Newberry National Volcanic Monument was designated on November 5, 1990, to protect the area around the
Newberry Volcano
Newberry Volcano is a large active shield-shaped stratovolcano located about south of Bend, Oregon, United States, east of the major crest of the Cascade Range, within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Its highest point is Paulina Peak ...
in the U.S. state of
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
. The monument was created within the boundaries of the
Deschutes National Forest
The Deschutes National Forest is a United States National Forest located in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties in central Oregon. It comprises along the east side of the Cascade Range. In 1908, the Deschutes National ...
, which is managed by the
U.S. Forest Service
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency in ...
, and includes of lakes, lava flows, and geologic features in central Oregon.
The volcano was used for training
Apollo
Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...
astronauts 1964–1966.
Description
Newberry National Volcanic Monument consists of four primary visitor destinations:
Lava Butte
Lava Butte is a cinder cone in central Oregon, United States, just west of U.S. Route 97 between the towns of Bend, and Sunriver in Deschutes County. It is part of a system of small cinder cones on the northwest flank of Newberry Volcano, a ma ...
,
Lava River Cave
The Lava River Cave near Bend, Oregon, is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which is managed by the United States Forest Service. At in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon. W ...
,
Lava Cast Forest, and
Newberry Caldera
Newberry Volcano is a large active shield-shaped stratovolcano located about south of Bend, Oregon, United States, east of the major crest of the Cascade Range, within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Its highest point is Paulina Peak. ...
.
The highest point within the monument is the summit of
Paulina Peak
Paulina Peak is a summit in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Formed by the Newberry Volcano, it is part of Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Newberry National Volcanic Monument was designated on November 5, 1990, to protect the area ...
at ,
with views of the Oregon
Cascades and the
high desert. Paulina Peak may be accessed by road during the summer months, and as the road is both steep and rough, with hairpin turns towards the summit, trailers or long vehicles are discouraged. The summit area of Newberry Volcano holds two
alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
s full of
trout
Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salmoni ...
,
East Lake and
Paulina Lake.
The Big Obsidian Flow, created 1,300 years ago, covers . The black, shiny
obsidian
Obsidian () is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava extrusive rock, extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth. It is an igneous rock.
Obsidian is produced from felsic lava, rich in the lighter elements s ...
field is easily accessible from good roads within the caldera, or a trail that traverses the flow.
![A465, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon, USA, tree mold in the Lava Cast Forest, 2016](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/A465%2C_Newberry_National_Volcanic_Monument%2C_Oregon%2C_USA%2C_tree_mold_in_the_Lava_Cast_Forest%2C_2016.jpg)
Lava Cast Forest is roughly south of Bend, accessible via a gravel road from U.S. Highway 97.
Lava Cast Forest contains a 6,000-year-old lava flow that created
mold
A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungus, fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of Spore#Fungi, spores containing Secondary metabolite#Fungal secondary metabolites, fungal seco ...
s of ancient trees.
Lava Butte is roughly south of Bend, Oregon.
Lava Butte is a
cinder cone
A cinder cone (or scoria cone) is a steep conical hill of loose pyroclastic fragments, such as volcanic clinkers, volcanic ash, or scoria that has been built around a volcanic vent. The pyroclastic fragments are formed by explosive eruptions o ...
volcano that rises above the Lava Lands Visitor Center.
It can be accessed by either vehicle or hiking up a paved road. Interpretive signs, views of the surrounding lava flow and mountains, and an active fire lookout are found on top.
Lava River Cave is roughly south of Bend.
Lava River Cave is open to visitors from May through September.
Lava River Cave is the largest uncollapsed
lava tube
A lava tube, or pyroduct, is a natural conduit formed by flowing lava from a volcanic vent that moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. If lava in the tube empties, it will leave a cave.
Formation
A lava tube is a type of lava ca ...
in Oregon,
and may be explored by lantern.
Temperatures in the cave average .
White-nose syndrome
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease in North American bats which has resulted in the dramatic decrease of the bat population in the United States and Canada, reportedly killing millions as of 2018. The condition is named for a distincti ...
has not yet affected resident bats in the cave.
Newberry Caldera
![Newberry Volcanic National Monument](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Newberry_Volcanic_National_Monument.jpg)
Newberry Caldera is roughly from Bend and from
La Pine. Newberry Caldera is the largest developed area within the national monument. The caldera was formed when a magma chamber collapsed. Over time the caldera filled up with water that created two lakes, Paulina Lake and East Lake.
Newberry Caldera has many natural tourism opportunities. Visitors have access to campgrounds, trails, water recreation, lodging, viewpoints, and interpretive guides with Forest Service staff.
Newberry Caldera has medium use most of the year with some high usage during peak times of the year.
There are twelve trails within Newberry Caldera ranging from 0.25 miles to 21 miles. These trails offer a variety of uses from hiking only to multiuse with hiking, biking, and horse allowed. Along the trails you can find access to fishing, viewpoints, interpretive signs, picnic areas, and even hot springs. There are seven boat launches for water recreationists, (the lakes do restrict boats to 10 miles per hour). The Caldera also offers nine campgrounds accommodating both tent and RV camper. Newberry Caldera also offers a variety of winter activates such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and rooms for rent at the resorts.'
See also
*
List of national monuments of the United States
References
External links
Official WebsiteVolcanic Vistas: Guide to Newberry National Volcanic Monument
{{authority control
1990 establishments in Oregon
Deschutes National Forest
National Monuments in Oregon
Protected areas established in 1990
Protected areas of Deschutes County, Oregon
United States Forest Service National Monuments
Volcanism of Oregon