Sometimes there are things in your own backyard that should be explored.
Our intent has been to eventually visit all points of interest in the immediate vicinity. This week, one of the last unseen spots was our destination.
Lava Lands Visitor Center is just 20 minutes from our house. We pass it every time we take OR 97 north.
It’s been on the list for years, but there are some small obstacles. The center’s main attraction, a trip to the top of the cone, is closed from November to June.
There is also the added issue that to get to the top of Lava Butte you have to take a bus and we’re not ‘ride the tour bus’ people.
In 1990 a 50,000 acre area around the Newberry Crater was designated a national monument. Newberry is a Shield crater . . . a massive mound rather than the conical spires that are typical of Cascade Range Volcanoes.
The Lava Lands center sits at the north end of a series of volcano centric sites. This is perfect location for geology enthusiasts.
We’ve wandered all but the Lava River Cave (don’t care for caves) and of course Lava Butte.
There are a few weeks on either end of the season when you can get a free pass and drive your own car to the top. This was one of the last weeks you can do that, or so we thought. Government shut-down foiled our plans.
There’s always next June . . . though it was a nice fall day, so we walked the ‘Whispering Pines Trail’ and marveled at the ancient lava flow.