Bend-ing in Southern Oregon

Mountains, canyons, lava fields oh my! Visiting Bend truly surpassed our expectations!

Our basecamp was the LaPine State Park, a pristine forest along the Deschutes River. First up, we visited the High Desert Museum which hosts a remarkable ensemble of exhibits explaining the geological evolution of this high desert, its volcanic origins, the native peoples and the subsequent “newcomers” who made this region home. This incredible museum is part of the Smithsonian. If you ever come to Bend, we highly recommend it!

Next, we stumbled upon the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. This phenomenal park resulted from lava flows thousands of years ago when the Newberry volcano erupted. This landscape was unlike anything Skip and I have ever seen. Walking through the lava field was surreal. As a bonus, from the top of the visitor’s trail, we had a clear view of Mt. Bachelor and the famed Three Sisters mountains.

Skip took the magnificent photo below. Love the cloudscape!

Day Two included a hike along the Crooked Creek in the stunningly beautiful Smith Rock State Park. The river, canyon and rock formations were magnificent. Later, we headed a bit west to the town of Sisters to walk through its charming downtown and to enjoy a cool beverage at the local tap house.

On our final day, we climbed 1,400 feet up Mt. Bachelor. Alright…I’ll admit… it was on a chairlift. The views were incredible. The air was so pure.

The rig is heading east now. Minnesota is calling. We’ll enjoy some time to explore southern Idaho and Wyoming along the way. Hope you’ll come along for the ride!