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neck of the woods | theatreags

Spend a few days roaming, and you’ll discover that while the far-off
valleys and furrowed desert plateaus evoke a sense of remoteness,
you’re surrounded by endless opportunities for adventure. Take a
horseback ride, zip down a mountain bike trail, or summit one of
the largest volcanoes in Oregon. Whether you have a few days or
longer, here’s how to explore the stunning and spirited Newberry
Country Trail.

Take your sense of adventure a mile south to Lava River Cave, the long-
est continuous lava tube in Oregon. Rent a lantern at the ranger station
and embark on a self-guided exploration of the colossal and cathedral-
like lava tunnel made from eruptions over 100,000 years ago. (Be pre-
pared for temperatures around 45 degrees in the cave, and make sure to
LAVA LANDS AREA: LAVA TUBES, BIKE TRAILS, PADDLING, wear clothing and closed-toe shoes that have not been in any other cave,
AND A FAMILY RESORT to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome in bats.)
Get briefed on the area’s fascinating geologic and cultural history at Lava
Lands Visitor Center, the educational hub for the Newberry National
Volcanic Monument. Then hit the trails just outside the center, where
you can walk atop ancient volcanic rock on the Trail of the Molten Land
(1.25 miles round-trip), where astronauts trained in the 1960s before
going to the moon. You can also explore high desert botanical wonders
on the Whispering Pines Trail, a short, connecting footpath that mean-
ders through ponderosa pines. You could trek or bike partway up the
lunar-like landscape along the paved road to the top of Lava Butte. But
a better way to see the 500-foot-tall cinder cone with its spectacular
views of Mt. Bachelor and the rest of the Cascade Mountains, is by shut-
tle bus. Hop aboard the shuttle, which costs $2 per person and runs
Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend from the Visitor Center.

68 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2020