Newberry National Volcanic Monument

Type: national volcanic monument managed by the U.S. Forest Service within Deschutes National Forest. Located in Deschutes County, Oregon, near Bend. Established November 5, 1990. Total area: 54,822 acres. Highest point: Paulina Peak, 7,985 feet. Contains the Newberry Volcano caldera with Paulina Lake and East Lake, plus the Big Obsidian Flow, Lava River Cave and Lava Cast Forest.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument protects the Newberry Volcano, a large shield volcano south of Bend in central Oregon, along with its broad caldera and surrounding lava features. Established in 1990 and administered by the U.S. Forest Service as part of Deschutes National Forest, the monument spans nearly 55,000 acres and includes four main visitor areas: Lava Butte, a roughly 500-foot cinder cone; Lava River Cave, described as Oregon's largest uncollapsed lava tube; Lava Cast Forest, a 6,000-year-old lava flow with molds left by burned trees; and the Newberry Caldera itself, home to Paulina Lake and East Lake, both stocked alpine trout lakes. The caldera's edge, Paulina Peak, rises to 7,985 feet and offers views stretching to the Cascade Range and the high desert beyond. The monument's most recent volcanic feature, the Big Obsidian Flow, formed only about 1,300 years ago and covers roughly 700 acres in black volcanic glass. In the 1960s, the area's lunar-like lava terrain was used to train Apollo astronauts.

The monument lies in Deschutes County in central Oregon, just south of Bend, within Deschutes National Forest. Its features are spread across a large area, from Lava Butte and Lava River Cave near U.S. Highway 97 to the Newberry Caldera further south and east, accessed via Forest Service roads.

The monument sits in Oregon's high-desert Cascades foothills, with cold, snowy winters (many caldera-area roads and facilities close seasonally) and warm, dry summers typical of the region; specific temperature figures for the monument were not found in sourced material.

Summer is the primary season for visiting the Newberry Caldera, Paulina Lake, East Lake and the Big Obsidian Flow, since snow closes many high-elevation roads and facilities in winter; the monument also supports winter activities in the surrounding area, per Wikipedia's description of the site's recreational features, though exact seasonal closure dates were not independently sourced.

Newberry Volcano's lava flows and lunar-like terrain were used between 1964 and 1966 to train NASA's Apollo astronauts, according to Wikipedia. The area was designated Newberry National Volcanic Monument on November 5, 1990, placing its lava flows, caldera, and geologic features under National Forest Service protection as part of Deschutes National Forest. The Big Obsidian Flow, the youngest lava flow in Oregon, formed roughly 1,300 years ago, while the tree molds at Lava Cast Forest date to a lava flow about 6,000 years old.

Popular activities include hiking any of the monument's roughly twelve trails (ranging from 0.25 to 21 miles), exploring Lava River Cave, walking the Big Obsidian Flow's interpretive trail, fishing and boating on Paulina Lake and East Lake, and driving or hiking to the top of Paulina Peak for panoramic views. The monument also supports camping and winter activities, per Wikipedia's overview of its recreational features.

The four principal destinations are Lava Butte (a roughly 500-foot cinder cone with views over the surrounding lava fields), Lava River Cave (Oregon's largest uncollapsed lava tube), Lava Cast Forest (a 6,000-year-old flow with preserved tree molds), and the Newberry Caldera, which contains Paulina Lake, East Lake, the Big Obsidian Flow, and Paulina Peak at 7,985 feet.

The monument is reached from Bend via U.S. Highway 97 south to the Lava Lands area, with Forest Service roads continuing to the Newberry Caldera and its lakes; a personal or rental vehicle is required, as there is no public transit directly serving the site.

Specific daily hours for monument sites were not independently retrieved; visitor facilities such as Lava River Cave and the caldera's day-use areas typically operate seasonally, closing in winter months, per general Forest Service practice for this region, but exact dates were not confirmed in sourced material and so are not stated here.

Access to Newberry Caldera day-use sites requires a fee-based pass: options include a 3-Day Monument Pass for $10, or an annual Northwest Forest Pass, National Forest Day Pass, or Interagency Annual/America the Beautiful pass, all of which are honored at Forest Service fee sites within the monument. Campers parked at their own campsite within the caldera do not need a separate pass, but a pass is still required to park at fee day-use sites elsewhere in the caldera, such as the Big Obsidian Flow or Paulina Peak.

A day trip allows time to see Lava Butte, Lava River Cave and drive into the caldera to view Paulina Lake, East Lake and the Big Obsidian Flow; visitors wanting to hike more of the roughly twelve monument trails or camp overnight typically plan for two or more days.

Bend, roughly 20-30 miles north of the monument's Lava Lands area, is the primary lodging hub with a full range of hotels; within the monument itself, campgrounds around Paulina Lake and East Lake offer camping options for those wanting to stay closer to the caldera.

Bend offers a wide range of restaurants and breweries given its size as a regional hub; within the monument, resort-style facilities at Paulina Lake and East Lake have historically offered basic dining or store services for campers and day visitors, though specific current offerings were not independently confirmed.

Bend serves as the main gateway city and offers additional attractions; other Deschutes National Forest recreation sites and the wider Cascade Lakes region are also within reach for visitors extending a trip beyond the monument itself.

Redmond Municipal Airport, north of Bend, is the nearest regional airport; from Bend, a personal or rental vehicle is needed to reach the monument via U.S. Highway 97 and connecting Forest Service roads, since there is no direct public transit to the site.

Lava River Cave requires sturdy footwear, warm clothing (cave interiors stay cold year-round) and a reliable light source; obsidian at the Big Obsidian Flow is sharp volcanic glass, so visitors should stay on the trail. High-elevation caldera roads can close due to snow outside the summer season, so checking current conditions before a visit is advisable.

A flashlight or headlamp and warm layers for Lava River Cave, sturdy shoes for lava-rock trails and the Big Obsidian Flow, sun protection for high-elevation hiking, and a Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent day-use pass for caldera parking are all recommended.

Because the monument's caldera sites are at high elevation and can close seasonally, confirming current road and facility status with Deschutes National Forest before a fall-through-spring visit is worthwhile. Combining Lava Butte, Lava River Cave and the caldera in one day requires significant driving, so allocating a full day or splitting the visit across two days allows a more relaxed pace.

For any emergency, dial 911. For monument or Deschutes National Forest information, contacting the Deschutes National Forest Supervisor's Office in Bend is recommended, though a specific direct phone number for the monument was not independently confirmed in sourced material.

U.S. Forest Service - Newberry National Volcanic Monument - https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/destination/newberry-national-volcanic-monument-0

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.