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Driving up the steep, conifer-festooned slopes of Newberry National Volcanic Monument, nestled along the Cascade Mountains 40 miles outside of Bend, it’s easy to get a little turned around.
Make sure to take along an old-fashioned paper map instead of relying just on your phone because the GPS can lead you astray when navigating within the boundaries of Deschutes National Forest. My daughter, Daphne, and I got good and lost after we took off down a bumpy dirt road for a day of delving into the mysteries of the volcano. The plan was to first hike up an obsidian colossus and then dive deep beneath the earth.
We didn’t realize we had gone the wrong way until we hit a dead end and had to double back for what seemed like forever. Happily it turned out to be a very nice spot for a picnic amid the mountain hemlock and alpine fir trees. We tucked into snacks while tiny gray squirrels scampered along mounds of igneous rocks. It’s all part of the adventure of exploring this vast volcanic region with its bright green trees, crystal blue lakes and abundant sunshine
Our destination was the Big Obsidian Flow, the youngest lava flow in Oregon at 1,300 years old. This glittering glass menagerie covers about one square mile near the Newberry caldera, which formed when the volcano’s cone collapsed about 75,000 years ago. The obsidian flow was the last stage of a huge eruption. It was formed as magma made its way to the surface of the earth and cooled, creating a vast charred universe of shiny black rocks.
Sparkling and elegant, obsidian has long been used for pottery and jewelry because it’s so beautiful. Be sure to have a good long gaze at the ground as you hike up the one-mile interpretive trail that snakes onto a formidable lava flow of obsidian and pumice. Be careful where you step and remember to wear proper footwear. Flip-flops are a no-go unless you want to slip and side through the whole hike. Take my word on this one.
The vantage point from high atop the Big Obsidian Flow makes for an amazing view that’s just crying out for an Instagram post. Fluffy white clouds float through a peaceful blue sky as birds swoop through bright green groves of fir trees. Lakes glisten before you.
The same cannot be said for the Lava River Cave, our next stop, where photo ops are hard to come by. Strolling through an ancient lava tube is magical but the darkness of the mile-long tunnel makes it very hard to get a good shot.
One of the first lava tubes to be discovered in Oregon and still the longest known cave in the Beaver state, Lava River Cave gives you a chance to explore chilly and dark terrain of the subterranean world. If you have ever yearned for an Indiana Jones moment, this mile-long tunnel is it.
Descend a long, steep staircase for a self-guided tour of the cavernous marvel, which takes about 90 minutes (2.2 miles round-trip). There’s nothing quite as thrilling as trekking through the flickering shadows, holding your breath as you imagine the ferocious magma flow that created this epic lava tube.
Some of the switchbacks of rock stairs are tricky and the ground is often uneven, so watch your step. Bring along a flashlight and a sweater because it’s always 42 degrees down here in the dark, even on the hottest days above ground. Small children may find it creepy but older kids should enjoy the goosebumps.
Add in the prospect of bats fluttering overhead and a trip to the Lava River Caves is almost as exciting as an amusement park ride, which makes it a perfect stop for an adventurous family frolic.