Oregon’s high desert
 country: Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Oregon’s High Desert Country
 

Oregon’s high desert country gets less attention than deserts in the Southwest, but it’s just as fascinating. The Cascade Mountains block moisture from reaching Central Oregon, creating rain shadows and warmer air to the east. As with much of the Pacific Northwest, Central Oregon high desert country is rich in geologic features and recreation opportunities, particularly around Bend.

Though you may be tempted to bypass Newberry National Volcanic Monument, don’t drive by. Instead, spend a day  discovering its unusual geology.

Newberry’s repeated eruptions covered a 1,200-square-mile area with lava flows. Today, the U.S. Geologic Survey considers Newberry a high-threat volcano due to its history, hot springs, and proximity to 200,000 people.

Like its more famous big brother, Crater Lake, Newberry also created a lake, or a caldera, about 75,000 years ago. As part of the Deschutes National Forest, this area offers lava fields, hiking trails, an obsidian outflow, boat-able lakes and fishing, a waterfall, and even a mile-long lava tube cave.