Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Newberry National Volcanic Monument protects a huge shield volcano south of Bend, Oregon, with a caldera holding two lakes, a glassy obsidian flow, a mile-long lava tube and a cinder cone you can drive to the top of. Short trails make an easy day, and the rim of the caldera makes a full day or overnight hike.
Fast facts
- Established: 1990
- Size: more than 54,000 acres (220 km²)
- Highest point: Paulina Peak, 7,985 feet (2,434 m)
- Signature features: Newberry Caldera with Paulina and East lakes, the Big Obsidian Flow, Lava River Cave and Lava Butte
- Gateways: Bend, Sunriver and La Pine
- Managed by: the Forest Service (Deschutes National Forest)
The landscape
Newberry Volcano is one of the largest in the Cascades by area, built over hundreds of thousands of years. Its summit collapsed into a caldera that now holds Paulina Lake and East Lake, framed by pine forest and ridges. The Big Obsidian Flow, about 1,300 years old, is a field of black volcanic glass. To the north, Lava Butte rises about 500 feet (150 m) above lava flows beside US 97.
Best time to go
The caldera is snow-free from about June to October; this is the main season for hiking, camping and fishing. Lava Lands and Lava River Cave are open in the warmer months. In winter, the road to the caldera ends at a snow park, and skiers and snowmobilers travel on.
Getting there and around
Lava Lands Visitor Center and Lava Butte are on US 97 about 11 miles (18 km) south of Bend, with Lava River Cave nearby. The caldera is reached on Paulina-East Lake Road (County Road 21), which leaves US 97 south of Sunriver. A gravel road climbs to the top of Paulina Peak in summer.
Things to do
Walk the Big Obsidian Flow Trail, about 1 mile (1.6 km) round trip with stairs, across glassy obsidian. Explore Lava River Cave, a lava tube about a mile (1.6 km) long that stays near 42°F (6°C). Visit twin 80-foot (24 m) Paulina Falls, drive or ride the shuttle up Lava Butte, and walk the paved trail at Lava Cast Forest.
The Paulina Peak Trail climbs to the highest point for views across the Cascades. The Crater Rim Trail circles the caldera in a full-day or overnight loop of about 21 miles (34 km), and mountain bikers ride the same rim. Paulina and East lakes are known for trout fishing, with hot springs along the shores.
Staying safe
Obsidian is razor sharp, so wear sturdy shoes and keep children close. Lava River Cave is dark and cold, with uneven floors: bring two lights and warm layers. The caldera sits above 6,000 feet (1,830 m), so expect cold nights and afternoon storms. The water in the lakes is cold year-round.
Know before you go
A day-use pass is required at most sites, and Lava River Cave needs a timed reservation in its season. Dogs are not allowed in the cave. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm road openings and reservations with the Forest Service before you go.
- Coordinates
- 43.8123, -121.2835
- Magnetic declination
- 13.9° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 3
Park entrances
Visitor centre
On the trail 9
Trailhead
Route
Campgrounds
Sights 37
Viewpoints
Waterfall
Lakes
Points of interest
Peaks 26
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Summer, Early fall, Winter (skiing and snowmobiling)
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- US 97 south of Bend for Lava Lands, Lava Butte and Lava River Cave; Paulina-East Lake Road (County Road 21) for the caldera. The caldera road is snowbound in winter.
- Water
- At some campgrounds in season; treat lake and stream water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Good near US 97; patchy in the caldera.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Emergencies: 911. Deschutes National Forest: 541-383-5300.
- Permits & regulations
- Day-use pass at most sites; timed reservation for Lava River Cave in season. No dogs in the cave.
- Leave No Trace
- Stay on trails across the obsidian and lava, leave obsidian where it lies (collecting is prohibited), and pack out all waste.
January
- Below-freezing nights
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
- Below-freezing nights
April
- Below-freezing nights
- Day-to-night swing of 32°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (32°F)
May
- Day-to-night swing of 32°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (32°F)
June
- Day-to-night swing of 35°F (19°C)Day-to-night swing of 19°C (35°F)
July
- Day-to-night swing of 43°F (24°C)Day-to-night swing of 24°C (43°F)
August
- Day-to-night swing of 43°F (24°C)Day-to-night swing of 24°C (43°F)
September
- Day-to-night swing of 42°F (23°C)Day-to-night swing of 23°C (42°F)
October This month
- Below-freezing nights
- Day-to-night swing of 34°F (19°C)Day-to-night swing of 19°C (34°F)
November
- Below-freezing nights
December
- Below-freezing nights
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Sunriver station, 15 miles (25 km)25 km (15 miles) away at 4,158 feet (1,267 m)1,267 m (4,158 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
Crater Lake National Park
The deepest lake in the U.S., 1,943 feet (592 m), filling a collapsed volcano in Oregon's Cascades, circled by a 33-mile (53 km) rim drive.
-
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Oregon’s striped Painted Hills and blue-green fossil badlands, with short trails spread across three units.
-
Silver Falls State Park
Ten waterfalls on one 7.2-mile (11.6 km) loop through a forested basalt canyon, four of them with the trail running behind the water.
-
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Where three mountain ranges meet above Ashland, Oregon, with Pacific Crest Trail walks to Hobart Bluff and Pilot Rock.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
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