Hiking The Big Obsidian Flow

One of the most unique trails you’re going to find, the Big Obsidian Flow Trail in Newberry National Volcanic Monument takes you through an incredible volcanic landscape.  Sculpted by molten lava flowing across the surface only 1,300 years ago, this is one of the newest landscapes you can find just about anywhere! Because the rock here is so new, and the lava flowed here so recently, the landscape is still incredibly barren and alien.  The rock is all black, almost...

Exploring Paulina Falls at Newberry Volcanic National Monument

On my day exploring Newberry Volcanic National Monument, I made a quick stop at a great little waterfall, Paulina Falls.  This waterfall doesn’t have the height of Yosemite Falls, nor the volume of Niagara, but set in the lush pine forest of the Pacific Northwest, it makes a great introduction to the park!  This is a perfect spot to stretch your legs on arrival to Newberry before heading to the other attractions! Miles/Elevation: .8 miles 118 feet vertical gain About...

Exploring Lava River Cave: The Largest Lava Tube in Oregon!

While most of my adventures involve going up, I decided I had to check something out that would involve going down!  Oregon is a land sculpted by volcanoes and volcanic activity, and in Newberry Volcanic National Monument, you can explore the largest intact lava tube in the state! Formed by an underground river of molten lava, this cave is explorable to about a mile deep.  Newberry Volcano isn’t nearly as recognizable as the nearby Three Sisters or the iconic Mt...

Hiking The Green Lakes And Soda Creek Loop

Set between the volcanoes of South Sister and Broken Top, the Green Lakes are one of the Oregon Cascades most beautiful chains of mountain lakes.  Reached via a moderate trail, the lakes themselves are a fairly easy day hike.  When I visited this region in July of 2022, this hike to the Green Lakes and then looping back through the Three Sisters Wilderness was one that I had circled for quite a while! Miles/Elevation: 13.1 miles 1,656 feet vertical gain...

Hiking To No Name Lake: A Stunning Glacial Lake In The Oregon Cascades

Outside the city of Bend in Oregon’s Central Cascade Mountains, No Name Lake is a stunning alpine lake set beneath one of the region’s most iconic volcanic mountains, Broken Top.  This lake is reached via a long day hike, but if you can make the journey, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of massive volcanoes and mountain lakes spread across the Cascades. I hiked this trail in the summer of 2022 on my summer road trip, and this was my...

Hiking the Beautiful Tennessee Valley Loop

On a beautiful fall weekend, we headed up north of San Francisco for a pair of awesome oceanside hikes.  This first one, the Tennessee Valley Loop, was the shorter of the pair, but with some steep inclines it honestly felt tougher!  This hike promised some fantastic ocean views, and as it turned out, we had perfect weather and the views lived up to the hype! Miles/Elevation: 5.5 miles 1,292 feet vertical gain About Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Named for...