When plunging into a multi-day adventure in Central Oregon, the number of choices can be well, overwhelming. There is just so much to do in this four-season playground that a traveler can be forgiven for suffering from a little indecision.
One strategy is to break down the area by geography, clustering activities together that are within striking distance of a home base, be it a hotel, cabin or RV parking spot.
In this case, we’re building the perfect day around “Newberry Country” – southern Deschutes County and the city of La Pine with a home base at East Lake Resort inside the Newberry caldera.
If you’re looking for a little adventure there is nothing like making a dormant shield volcano that once showered the entire region in ash and magma your base of operations. If you’re worried about natural disasters, you’ve seen too many movies. The volcano has been inactive for literally thousands of years. The only thing erupting these days is the surface of the water during the evening mayfly hatch when trout gorge themselves on emerging insects and anglers delight.
THE PERFECT DAY IN NEWBERRY COUNTRY
Newberry National Volcanic Monument: After entering the park, look for the visitor’s center on the right side of the road as you approach Paulina Lake. Immerse yourself in a quick history of the area’s fascinating geology some 75,000 years in the making.
Hiking through The Big Obsidian Flow is something you’ll remember forever. The 1300-year-old lava flow is the youngest in Oregon.
If you’re ready for lunch, the Paulina Lake resort has a cozy cafe and lounge where you can grab a pint of ale and a signature prime rib sandwich.
This is also the place to rent a boat, which are available by the hour or day. Rates are reasonable and life jackets are provided.
If fishing is your passion, cast off from the beach.
On the north shore of Paulina Lake a series of hot springs that well up along a natural beach are waiting for you!
Make sure you’ve packed a shovel, because you’ll likely need to dig out your soaking pool as they tend to fill in rather quickly. After you’ve enjoyed the hot springs, head back to your lodging at Paulina Lake Lodge, East Lake Resort or your camp spot. There’s no bad way to end the day when you’re surrounded with the natural wonders in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
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More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
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The Ultimate La Pine Getaway
Central Oregon is all about balance. Small towns, big recreation. Quaint corners, cascading views. Where endless serenity exists right outside your back door coupled with humble communities that are tough to beat. Take La Pine, for instance. Rural, friendly, relaxed, and charming with a side of soaring mountains, the sparsely populated La Pine, Oregon is an unlikely getaway that leads with boundless forests and top-tier recreation.
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Top State Parks to Visit in Central Oregon
A trip to Central Oregon is usually one with ample time spent in the great outdoors. From the expansive high desert landscape to the Deschutes National Forest and all the rivers, lakes and sometimes volcanos in between, Central Oregon is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. What better way to explore the region than to take a tour of the local state parks? To get started, check out these six state parks to get an idea of what Central Oregon is all about.
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Newberry National Volcanic Monument
The Newberry National Volcanic Monument protects, preserves, and showcases its namesake volcano—which runs 75 miles north to south, spans 27 miles at its widest point, and covers nearly 1,200 square miles of Central Oregon terrain.
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Paulina Peak
Sweeping views abound all over Central Oregon—but few offer the breadth of Paulina Peak Observation Site at the summit of Paulina Peak.
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The Big Obsidian Flow
Nowhere else in Oregon can you hike through a 1,300-year-old lava flow inside an active volcano's caldera—but such is the charm of the Big Obsidian Flow Trail, which offers a dramatic look at the region's explosive past within the broader Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The Big Obsidian Flow Trail, largely accessible between June and October, measures roughly one mile (round-trip) and challenges hikers with about 200 feet of elevation gain along the way. It takes visitors into the heart of Oregon's youngest lava flow, offering up-close looks at glassy obsidian rocks and softer pumice rocks that cover one square mile. Learn about the area's natural history, geology, and other fascinating facts with seven interpretive panels that line the path—and take time to rest on benches along the trail and admire the disparate landscapes that sit within Newberry Volcano's remarkable caldera (including old-growth forests and a pair of crystal-clear lakes). The trail is free of shade, so be sure to bring plenty of water if hiking in summer. Rangers give talks at the on-site Big Obsidian Flow Amphitheater each summer, and a few picnic tables invite visitors to enjoy lunch or dinner in the shadow of the expansive lava flow.
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Paulina Creek Falls
As you ascend the slopes of Newberry Volcano en route to its caldera—and the beating heart of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument—give yourself a few minutes to admire Paulina Creek Falls (also known as Paulina Falls). The 80-foot double waterfall, with two plumes tumbling side by side, is fed by nearby Paulina Lake—and drops into a boulder-strewn streambed below. Even in late summer, when the waterfall's flow has slowed, it remains an impressive site as it tumbles over a shelf of volcanic rock. Visitors have two choices for taking in the beauty of Paulina Creek Falls. The first comes from the Paulina Falls Day-Use Area, which sits just beyond the parking area and above the waterfall; here, a wheelchair-accessible trail heads to picnic tables and a wide-open overlook. If you're looking for another viewpoint, follow the short Paulina Falls Trail (0.4 miles round-trip) to Paulina Creek at the bottom of the waterfall—where creekside views comprise both plumes and the conifer forest the surrounds them. The trail drops roughly 100 feet along the way. However you choose to visit, keep in mind that the viewpoint and trail is typically open between June and October.
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Newberry Crater: Ancient Attraction is an Activity Hub
It’s hard to believe, but 25 years ago, the volcanic features that make up Newberry National Volcanic Monument weren’t protected. If it wasn’t for a group of concerned Central Oregonians, the monument wouldn’t exist. “In the late 80s, at the time, the collaborative process we see today for land-use planning just wasn’t as common.