Beautiful Benham Falls

Yesterday I hiked to Benham Falls, on the Deschutes River between Sunriver and Bend. I probably blogged this site last year, but it really is spectacular, a juxtaposition of roaring water; fragrant pine forest; mountains, sky, and, in mid September, early fall colors. The falls were created about 6600 years ago, when lava spread across the landscape and blocked the path of the Deschutes. A lake developed behind a lava dam, then the river broke through the dam and carved a new channel right through the lava! Farther downstream, the river took a course right next to the edge of the lava flow.

Here's a classic shot of the Deschutes, just downstream from Benham Falls. It was a gorgeous fall day, with warm sun and a crisp breeze, temp in the mid 60s.

When you think of it, there probably aren't many places in the world where you can see a river running right next to a lava field, with fall colors in the foreground. With the obsidian flows of Newberry Crater; the Cascades; the desert; the rivers; and unlimited year round recreation, plus a nice hub in the city of Bend, Central Oregon is a rare...and very nice...area.