Skip to main contentHike: Lava River Cave
Relive childhood cave-dwelling fantasies.
Oregon's longest known lava tube. Occasional bats and guano. Long, dark, claustrophobia-inducing corridors opening up into 60-foot-high echo chambers. Creepy stalactites around every corner.
Money for day pass ($5), warm jacket, boots and a lantern (or rent one for $3).
Bend Lava River Cave. (LK)
Climb: South Sister
Non-technical climb. But your friends don't know that.
View half the state from the windy, 10,358-foot peak of Oregon's third-tallest mountain by climbing 4,900 feet in 5.5 miles; or cheat by cutting over to Moraine Lake, which has arguably better views but takes about half the work.
Water bottle, swimsuit. Accept it—you're not going to the top.
South Sister Bend. (KSC)
Hike: Central High Cascades Obsidian Trail
Lava lamps aren't as cool as the real thing.
Bizarre lava formations, galaxies of wildflowers, groovy views of the Sisters volcanoes and people. Lots of people. Call ahead to the McKenzie Ranger Station (541-822-3381) to reserve a hiking permit.
Craigslist date, lunch, parking money.
Obsidian Trail Sisters. (KSC)
Hike: Tam McArthur Rim
To use the piece of trivia under "what to expect."
Bleak, volcanic tableland with views of peaks and the Three-Creek Lake basin. The area's namesake once wrote for The Oregonian, and between 1928-1952 he wrote three books on geographic names in Oregon.
That piece of trivia. Also a jacket.
Tam McArthur Rim Sisters. (KSC)
Swim: Tamolitch Pool
Still waters run deep.
No muddy waters here, just "shrinkage" blues. This 40-foot-deep turquoise lake is a natural well where the McKenzie River channel magically reappears after flowing underground for three miles. It's also only about 38 degrees.
A nice, soft towel; a swimsuit with a good drawstring.
Tamolitch Pool McKenzie. (KC)
Fish: Metolius River
You like struggling all day to catch a fish just so you can throw it back.
A beautiful river filled with 10- to 13-inch wild rainbow trout, the Metolius flows from the Cascade Mountains through a luscious forest.
Fly rod, a copy of A River Runs Through It.
Metolius River Oregon. (NS)
Mountain Bike: Phil's Trail
You're the mountain version of Lance Armstrong.
A one- to 20-mile round-trip path through scenic Bend. You'll probably want to get a map at the local shops.
Bike, water bottle and some steroids.
Phil's Trail Oregon. (NS)
Raft: Deschutes at Maupin
Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep (The River Wild) made rafting seem so sexy.
An exciting 100-mile river two hours east of Portland divided into four different segments with rapids ranging from classes I-II to III-IV.
Extra clothes and shoes, high threshold for Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (it's a long river).
Deschutes at Maupin. (NS)
Mountain Bike: Gray Butte Loop
You like to treat yourself visually while punishing yourself physically.
An insanely beautiful view of the desert from a five-mile, single-track trail down into Sherwood Canyon. Then, a 1,000-foot climb back to your starting point.
Bike, water and second set of lungs.
Gray Butte Loop. (NS)
Lava: Newberry Caldera
Scope out the perfect spot for that evil lair you've been meaning to build.
50,000-plus acres of breathtaking lakes, lava flows and geological features. An amazing view of the Cascades and high desert from the 7,985-foot Paulina Peak.
Camera, extra film and a fire suit.
Newberry Caldera Oregon. (NS)
Climb: Smith Rock
A chance to perfect your "European Death Knot."
Oregon's mecca of rock climbing, with over 1,500 climbing trails reaching up to 550 feet. Sheer cliffs of tuff and basalt offer challenges for beginning and experienced climbers. Look for location shots from The Postman and Mission Impossible: II.
Climbing gear, water bottle and $3 for day pass.
Smith Rock climbing. (KCL)
Fish: Deschutes River
Waist-deep in the riffle is your nirvana.
A haven for trout, steelhead and fly fishermen. This Central Oregon river, which runs nearly 300 miles, is renowned for its unique and wild strain of rainbow trout, called the Redband.
Your favorite stonefly nymph, a boat and a cooler to store your catch.
Deschutes River Oregon. (KC)
WWeek 2015