Volcanoes
5 places · Cascade peaks & volcanic landscapes
Ashford, WA
Reflection Lakes
A pair of subalpine lakes on the road between Paradise and Stevens Canyon that mirror the full south face of Mount Rainier on still mornings. Wildflower meadows fringe the shoreline in late July, and in October the huckleberry turns the banks deep red. It is the single most famous reflection view of the mountain.
Sisters, OR
Dee Wright Observatory at McKenzie Pass
Dee Wright Observatory is a stone structure built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 atop McKenzie Pass at 5,325 feet elevation. The observatory sits amid a vast lava field and has window openings aligned to frame 11 Cascade volcanic peaks. The surrounding lava flows from Yapoah Crater and Belknap Crater cover approximately 65 square miles.
Bend, OR
South Sister Summit Trail
South Sister is the third-highest peak in Oregon at 10,358 feet and the youngest of the Three Sisters volcanoes. The summit offers views of the entire Cascades chain from Mount Hood to Mount Shasta. Teardrop Pool near the summit is considered the highest lake in Oregon.
Bend, OR
Big Obsidian Flow
The Big Obsidian Flow is the youngest lava flow in Oregon, erupting approximately 1,300 years ago within the Newberry Volcano caldera. The flow covers over one square mile and consists of jet-black obsidian and grey pumice. A one-mile interpretive trail with metal stairways traverses the flow.
Klamath Falls, OR
Mount McLoughlin
Mount McLoughlin is a stratovolcano standing at 9,495 feet, the highest point in southern Oregon. The summit offers unobstructed views of Crater Lake, Mount Shasta, the Rogue Valley, and Upper Klamath Lake. The peak is a prominent landmark visible from much of southern Oregon and northern California.