Lava Butte Viewpoint, Oregon
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 43° 55.078 W 121° 21.372
10T E 631972 N 4864074
Lava Butte, 10 miles south of Bend, provides a 360° view of central Oregon. Summit elevation of 5,016 feet.
Waymark Code: WMB87
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 04/24/2006
Views: 36
Lava Butte is a 500 foot high cinder cone located 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon. Lava Butte is a Holocene cinder cone (7,000 years old) and is the source of a 9 square mile lava flow which blocked the Deschutes River and forced it into a new channel. The butte is located toward the northern end of Newberry National Volcanic Monument adjacent to U.S. Hwy. 97.
The summit of Lava Butte is reached via about a 2 mile mile paved road.. The road is generally open May to October. During the off season, the summit can be reached by walking up the road depending on snow conditions. At the summit there is a Forest Service fire lookout with an enclosed viewing area below the tower. There is a 360° view of central Oregon. To the west are the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range, including Mt. Scott, Diamond Peak, Mt. Bachelor, Three Sisters, Broken Top, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Adams (in Washington). To the southeast is Newberry Volcano, the largest Pleistocene volcano in Oregon covering an area of more than 600 square miles. To the northeast are the Blue Mountains.
There is no sign about the view at the summit. Inside the enclosed viewing area there is mural of the skyline with many features named. In addition there is a half mile trail looping around the crater rim. Along the trail there are a series of signs describing various geologic features.
Describe - Highway or Road number: U.S. Highway 97
Closest town or city: Bend, Oregon
Number of parking spots available: 15
Name if a website describes this location.: [Web Link]
Winter View: no
Summer View: yes
Year around access ?: no
Comfort station on site: yes
Is a photo of an "Information Sign"included?: No
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