Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Deschutes National Forest

Points of Interest Newberry Caldera The Newberry Crater area occupies the caldera at the summit on Newberry Volcano, one of this country's largest volcanoes. At the crater's western edge is Paulina Creek Falls. Wildlife and numerous recreational opportunities including camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and sightseeing with the Big Obsidian Flow and Paulina Peak offering spectacular views of the region. From Lava Lands proceed 12 miles south on U.S. Hwy. 97, and then 12 miles east on F.S. Rd. 21. There are many recreational facilities within Newberry Crater. Aerial view of Newberry Caldera from northeast with East Lake in foreground. Snow covered East Lake Obsidian Flows (left), Big Obsidian Flow (center) and Interlake Obsidian Flow (right). Paulina Peak is on the caldera rim beyond the Big Obsidian Flow. The Central Pumice Cone lies between East and Paulina Lakes -- Nov. 9, 1979 -- ©Robert A. Jensen   Geologic Points of Interest in the Caldera Paulina Creek Falls to Paulina Lake Paulina Peak Paulina Lake Trail - Northeast Side Big Obsidian Flow Trail East Lake Hot Springs

GENERAL INFO REC FACILITES POINTS OF INTEREST Benham Falls Big Obsidian Flow East Lake Lava Butte Lava Cast Forest Lava River Cave Newberry Caldera Paulina Creek Falls Paulina Lake Paulina Peak LAVA LANDS V.C. NEWBERRY VOLCANO TRIVIA

Natural History Information

Climate and Weather

Average annual precipitation on the floor of Newberry Crater is estimated to be 35 inches. The lakes often freeze over during the winter. Skiers and snowmobilers enjoy the several feet of snow that accumulates each winter.

Geomorphology

Newberry Crater, a caldera, is perched at the top of Newberry Volcano, a large shield-shaped volcano. The 500-square-mile volcano measures about 20 miles wide east-west and 30 miles wide north-south. Newberry Crater measures about 5 miles wide east-west and 4 miles wide north-south. The base of the volcano lies at about 4400 feet elevation; the highest point is Paulina Peak at 7984 feet elevation; and the lowest point within Newberry Crater is the surface of Paulina Lake at 6331 feet elevation. Altogether, the volume of Newberry Volcano is about 100 cubic miles, but it may be twice as great, depending on the depth and shape of the volcano's base under the ground. Newberry is so large and heavy that is has sunk hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of feet into the ground.

Most of the gentle flanks of Newberry are studded with 400 cinder cones and at least that number of lava flows. Lava Butte (a cinder cone) and its lava flow are part of Newberry. The west and east flanks of Newberry are largely thick deposits of ash with channels, draws, and canyons eroded into them.

Newberry Crater is rimmed with steep, 700- to 1700-foot-high walls except on the west side where Paulina Creek drains Paulina Lake. Paulina Creek is the only stream on Newberry. Paulina Peak is the highest point on the caldera rim and rises 1650 feet above Paulina Lake. The floor of the caldera holds two lakes - Paulina and East - separated by a 700-foot-high pumice cone, obsidian flows, and a tuff ring. Elsewhere, the floor holds barren obsidian flows, pumice and ash covered plains, and low cones. The southeast part of the caldera consists of steep slopes and flat, bench-like areas.

Geology

Eruptions of hot, fluid lava and showers of ash built Newberry Volcano into a broad, low-domed mountain 9000 feet (2750 m) in elevation. At 25 miles (40 km) in diameter, Newberry is one of the largest shield-shaped volcanoes in North America.

Cataclysmic eruptions, beginning 500,000 years ago, exhausted large magma chambers underlying Newberry Volcano. A series of collapses along concentric fractures created a caldera now called Newberry Crater.

Rainwater and melting snow filled the newly formed caldera to form a single, large lake similar to nearby Crater Lake.

Small eruptions continued under the lake's surface. By 7000 years ago, the Central Pumice Cone and several lava flows had broken the surface of the lake and divided the caldera into two lake basins.

Magma is believed to lie about 2 miles under East Lake.

Newberry Pumice

Travel southeast up and out of Newberry Crater along Road 21 (the main road). Drive a mile or two and notice all the popcorn-sized pumice. This is called the Newberry Pumice, which erupted from the vent of the Big Obsidian Flow 1300 years ago. Here, the pumice is several feet thick. Look back west to The Dome, a pumice-covered cinder cone. Notice that the Newberry Pumice has eroded away at a few places high on The Dome and you can see the red cinders of the cone underneath.

• You've been to the Big Obsidian Flow. What direction was the wind blowing the day (or days) the Newberry Pumice erupted? (Actual direction was 83 degrees east of north. Highway 20 a little beyond Brothers crosses a thin layer of Newberry Pumice.)
• What is the color of pumice? (It's often white, light gray, or tan)
• What is the color of cinders? (They are usually brick red or black)
• Can pumice float on water? (Yes, but after awhile they become waterlogged and sink.)

USDA Forest Service - Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Last Modified: Thursday, 19 July 2007 at 14:32:22 EDT