Eagle Crest - John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument at 14,000 acres is comprised of three separate units. We had time to visit Sheep Rock Unit and Painted Hills Unit.

The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center that serves as both a Visitor Center and research facility is located at the Sheep Rock Unit. The research facility can be viewed through windows.

The expansive Visitor Center includes a fossil museum, working laboratory and collections room with over 45,000 plant and animal fossils.

Fossilized Ancient Redwood

The James Cant Ranch was operated from the early 1900's
until the National Park Services purchased it in the 1970's.

A couple of easy trails lead you into colorful badlands
with banded layers of lava and ash.

Story in Stone Trail

Mascall Formation Overlook
View of road passing through Picture Gorge.




Painted Hills Overlook Trail



Painted Cove Trail

So ends a very memorable summer in Oregon
and Northern California

Eagle Crest - McKenzie/Santiam Pass

The McKenzie/Santiam Pass Scenic Byway is a journey of contrasts. On the dry east side of the Cascades lodge pole pines and lava fields provide a stark black and white contrast; while on the west side of the Cascades we found lush forests of Douglas fir, cedar, ferns and moss along with numerous waterfalls. This 82 mile all day loop drive starts in Sisters, Oregon. The byway contains the highest concentration of snow capped volcanoes in the lower 48 states. Broken Top Mountain, Mount Washington, and the three sisters (shown above), tower above the scenic route.

When you reach the 5325 foot McKenzie Pass you are surrounded by lava on all sides. The Dee Wright Observatory is a lava rock structure constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1935 and named for their foreman. From the Observatory, you can see six Cascade peaks on a clear day, which is what we had.

Mount Washington

The byway follows the path of an 1860's wagon route, emerging from the forest at Windy Point.

The half mile Lava River Interpretive Trail is a 30 minute walk on a paved surface through lava gutters and crevasses. You are on the boundary of two wilderness areas: Mt. Washington to the north and Three Sisters to the south. The official names of the Three Sisters are not very creative, North Sister, Middle Sister and South Sister. The locals call them Faith, Hope and Charity, respectively.

Descending from the McKenzie Pass into the Willamette National Forest we reached the trail head for Proxy Falls. These falls were well worth the short hike into the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. We learned that this 226 foot tall highly photographed falls frequently appears in calendars.

Sahalie Falls

 After we turned onto Highway 126, we began to catch glimpses of white water on the McKenzie River. We stopped at Sahalie Falls and continued on the river trail to Koosah Falls. The path follows on the edge of the frothing river. The falls were really gushing on this particular day.

Koosah Falls



Head Waters of The Metolius River bubble up from underground springs near the base of Black Butte

A final stop back in Sisters at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon
at the historic Sisters Hotel.

Eagle Crest - Newberry National Volcanic Monument

Newberry National Volcanic Monument is located in Central Oregon south of Bend. The entire area consists of 50,000+ acres of lakes, lava flows, and spectacular geologic features.

We found another obsidian glass mountain called Big Obsidian Flow. This is Oregon's youngest obsidian flow, roughly 1300 years old.

Over 170 million cubic yards of obsidian and pumice erupted from a vent within the caldera.

A one-mile loop interpretive trail guides you across a corner of the flow. Native Americans once used the obsidian glass for trade and to make tools.

The Monument's summit, 7,985 foot Paulina Peek, offers views of the Big Obsidian Flow and the two alpine lakes, Paulina and East, that formed inside the crater of the 500 square mile volcano.

Paulina Falls

A spiral road leads to the top of Lava Butte for a panoramic view of the Monument and surrounding area.

There is a working fire tower at the top of the butte. We took a trail around the rim to view the 400+ cinder cone strewn forest floor.

We followed a nine mile forest service gravel road to the Lava Cast Forest. Here we took the one-mile self guided interpretive trail winding across the 7,000 year old lava flow.

The lava flow enveloped a mature Ponderosa Pine Forest. As the hot lava flowed around the tree trunks, the shape of the trees left deep imprints as the lava cooled.

Two trees that grew together leaving imprints 10 feet deep.

When lava surged through the stands of pine, some trees were pushed over by its force. Others snapped off and some remained standing, anchored by their roots.

Eagle Crest - Redmond, Oregon

Leaving our trailer behind at the Refuge, we took a one week Condo vacation to The Eagle Crest Resort just west of Redmond, Oregon.

We had a homey two bedroom/two bath newly renovated Gold Crown unit overlooking the Deschutes River.

The living area along with spare room and laundry were on the lower level. The Master Suite and a balcony was upstairs.

Kurt loved the new Weber Gas Grill and proceeded to delight us with some tasty meals.

The High Desert Museum just south of Bend has a variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits set in a 135 acre forest. Nature trails feature trail side exhibits about wildlife, forestry and settlement in the area.

There is an optional rapture show as part of their summer program. We got to be up close and personal with a Barn Owl, Peregrine Falcon, and a couple of hawks.

We stopped in Bend for a short factory tour and tasting of Goody's Ice Cream and Candy.

Pilot Butte is a lone cinder cone rising 511 feet above the city of Bend. From the summit there is a fantastic view of the Cascade Range as well as a bird's eye view of the city.

A short hike down the Deschutes River leads to the Benham Falls.

Benham Falls is more of a boiling rapids down a narrow chute than an actual falls. The river drops 95 feet in less than a half of a mile.

Bend, Oregon, is the home of Deschutes Brewery, a craft brewer. At least a dozen other micro or craft breweries call this town home. They even have a beer tour bus that takes visitors around to seven breweries.

We took a 45 minute tour of the Deschutes Brewery. There we sampled the eight varieties of beer that were on tap in the tasting room.

Smith Rock State Park, north of Redmond, became world famous in the 1980's as a rock climbing destination for beginning to expert climbers. We didn't climb but we enjoyed the scenery and watching others navigate the rock walls.

Cove Palasades State Park, north of Redmond, encompasses Round Butte Dam and its reservoir, Lake Billy Chinook.

Three canyons have been carved by the Deschutes, the Crooked, and the Metolius Rivers.