Day Trips

High Desert Museum No trip to Central Oregon is complete without a visit to the High Desert Museum. Here you will find in-depth exhibits that explore the natural and human history of the region. The wildlife exhibits, particularly the raptor display are spectacular and the living history exhibits — including an operating sawmill — offer families a chance to travel back in time to the region’s early days as a timber, mining and cattle ranching center. The museum is about a 40-minute drive from Sisters and is located just off Highway 97 south of Bend. For more information call 541-382-4754 or visit www.highdesertmuseum.org.

Lava Lands Just south of Bend is a wonderland of volcanic activity perfectly suited to a day’s exploration. Lava Butte is a cinder cone that spewed out miles of lava eons ago. You can explore this moonscape on foot or drive up to the top. Either way you can take in spectacular vistas of lava flows that dominate the landscape for acres in every direction. Just a mile down the road is Lava River Cave. It’s Oregon’s longest intact lava tube, stretching for a mile underground. The eerie and intriguing cave is chilly all year round and explorers should equip themselves with a jacket, a light and good walking shoes. It’s steep in places and footing can be uncertain, so exercise appropriate caution. For information visit http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/LavaButte/framework.html.

Fossils of Central Oregon John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive from Sisters and located along the John Day River east of Prineville, is a spectacular place to visit for anyone with even a casual interest in Miocene fossils. There is a brand- new Visitors Center with excellent displays of the flora and fauna that lived in this area some 22 million years ago. It will take a full day to visit all the attractions of the monument. There are no campgrounds on the monument but there are several picnic areas. For maps, information and directions visit www.nps.gov/joda.

Fort Rock Fort Rock, under two hours’ drive southeast of Sisters, is one of the most spectacular sites in the American West. Naturalist Jim Anderson says “Fort Rock is, in my opinion, more interesting and more diverse than Ayers Rock in Australia.” A volcanic tuff ring jutting up out of the Fort Rock Basin, the formation hosts many artifacts of Native American peoples; an abundance of wildlife; and fascinating rock formations. Take Highway 20 east to Highway 97 south, to Highway 31 east. Highway 31 will drop you down into the basin; follow the signs to a geological wonder. For more information visit www.oregonstateparks.org/park_40.php.

Belknap Hot Springs Resulting from the volcanic geology of the area, Belknap Hot Springs located on the McKenzie River offer a wonderful, relaxing retreat. You can camp in the area or rent a cabin for an overnight visit or simply make the 40-minute drive there from Sisters and enjoy an afternoon. Travel west on Highway 20 over Santiam Pass; follow the signs for Eugene/Springfield. Once on Highway 126 follow the mile markers (which start at mile 1 just past Santiam pass) to mile 18-1/2 and you will see signs for Belknap Hot Springs. Follow the signs and take a right onto Belknap Springs Road. The Lodge is located a 1/4 mile down the road, by the river.

Smith Rock State Park Smith Rock is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders of Central Oregon. Formed from rock that settled out of volcanic eruptions, Smith Rock rises like a rampart out of the high desert along the Crooked River just north and east of Redmond. Smith Rock is a destination for climbers who love to scale its many challenging routes, but it also offers a lot to hikers who want a quiet stroll by the river in the shadow of fascinating sculpted rock formations. To get there head east on Highway 126 to Redmond, then turn north on Highway 97 and drive about five miles to Terrebonne. Follow the signs to Smith Rock State Park. For more information visit www.smithrock.com.

Sahalie & Koosah Falls If you’re looking for a classic Oregon Cascades waterfall, you’ll find it just a short drive west from Sisters. The McKenzie River roars and plunges over Sahalie Falls in a white torrent, then twists down a rocky canyon before leaping again off the cliffs of Koosah Falls. The falls are spectacular and have been used as scenes in several movies. The falls are very accessible, with developed parking areas and a viewing platform at Sahalie that is easy to get to for just about anyone. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with a picnic lunch. To get there drive west on Highway 20 from Sisters to the Santiam Junction. Head west on Highway 126 5.2 miles and follow the signs into the Sahalie Falls parking area.

Shaniko A visit to Shaniko is a time machine to the turn of the 20th Century. In the years 1900-1910, Shaniko was a boom town and known as the Wool Capital of the World. Shaniko is not quite a ghost town. Several historic buildings still stand and the beautifully restored Old Shaniko Hotel is a great place to enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal and soak up the ambiance of the Old West. Several antique stores are open in the summer and fall. Head east on Highway 126 to Redmond, then turn north on Highway 97 and drive through Madras and on to Shaniko — and back in time.

Return to Sisters Recreation.

Sisters Country • Recreation • Events • Extraordinary Sisters • Marketplace
The Nugget Newspaper • Sisters Video Gallery • Order the Guide • About Us • Contact Us • Advertise • Home

© Copyright 2010 The Nugget Newspaper, Inc. All rights reserved.