Newberry and the Cascade Lakes in La Pine
Much of the land around La Pine is national forest. This page gives facts from the Forest Service and points to its pages for current conditions, fees and closures.
Deschutes National Forest
The Forest Service describes Deschutes National Forest as nearly 1.6 million acres in Central Oregon that offer year-round recreation. Its Supervisor's Office is in Bend. The forest posts fire danger levels, fire restrictions, alerts and area closures on its main page, so check there before a trip.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
The Forest Service says Newberry National Volcanic Monument was created in November 1990 inside Deschutes National Forest and includes more than 54,000 acres of lakes, lava flows and geologic features. The highest point is Paulina Peak, at 7,985 feet. The caldera covers 17 square miles, and the wider volcano spans about 1,200 square miles. The Forest Service lists more than 400 cinder cones and vents, basalt flows and rhyolite obsidian flows.
Some details from its recreation pages:
- The Big Obsidian Flow is described as "at a mere 1300 years old" the youngest lava flow in Oregon. A one-mile interpretive trail climbs onto it.
- Cinder Hill Campground is on the shore of East Lake. Motorboats on the Cinder Hill launches have a 10 mph speed limit.
- Some sites are recreation fee sites, and a recreation pass is required at some boating sites.
- The 10 Mile Sno-Park gives access to winter activities around the caldera, and the Forest Service notes that its lot generally fills on winter weekends.
- The monument also includes Lava Butte and the Lava Lands Visitor Center, and Lava River Cave uses timed reservations for parking.
The Cascade Lakes area
The Forest Service's Cascade Lakes Area page describes the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station as a gateway to popular trails, lakes and recreation areas, just past mile post seven on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Its pages describe Sparks Lake as about 25 miles west of Bend off the Cascade Lakes Highway, with a 10 mph speed limit on the lake, and Elk Lake as having views of South Sister. Crane Prairie Reservoir is also listed. The Forest Service does not state season dates on these pages, so check current conditions and the alerts page before you go.
Passes and permits
Fees and passes are listed on the Forest Service's passes page, and wilderness permits on its permits page.