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38 • THINGS TO DO 2013
hunting areas, and logging sites south of
Bend. Eventually a main road was
established and known as Century Drive,
because it was about 100 miles in length.
This name remained until 1989, when it
received its first official designation as a
national forest scenic byway.
Very soon after leaving Bend, the highway
begins a gradual climb toward Mt. Bachelor.
The Byway is named for the lakes that
follow, and just past Mt. Bachelor – at the
base of the peak known as Broken Top – lays
Todd Lake. The first to be encountered on
your travels, it’s also the highest along the
Byway, at 6,150 feet in elevation.
By now you’ll have a sense of what’s in
store for you. Accompanied by a backdrop of
rugged mountain peaks, you’ll be travelling
through dense forests of mostly pine
(ponderosa and lodgepole), but also grand
fir and Douglas fir – all trees typical of
the Cascade’s drier,
eastern slopes.
Though on the “dry”
side of Oregon, at any
moment don’t be
surprised to find a
bejeweled lake, its
glassy surface
reflecting an alpine
glow.
There’s Devil’s Lake,
with its crystal clear
water and white pumice
bottom. Then there are
Lava and Elk lakes, both
of which have a marina
and other amenities.
Don’t forget Hosmer
Lake, a fly-fishing-only
lake that is home to land-
locked Atlantic salmon,
and is a popular
destination for canoeists.
Cultus Lake and Crane
Prairie Reservoir have
lodges and boat rentals as
well, but if you’re into
wildlife, the osprey viewing
area at Crane Prairie is a
must-see. A short walk from the parking lot
brings you to an area by the reservoir’s shore
with lots of snags (dead trees) and artificial
nest platforms – prime habitat for these
birds.
Needless to say, sightseeing and
recreational opportunities abound along the
Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway.
McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass
National Scenic Byway
The McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass National
Scenic Byway’s scenery is as rugged as the
Cascade Lakes is serene, and as the name
suggests, there are two distinct passes. You
can do one or the other as one-way
excursions, or make a loop and do both.
Either way, you’ll want to start your
exploration from Sisters. It is a good idea to
make sure you have a full tank of gas, and
you might also visit the local forest service
office for maps, and to see if you need a
Northwest Forest Pass for parking.
For most, the preferred trip is to travel
west from Sisters and follow State Route 242,
the old McKenzie Pass highway that began
as a 1860s-era wagon road. Your first few
miles will get you out of civilization and into
a classic eastside ponderosa pine forest.
Don’t let the gradual climb and relatively
non-descript views get you off your guard.
After about 11 miles – at a place known as
Windy Point – the forest suddenly opens
into a barren, 65-square-mile landscape of
lava flows, with views of nearby Mt.
Washington. This is a good place to stop,
take pictures,
and read the
interpretive signs.
After another three miles of skirting the
lava flow, a short road off the highway will
allow you to access Lava Camp Lake, a small
oasis nestled in the trees. Otherwise,
continue less than a mile to the summit
(5,235 feet) and to the Dee Wright
Observatory.
This is the crest of the Cascades, and as
you continue west, it’s all downhill. By the
time you’ve traveled another three miles, the
stark lava flow will be but a memory as you
transition into the dense fir and hemlock
forest typical of the Cascade’s western
slopes.
The real driving fun begins about nine
miles west of the observatory where the
highway drops 1,200 feet in less than four
miles. Known as Deadhorse Grade, it’s a
favorite of anyone on two wheels, and is
especially spectacular in the fall. If you can
stop, be sure to visit Proxy Falls. A parking
area and trailhead allow for a short hike to
view this much-photographed natural
wonder.
From there it’s another eight miles or so
of easy driving to the junction with U.S. 126.
Now you decide – do I turn around and
retrace my steps, or do I turn right and
complete the loop?
A right turn will put you on the path back
to Sisters, but this time over the equally-
scenic Santiam Pass. For the first several
miles, you’ll be joined by the frothing
McKenzie River, well known for its
whitewater boating and for its designated
national recreational trail paralleling the
river’s run. After about 14
miles, you’ll come to another
popular side trip – Koosah
and Sahalie Falls. An hour-
long hike will connect you
with both.
Continuing toward
Sisters, you’ll once again be
greeted with lava rock and
another cold, clear,
Cascadian lake. In fact,
that’s its name – Clear
Lake. Here you’ll find
lodging as well as other
amenities.
Soon the highway
joins U.S. 20 and then
State Route 22 as it
turns east. Scenic stops
include Lost Lake – just
east of the Santiam
summit – and Suttle
Lake. If you have time,
a side trip toward
Camp Sherman (the
turn off is four miles
east of Suttle Lake) to
see the Head of the
Metolius is well worth
the effort. Here is where 48-degree,
crystal-clear water pours out of a hole in the
basalt and turns into a full-grown river after
only a few feet.
Lower Crooked River National
Back Country Byway
If you want to get away from the crowds
and truly experience Oregon’s High Desert –
yet remain comfortably close to urban
amenities – the Lower Crooked River
National Back Country Byway along Oregon’s
State Route 27, between Prineville and U.S.
Highway 20, is just the ticket. Don’t let the
term“back country” intimidate you. Even
though a 17-mile segment of the 45-mile
route is all-weather gravel (one of the few
remaining unpaved highways in Oregon),
the drive is easily passible in any motor
vehicle, though the road can get