest lava field, formed about 1,300 years ago. The loop trail crosses pumice and ridges of black volcanic glass before opening to views across the caldera.
Lava Lands Visitor Center explains Newberry's northern lava fields and provides shuttle access to Lava Butte. We walked the cinder-cone rim and the Trail of the Molten Land through a basalt flow where plants are slowly returning.
Benham Falls is a fast, rocky section of the Deschutes River where the water meets the edge of Newberry's lava flows. The riverside trail also provided osprey sightings and a clear look at the boundary between forest, lava, and water.
Paulina Falls drops over the western side of Newberry Caldera in twin cascades. We started our caldera day here before continuing to Paulina Lake and the Big Obsidian Flow.
Paulina Lake sits inside Newberry Caldera near the visitor center and day use area. We stopped along the shoreline after Paulina Falls, taking in the lake views and spotting a female Gadwall duck.
Paulina Peak is the highest point in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, with summit views over Newberry Caldera, Paulina Lake, East Lake, and the surrounding volcanic landscape. We drove up at the end of the day for the big-picture view from above.
Big Obsidian Flow is Newberry's youngest lava field, formed about 1,300 years ago. The loop trail crosses pumice and ridges of black volcanic glass before opening to views across the caldera.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument near Bend, Oregon encompasses the massive Newberry Volcano, a shield…
Our second day at Newberry National Monument took us into the caldera itself, a vast crater formed when the…
