While these posts get a lot of fishing stories, another major draw for our excursions involves geology.
Evidence of caldera and volcanic activity pokes up through the Central Oregon landscape everywhere. This week’s post highlights one of these areas.
The Metolius Balancing Rocks are the remnants of activity a millennia ago. They remained in near obscurity until a wildfire burned through the western edge of Cove Palisades State Park.
A volcanic eruption created spires, then another added a top layer of denser material.
Over the centuries the lower portions of these spires eroded out from under the harder sedimentary top layer, leaving a unique geographical structure.
Once the wildfire exposed the area long protected by the park service, a short loop trail was added, as well as some informational signage. My guess it was in hopes that vandals would be dissuaded from wreaking havoc on the site.
Another draw for a stop at this overlook is the magnificent view of the Metolius River and Mt Washington offered from a small parking area at the trail head.
desolate looking area.
It’s just the old wildfire swath … there are lots of scrub juniper and bushes around the resivior and about five miles up the road from that site is more forest and the Metolius River … the camera angle makes it look more desolate.