Deschutes Natl. Forest recreation sites opening for season

Several recreation sites across the Deschutes National Forest will open for the season this weekend, including the Newberry Caldera on the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and sites along the Cascade Lakes Highway.

On Friday, the road to the Newberry Caldera will be open to motorized travel. In addition:

Boat docks are being installed and all docks are expected to be in by Saturday;
Paulina and East Lake Resorts are open;
Paulina Falls will be open by Saturday;
The Big Obsidian Flow is open, though there may be snow on the trail;
Paulina Visitor Center will be open on weekends beginning May 28;
Forest Road 500 to Paulina Peak remains closed due to snow and will open based on snowmelt.
For information on Caldera area campgrounds, visitors are encouraged to visit www.hoodoorecreation.com.

Lava Lands Visitor Center and Lava River Cave are also open to the public. Lava Lands Visitor Center is currently open Thursday – Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Memorial Day weekend, the Lava Butte Shuttle will begin running from the Lava Lands Visitor Center to the top of Lava Butte. It will begin daily service beginning June 11.

Lava River Cave is open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. Both sites will begin summer hours on May 26, and will be open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Forest Road 9720 to Lava Cast Forest is also open at this time.

When the gates accessing Cascade Lakes Highway (46) open on Monday, May 23, Elk Lake Trailhead and Day Use sites as well as Six and Lucky Trailheads will be open to the public. Elk Lake, Lava Lake, Crane Prairie, Cultus Lake and South Twin resorts are also open. Visitors should still expect snowy conditions in all high elevation areas. For information on Cascade Lakes area campgrounds, visit www.hoodoorecreation.com.

Tumalo Falls Trailhead will be reopen to the public on Saturday, May 28. Motorized access to the trailhead had been closed due to a waterline construction project that is nearing completion.

Recreation passes are required where posted in all areas of the National Forest. Passes are available at the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station (open daily from 8am-4pm) and Lava Lands Visitor Center as well as online and through many local vendors: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/deschutes/passes-permits/recreation