Near La Pine in Deschutes County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Big Obsidian Flow

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 29, 2008

1. Big Obsidian Flow Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The furnaces of the earth brought spectacular change to this land 1300 years ago. A new, rough, glassy environment offered a harsh home for the heartiest plants and animals. Past cultures prized the shiny black rock for their survival. Today, the Big Obsidian Flow is marvelled at for its beauty and mystery.

Walk a few minutes on a paved trail for a “sparkling” panorama of the Big Obsidian Flow. Then, if you like, climb the stairs for a walk along the half-mile trail (0.8 km) on top of the flow through a rugged landscape of natural glass. It is not recommended that you wear sandals or take dogs on the trail because it is made of crushed natural glass.

Learn interesting facts about the Big Obsidian Flow of Newberry Crater from the interpretive signs along the trail:

• A Glass Menagerie
• The Eruption
• Tools for Survival
• People & Obsidian
• Life on the Flow
• Global Perspective

Erected by United States Forest Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location.

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43° 42.373′ N, 121° 14.145′ W. Marker is near La Pine, Oregon, in Deschutes County. Marker can be reached from Paulina Lake Road (NF-21), 0.7 miles east of National Forest Service Road 567 (NF-567). Marker is located on the Big Obisidian Flow Trail in the Newberry Crater unit of Newberry National Volcanic Monument; the above directions are to the intersection of Paulina Lake Road and the driveway to the Big Obsidian Flow parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: La Pine OR 97739, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Glass Menagerie (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Eruption (about 400 feet away); A Special Place on the Planet (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lava River Cave (approx. 14.7 miles away); Some Lava Flows Build Their Own Pipelines (approx. 14.7 miles away).

More about this marker. Marker is the first of seven interpretive signs along the Big Obsidian Flow Trail.

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 29, 2008

2. Big Obsidian Flow Marker

Big Obsidian Flow image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 29, 2008

3. Big Obsidian Flow

Paulina Lake in background

Layer of Obsidian Sandwiched Between Pumice image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 29, 2008

4. Layer of Obsidian Sandwiched Between Pumice

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 29, 2008

5. Big Obsidian Flow

Paulina Peak in background

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 410 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 19, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of wide-view of marker and surroundings. Photos of markers along trail missing from HMDB. • Can you help?