Newberry National Volcanic Monument

One of Oregon's most distinctive landscapes can be found at Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which is located 12 miles south of Bend in the Deschutes National Forest. Nearly 55,000 acres of the monument are home to lava flows and other unique geological phenomena, including as a lava river cave and a lava field where NASA astronauts practiced their moonwalks in the 1960s. Paulina Peak is another option, whose summit offers breathtaking views. Go bicycling, boating, or fishing when you're not out hiking.

There are four main tourist attractions in Newberry National Volcanic Monument: Lava Butte, Lava River Cave, Lava Cast Forest, and Newberry Caldera. The monument's highest point is Paulina Peak's peak, which rises to a height of 7,985 feet (2,434 meters) and offers views of the high desert and the Oregon Cascades.

During the summer, Paulina Peak may be reached by road, however trailers and large vehicles are not advised due to the route's steepness, abrasiveness, and hairpin twists near the summit. East Lake and Paulina Lake are two trout-stocked alpine lakes located near the summit of the Newberry Volcano. The 700-acre Big Obsidian Flow was formed 1,300 years ago (280 ha). Either a trail that crosses the flow or good roads inside the caldera provide easy access to the pitch-black, gleaming obsidian field.

Rankings:

• #8 in Best Places to Visit in Oregon

State:Oregon