Newberry National Volcanic Monument's Lesser Known Hikes

Most Central Oregonians know what a wonderful place to camp, fish, and hike Newberry National Volcanic Monument is. Paulina Falls and the Obsidian Trail are easy, short hikes to beautiful views and interesting geological formations and are well used by visitors to the monument.  However, probably a hike few take is the Crater Rim Trail which is 21 miles in total length and traverses the entire rim of the crater. We have never taken the Crater Rim Trail all the way around, but we have hiked from Cinder Hill campground up to the Crater Rim Trail and 3/4 mile along this to the Cinder Hill Viewpoint several times. The elevation change from East Lake to the Crater Rim Trail is roughly 1000 feet, but it is fairly easy to hike this with multiple switchbacks helping. The majority of the hike is in the woods and the shade helps cool the trail.  We tried to do this hike a month earlier, but there was too much snow and we lost the trail. 

The views from Cinder Hill are fabulous of East Lake with Paulina Lake also visible from the rim. When we were there on June 20th, there was some wind at the viewpoint and the temperature was much cooler than it was during the hike up in the more sheltered woods. The sign at the start of the hike shows 2 3/4 miles from the campground to the viewpoint which felt accurate. This is a great hike to take during the summer.