Near Bend in Deschutes County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
Dry River Canyon
Oregon History
Photographed by William Thievon, July 10, 2025
1. Dry River Canyon Marker
Inscription.
Dry River Canyon. . Water flowed across the high desert country during glacial times carving the Dry River Canyon visible beyond the marker. Near this part of Hwy 20, the canyon deepens from about 20 to 200 feet in less than half a mile. It continues northwest for two miles at depths of 300 to 400 feet before shallowing abruptly and disappearing beneath the basalt of Lava Top Butte that erupted from the north flank of Newberry Volcano. Geologic evidence suggests that the canyon cutting originated from an outburst of water escaping ancient Lake Millican that occupied a basin to the east. Subsequently, the channel deepened over hundreds of thousands of years because of multiple large floods related to glaciation and possible eruptive activity on Newberry Volcano.
Water flowed across the high desert country during glacial times carving the Dry River Canyon visible beyond the marker. Near this part of Hwy 20, the canyon deepens from about 20 to 200 feet in less than half a mile. It continues northwest for two miles at depths of 300 to 400 feet before shallowing abruptly and disappearing beneath the basalt of Lava Top Butte that erupted from the north flank of Newberry Volcano. Geologic evidence suggests that the canyon cutting originated from an outburst of water escaping ancient Lake Millican that occupied a basin to the east. Subsequently, the channel deepened over hundreds of thousands of years because of multiple large floods related to glaciation and possible eruptive activity on Newberry Volcano.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Beaver Boards series list.
Location. 43° 55.088′ N, 121° 0.498′ W. Marker is near Bend, Oregon, in Deschutes County. It is on Central Oregon Highway (U.S. 20), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map.
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Marker is at or near this postal address: US-20, Bend OR 97701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s High Desert. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: Prehistoric River (here, next to this marker).
Photographed by William Thievon, July 10, 2025
2. Dry River Canyon
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
