Lava Butte Cinder Cone, near Bend, Oregon
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Lava Butte Cinder Cone and Vicinity
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Lava Butte Cinder Cone
About 7,000 years ago, a dozen or so lava flows and cinder cones erupted from fissures on the flanks of Newberry Volcano.
An excellent example is Lava Butte, a 500-foot-high cinder cone south of Bend along Highway 97. A road spirals to the
top providing a grand vista of volcanic country. Here, gas-charged molten rock sprayed volcanic foam (cinders) into the air.
These fell back into a pile to form Lava Butte. As the eruption proceded, the amount of gas (mostly water vapor) contained
in the molten rock decreased and lava poured out the south side of Lava Butte and flowed 6 miles downhill. The lava spilled
into the nearby Deschutes River forming lava dams in some places and shoving the river westward out of its channel in
others.
-- Excerpt from: U. S. Forest Service Deschutes National Forest Website, October 2000
- Fire Lookout and Visitor Rest Area
This cinder cone
rises 500 feet from the surrounding forest floor offering breathtaking views of
the Cascades. At the 5000-foot summit is a fire lookout and visitor rest area
with interpretive displays.
-- From:
U. S. Forest Service Pamphlet, 1984, Lava Lands, Deschutes National Forest:
GPO-1984-795-615
- Lava Cast Forest
Across the highway from
the turn-off to Sunriver, a nine-mile dirt road winds up to
Lava Cast Forest.
Here a one-mile, self-guided nature trail
unveils a "living museum of volcanic landscapes," as well as
the story of 6,000-year-old Newberry Crater.
-- From:
Central Oregon Visitors Association Website, October 2000
- Lava River Cave
One mile south from Lava Butte,
Lava River Cave is Oregon's longest intact lava tube.
You can explore this
mile-long phenomenon with lanterns and flashlights, warm
clothes and good walking shoes.
-- From:
Central Oregon Visitors Association Website, October 2000
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Nearby Attraction - Newberry Caldera and Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Newberry volcano is a broad shield volcano located in central Oregon. It has been built by thousands of eruptions,
beginning about 600,000 years ago. At least 25 vents on the flanks and summit have been active during several eruptive
episodes of the past 10,000 years. The most recent eruption 1,300 years ago produced the Big Obsidian Flow. Thus, the
volcano's long history and recent activity indicate that Newberry will erupt in the future.
-- From: Sherrod, et.al., 1997,
Volcano Hazards at Newberry Volcano, Oregon: USGS Open-File Report 97-513
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Lava Lands Visitor Center
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Lava Lands Visitor Center:
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Featuring Central Oregon vulcanism, much of which occurred
within the last 6,000 years. Visitors welcome at fire lookout. Nature and
history programs. Has automated displays and slide shows, restrooms, drinking fountains,
naturalist on duty, interpretive trails.
Spelunking.
Lava Lands Visitor Center
offers automated displays and slide shows describing the history of lava areas.
Three interpretive trails around Lava Butte's Crater, over the lava flow and
through adjoining pine forest. Naturalist on duty.
From:
U.S. Forest Service Pamphlet, 1986, National Parks and National Forests in the
Pacific Northwest;
U.S. Forest Service Pamphlet, 1984, Lava Lands, Deschutes National Forest:
GPO-1984-795-615;
Bend Chamber of Commerce Pamphlet, 1984, Points of Interest, Bend, Oregon:
Bend Chamber of Commerce, Bend, Oregon
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Lava Lands Visitor Center Trails:
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Trail of the Molten Land:
A 1/mile loop trail across the rugged Lava Butte lava flow. A short spur trail
will take you up the breach to a scenic viewpoint named after the renowned
author and historian, Phil Brogan. Total walking time is about 30 minutes.
Trail of the Whispering Pines:
A 1/4-mile walk through a pine plantation.
This trail allows you to compare the
harsh environment of the lava flow to the bordering forest. Walking time is
about 10 minutes.
Crater Rim Trail:
A 1/4-mile walk around the top of
Lava Butte. This trail offers spectacular
views of the Cascade Mountain Range and Deschutes Plateau. Walking time is
about 15 minutes.
From:
U.S. Forest Service Pamphlet, 1984, Lava Lands, Deschutes National Forest:
GPO-1984-795-615
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[Map,17K,InlineGIF]
Bend/Sisters/Santiam Pass/McKenzie Pass area
-- Modified from: Taylor, Oregon State University, 1981,
USGS Circular 838
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[Map,23K,InlineGIF]
Newberry Volcano and Vicinity
-- Modified from: Sherrod, et.al., 1997
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[Map,106K,InlineGIF]
Lava Butte Geological Area
-- Modified from: U. S. Forest Service
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Deschutes National Forest
-- Link courtesy U. S. Forest Service
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MORE Useful Sites
-- CVO Menu, includes links to Volcano Info, Seismicity, Hydrology, etc.
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Travel and Tourism Links - Newberry Vicinity
-- CVO Menu, includes links to Nearby Cities, Attractions, Recreation, etc.
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Weather and Road Conditions - Newberry Vicinity
-- CVO Menu, includes links to Weather Forecasts, DOT's, Pass Reports, etc.
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Lava Butte Cinder Cone Menu
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