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Cascade Lakes Highway
The scenic Cascade Lake Highway, also known as the Oregon State Highway 46, is bordered by a number of magnificent mountains, forests, and beautiful lakes. This highway has been attracting bicyclists, hikers, and motorists for over more than fifty years. It is officially designated as the US Forest Service National Scenic Byway.
The Cascade Lake Highway, formerly called the Century Drive, is the best option when you plan an interesting expedition, especially during summer and fall. It is within the boundaries of the Deschutes National Forest. It is as long as 87 miles (140km) and it takes about 3-5 hours to visit the entire byway. The highway cuts its way through the Central Cascade Mountains. Beginning at the Oregon High Desert, the drive ascends up to about 6,000 feet (1.8km) at Mount Bachelor. The byway follows the wagon roads and parts of Indian trails in its south and west.
The route is within a mile of the main road and is easily accessible. It cuts through the forested slopes explored by Kit Carson, Nathaniel Wyeth, and John C. Fremont. Rainbow trout and many other species can be easily spotted on the way. The major attractions along the Highway include Three Sisters Wilderness, Mount Bachelor Ski Area, 2 reservoirs, nine alpine lakes, resorts, and Deschutes River. The favorite tourist activities are fishing, camping, boating, and hiking.
On your way uphill, starting from the Drake Park in Downtown Bend, you will come across several central Oregon Cascade Volcanoes like the Broken Top, Mount Bachelor, Middle Sister, and the South Sister. As you move towards the south, the route will take you past spectacular alpine lakes, including Elk Lake, Devil’s Lake, Little Lava Lake, and the Lava Lake.
The Cascade Lake Highway has a lot to offer to everyone. Besides the lakes and the mountains, there are a number of other attractions for the visitors to explore. Owing to heavy snowfall, the Highway is closed in winter and early spring, that is, from mid-November to May-end every year. However, you can enjoy driving along the scenic byway from June through October.
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