Towering over Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Paulina Peak is the dominant feature of the whole place. The highpoint of the Newberry Caldera, Paulina Peak is a nearly 8,000 foot high volcanic Cascade Summit, and while the peak itself isn’t as visually prominent as many of the other Cascade Volcanoes, the actual volcano is massive!
The Newberry Volcano fills basically the entire national monument, and lava flows from this volcano stretch for miles around! This may not be an iconic Cascade summit, but there aren’t a ton of 8,000 foot peaks in the range with better views or a more accessible trail than this one!
Miles/Elevation:
6.5 miles
1,624 feet vertical gain
About Newberry National Volcanic Monument:
Located outside the city of Bend in Central Oregon, Newberry Volcanic National Monument is a large area of protected land preserving one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest volcanoes. Carved out of Deschutes National Forest, this national monument is over 54,000 acres, and is still managed by the US Forest Service.
The monument protects the Newberry Volcano. While it’s not as famous or visible as other volcanoes in the region like Mt Rainier or Mt Hood, Newberry Volcano is absolutely massive. The volcano is about the size of the state of Rhode Island, and while it does not have the recognizable, snow covered, cone of many of other volcanoes in the area, it is immensely powerful.
The main highlight of the monument is the Newberry Caldera. While it looks like a giant crater when viewed from above, this area was actually formed when the magma chamber beneath the volcano collapsed. Since then, the park’s pair of lakes have formed within the caldera, and now the caldera is the main tourist location in the park.
Beyond the caldera, tourists also flock to the Lava River Cave. Lava flowed from the main caldera area miles north towards Bend, and this legacy is preserved by some of the underground lava tubes through which molten rock once flowed. Lava River Cave is the largest uncollapsed lava tube in Oregon, and can be explored by visitors. Reservations are recommended though!
Getting To The Trailhead:
From Bend, follow Highway 97 south for about 23 miles. After 23 miles, turn left onto Paulina-East Lake Road. This road takes you into the Newberry Caldera in the heart of the monument. Follow this road for 12 miles, and then park near the Paulina Visitor Center. There is a large parking lot across the street near the boat ramp and lake. From southern Oregon, simply follow Highway 97 north, and take a right onto Paulina-East Lake Road.
Tips:
- There is a gravel road to the summit if you don’t have time to hike, or don’t want to.
The Paulina Peak Trail:
The Lower Climb:
I parked across the street from the visitor center near the boat ramp, so after quickly crossing the street and finding the start of the trail, I was hiking!
The first mile of the hike is an easy though uneventful walk through the woods. You’ll be surrounded by mostly small pines, and the forest is bright and airy. The trail only gains about 200 vertical feet in the first mile as well, so progress should be quick on the well made, packed dirt, trail.
After a mile, you will reach the gravel road which ascends to the summit of Paulina Peak. Cross it and keep hiking. Around here, the trees begin to undergo a noticeable switch from small thin examples, to older, more mature trees.
The incline also dramatically picks up around this area. In the next half mile, you’ll gain about 250 vertical feet, which still isn’t that much, but it is twice as steep as the early part of the hike!
However, the crux of the hike comes at the 1.6 mile mark of the day. The thus far gentle ascents give way to a crazy steep trail blasting its way directly up the mountainside. There aren’t really even that many switchbacks here, it’s basically just vertical!
After an absolute slog of about .6 miles which will see you gaining nearly 800 feet, you will emerge above the trees on the ridge of Paulina Peak. This mountain is the highpoint of the rim of the Newberry Caldera, so really what you are standing on is the rim of an absolutely massive volcano! In the distance the twin lakes of Newberry are the most obvious sight, but in the distance you may start catching glimpses of the snow-capped Cascade volcanoes!
The Upper Climb:
Once on the ridge, the incline mercifully lets up and becomes a bit more manageable. There is definitely still a significant amount of climbing left to do, but it won’t wreck your legs!
Now that you’re above 7,000 feet up on the ridge, the forest thins out as the air does. There are some endangered pines up here, so definitely stay on the trail! The forest is pretty to look at, but you won’t have soaring pines anymore. The trees up here are gnarled, low growing trees. Very cool, but maybe not pretty in a traditional sense.
Make sure you visit Lava River Cave on a visit to Newberry!
Follow the trail across the upper slopes of Paulina Peak, and before long you’ll begin getting glimpses of the summit proper. The ridge and some precipitous drop offs will be on your left, and to the right there is a large, mostly flat, area of forest.
The trail branches in a couple of spots, but the route forward should be pretty obvious. Just continue towards the obvious high point! The final ascent to the peak is a bit steeper, but push on to the summit!
On The Summit:
Once you’re at the top, you’ll be rewarded with 360 degree views of Central Oregon! To the west, the high peaks of the nearby Cascades are clearly visible. The Three Sisters and Mt Bachelor are the closest and most obvious, but on clear days you should be just able to see the more distant Mt Jefferson and Mt Hood!
The eastern half of the panorama is less dramatic, but the views east over the flatter Central Oregon are still nice. Nearby, just below the mountain itself, is the Newberry Caldera with its twin lakes. This vantage point really gives you a sense of scale of just how big this volcano really is!
The one downside of this summit is the fact that there is a road all the way to the summit. I’m not against people being able to access places like this, but it does take away a bit from the awesomeness when there are families pouring out of RV’s when you just put in work to get up here. I also had to basically wait in line to reach the true summit (a small stone block) because there were so many people just hanging out in the area.
After having some food on the summit, I began making my way back down the mountain. This is an out and back hike, so it’s a straightforward return back down the same trail. It’s a pretty quick and easy descent. The only challenging section is the crazy steep part of the trail, but on the descent even that isn’t too bad.
After a few hours I was back at the trailhead. This was a really nice hike, and definitely something you should check out if you’re in the area!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
This is a very nice hike, but I wouldn’t place it in the special category. The views at the top are very good, but I don’t know if they’re world class, and the hike up doesn’t have a ton. The trail quality is generally good, but there are some sections that are obnoxiously steep. You summit a pretty cool mountain, but there’s a parking lot up there filled with dozens of new friends. It’s definitely a good hike that I recommend, but it’s not special.
Pros:
- Awesome views
- Prominent summit
Cons:
- Very steep sections
- Busy parking lot at summit
Alternative Hikes:
Iron Mountain and Cone Peak Loop
When To Hike Paulina Peak:
The Green Lakes, Soda Creek Loop is another great hike outside Bend!
The hardest limit on hiking in the Cascades is snow. This mountain range receives massive quantities of snow each winter, and this snow limits the hiking season at high elevations. If you are ok with snowshoes, microspikes, crampons, or other snow gear, you can go pretty much whenever you want!
If you prefer not to hike in the snow, then the season is roughly June through September. Expect at least some trace remains of snow through the first half of June (possibly into July), and be ready for early snowstorms by September. June and October are pushing it weather and snow wise, so I would probably recommend July through September.
Links For Further Reading:
Paulina Peak Trail | Map, Guide – La Pine, OR | AllTrails
Paulina Peak Hike – Hiking in Portland, Oregon and Washington
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