Lava Cast Forest (Deschutes County, Oregon)

Lava flows are always interesting to visit, but in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument just south of Bend, is famed for something that I have not encountered before. When the lava flows were active around six thousand years ago, they enveloped a living forest. The lava encased the tree trunks - most standing, some fallen over. The trees probably burnt very quickly inside the lava casing, but it took long enough for the flowing lava to cool and form a cast around the trunk. What remained of the trunk rotted away over the centuries and only the lava cast remained.

It's a long drive down a terribly wash-boarded forest road to get to the trail head, but I finally go there. The parking arrangements are a bit odd and the signage is  strange, and so I simply find a clear area to park the jeep. While a little uneven, the trail is paved the entire way through the lava field. 

As I leave the tree line, the landscape opens up to field of lava rocks as far as the eye can see. A few young trees poke through rocky landscape. On either side of the lava flow, larger forests remain. Lava is obligated to the laws of gravity and must take the path of least resistance just like anything else. 

Further along the trail, I encounter the first of the lava casts. This one is about a foot in diameter and roughly three feet deep. It's a unique thing to see. As the trail continues in and around the dried lava flow, I find a number of other lava casts of varying sizes. It really is a unique feature. I've visited a lot of lava flows over the years (Lassen, Craters of the Moon, Lava Beds, and others), but this is the first time I've seen this phenomena.

Finally, the trail winds back around to the parking area. What an amazing place. The trail was just over a mile, but even with such a short hike, the drive was worth it.