We left the big city and made our way over the Cascade Mountains to the high desert of central Oregon. The lush, green valleys on the western slopes of the Cascades give way to rocky volcanic peaks, cinder cones, fields of lava and grasslands, and swaths of Lodgepole Pine.
Mt. Washington presents itself on the drive through the Santiam Pass, just before the descent into the high desert.
The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway takes one on a drive past a series of lakes nested between the volcanic peaks of Mt. Bachelor, South Sister, and Broken Top. These lakes provide serene viewpoints and tranquil escapes from busy lives. Breathing the fresh, cool mountain air, while listening to the breeze and the birds, is the ultimate of a mountain get-away.
Little Lava Lake (just south of Lava Lake) is the headwaters of the Deschutes River, one of the primary sources of water winding its way through the high desert. From the lake, it flows south and east around the foothills of Mt. Bachelor, before turning north and twisting its way through Sunriver and Bend, before forging its way to meet the Columbia River.
Oregon’s natural gems are many, but perhaps there is no more iconic one than Crater Lake National Park. High in the Cascades and filling the caldera of the collapses Mt. Mazama, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. In early June, much of the park is still closed because of snow, but this provides for a unique view of the lake that many do not take advantage of. The drive in to Crater Lake, along a stretch of the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway provides a view of Mt. Thielson, whose slopes have been eroded away over time by glacial forces, leaving behind a sharp core of volcanic rock.
I might have been a volcanologist in a previous life. There is something fascinating and mysterious about volcanoes. I’m not sure if it’s the power of the planet, or the starkness of the landscape, but I always feel very connected to these areas. Central Oregon offers a variety of volcanic experiences, with Crater Lake being the centerpiece. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument (aka Lava Lands) provides another stunning example of volcanic forces. Unlike the Cascade volcanoes, whose origins come from a subduction zone deep under the Pacific Ocean, the Newberry Volcano and its surrounding cinder cones and lava fields surfaced through a crack in the land, spewing lava over many miles. Similar to Crater Lake, the Newberry volcano also has a collapsed caldera filled with water - East Lake.
I get asked now and then whether I prefer the mountains or the ocean. It can be a difficult decision, as both provide me inspiration. But when it comes down to it, I’ve spent more time in and near mountains than I have the ocean. The grandeur of snow-capped peaks, the power of volcanoes, the peacefulness of valleys and mountain lakes, all add to my love of this landscape.