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Newberry National Volcanic Monument
The Newberry National Volcanic Monument is situated 10 miles (16km) south of Bend in Central Oregon. This is one of the nation's most recent and modern national monuments. It was built by Congress in November, 1990 with an objective to preserve the distinctive geologic landforms and many other resources for the present and the future generations. It encompasses a total area of 55,500 acres (224.7 square-km). In addition, there is 10,300 acres (41.7 square-km) of special management area as well.
The Newberry National Volcanic Monument is located within the precincts of Deschutes National Forest and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The monument offers spectacular views of surrounding Lava Lands of Central Oregon, lava flows, and other scenic geologic features in Oregon. There are 2 alpine lakes, Paulina and East, in the summit area of the Newberry Volcano. These lakes are home to a large number of Atlantic salmons, Kokanee, and rainbow trout. The other major attractions here include the Lava River Cave, Lava Lands Visitor Center, and the 500 ft (152.4 m) Lava Butte.
Access to the volcano is possible via the direct route along Highway 97 that goes south from Bend. Access to the top of the volcano is offered by the road through the caldera and also via the road heading to the top of Paulina Peak. The summit Paulina Peak at an elevation of 7,985 ft (2.4 km) is the highest point within the monument. It offers breathtaking views of the High Desert and the Oregon Cascades.
Besides, this Monument is also a popular recreational playground. It is a favorite destination for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. It has as many as 7 campgrounds that provide boat ramps, facilities for shoreline camping and group camping, a horse camp with equestrian trails, and sanitary facilities. The most popular hiking trail here is the Peter Skene Ogden National Recreation Trail. Moreover, the white-water rapids offer great challenges to the river rafters and kayakers. Fishing and hunting are some other favorite activities here.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is geothermally and seismically active. In fact, the caldera is located above a shallow magma body that is only 2 to 5 kilometers deep. Here, you can view a number of cinder cones and miles of basalt flows. Several public information centers for the monument are established by the Deschutes National Forest on a seasonal basis.
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