Sunriver-Lava Lands paved path opens soon

The Deschutes National Forest and Oregon Department of Transportation invite the public to the grand opening of the new 5.5 mile multi-use Sunriver-Lava Lands paved path on Saturday, August 9 at Lava Lands Visitor Center.

The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with a bike and wheelchair parade to celebrate the accessibility of the new path, called the “Sun-Lava” path. People are encouraged to decorate their bikes and wheelchairs for the parade. Walkers are also welcome to join in.

Participants will take off from Lava Lands Visitor Center, 58201 S. Hwy 97, and travel to Benham Falls before either continuing on to the Sunriver Art Faire or completing a round trip back to the visitor center. Along the way Forest Service rangers will answer questions and give short interpretive talks about Central Oregon’s only national volcanic monument.

Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation speakers also will share the vision behind the new paved path.

The Oregon Department of Transportation recently completed the new multi-use path, which covers 5.5 miles of national forest land within and outside of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The path travels from the Lava Lands Visitor Center to the Benham Falls area, down to Sunriver and back to the visitor center.

Recreation fees are required for vehicles entering Lava Lands Visitor Center and at all other Day Use recreation sites on the Deschutes National Forest where posted.

For more information on the Sun-Lava path grand opening, contact Scott McBride, 541-383-4712.