Just Go Travel Blog — Newberry National Volcanic Monument

If you’ve been following us for any length of time, you know we’re big fans of Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  One of the most impressive spots in the monument is the Big Obsidian Flow.  This amazing landscape is actually the youngest lava flow in the entire state of Oregon.

Obsidian isn’t rare-this black glass is found in many places around the globe.  Formed by the rapid cooling of lava, it’s been used for years by native tribes for tools such as arrowheads and even sharp knives and surgical tools.

Even though Obsidian isn’t that rare, it’s likely you have never been to this type of a landscape.  While this short trail requires a bit of stairclimbing, it’s totally worth making time to visit this attraction when visiting Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Paulina Falls is a terrific short hike, located just south of Bend, OR in the little-known Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  While this “hike” is more of an easy stroll, the reward for the effort is fantastic.

The trail is less than half-mile in total (round-trip) with several options, including one with little elevation gain that heads to the top of the Paulina Falls.  You can also head down to the bottom of Paulina Falls for a different perspective (with some elevation change). Additionally, you can make Paulina Falls part of a much longer hike (see the “Paulina Creek Falls Trail” information below).