Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon

This is one of those unplanned things we stumble across and turns into a day we treasure. The Newberry Caldera is 50,000 acres of volcanos, lava flows and lakes within the Deschutes National Forest. The featured visitor areas are spread out around the Monument so you need to drive from one destination to another. We began our day at Lava Butte, a 500ft cinder cone. The park conveniently shuttles you to the top so you can leisurely hike around the crater while taking in the views. I counted 74 peaks visible from this point, some snow-capped at the end of July! We later learned they normally have more snow on them, but it was a super mild winter with very little snowfall.

The ride back down the volcano provided a great view of the lava fields.

Next we went into the lava river cave. Beware, if you have been in any other cave, you will have to wear different shoes or decontaminate them due to WNS (white nose syndrome) which is killing a large number of bats.  I had forgotten about this and since we were in Carlsbad Cavern a few months ago, it was a problem. Fortunately we had a spare pair for me and Journey, but mine and Asher's shoes were the contaminated ones, so I put Journey's shoes on Asher and the spare pair on Journey. Thank goodness for similar-sized twins! After our game of musical shoes, we were ready to enter the cave armed with a lantern and flashlight. There are no lights inside the cave, only what you take with you!

 The kids took a short nap in the truck, which continued on the picnic table for a bit. 

Then it was time to walk thru the Lava Cast Forest. This place is unlike any other. When the volcano erupted, the lava flowed down (and somewhat up) around the tree trunks. The trees later died, crumbled and left this empty tube sticking out of the ground.

Some of the casts are very deep, even 10ft underground.

Asher is explaining how these tree casts were formed. Pretty cute to listen to him explain it!

The kids found this the ultimate hide and seek venue. Here's Journey scaring Asher. They 

even hid together to scare the one. and. only. other group of people we saw here. Funny.

Asher still points out the Indian paintbrush whenever he sees them. Rachel told him what these are called in California's Sierras.

Wolf lichen grows on so many trees in this area. It used to be used as a dye or to color paint.

A quick stop at one of the alpine lakes, East Lake.

The Obsidian field, where black volcanic glass and pumice cover the ground.

Lake Paulina