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We saw a guy at the top with an 80-lb Labrador on his shoulders. Just be aware that you’ll probably end up carrying your pooch. Baby carrier – if you have a toddler, I recommend using a baby carrier and just keeping them off the ground altogether.Even my husband brushed against a boulder and came away with a nice scrape. Bandaids – pack some! If you’re hiking with toddlers or anyone unsteady on their feet, you’ll probably need them.All of our injuries were very minor, but I think wearing jeans is a reasonable safety precaution here. Our younger kids (ages 2 – 6) are all competent hikers, but they’re also little and often trip and fall during hikes. But in hindsight, I’d pack jeans for little ones, at least. The trail is rough, and with much of the trail material being sharp rocks and glass, there is little room for error. My oldest two kids hiked in sneakers and did fine, but our little ones all wore hiking shoes. Preferably something with a thick sole, like a hiking boot. I’m sure a hike wasn’t in their plans for that day, but if you think you might do this hike, pack close-toed shoes. Proper shoes – we saw kids wearing flip flops.If you’re planning to hike Big Obsidian Flow, here are some basic tips: If you’re really keen to take some home, save a day in your itinerary!
MAKE OBSIDIAN SCALPEL FOR FREE
But with tens of thousands of visitors a year, imagine if everyone took a piece? Thankfully, you can legally collect gorgeous obsidian for free just a couple of hours away at Glass Buttes. Yes, there’s a ton of obsidian and no one would notice this one little piece. Heavy and feather light.įirst, and foremost, don’t take obsidian! There are signs everywhere. (Note: these are very painful for dogs…we saw several people struggling up and down the steps with their dogs.) Once you’re past the steps, there’s a broad viewpoint area with benches where you can take in the view and rest a bit, if needed. The stairs are metal with sharp serrated punch-outs for grip. Our kids did fine, but we held hands to make sure they didn’t trip on the stairs. If you choose to continue up the stairs, then your adventure is just beginning! There are several flights of stairs, but nothing a reasonably fit person can’t handle. You can still see obsidian up close, and there is a lovely view of the glassy mountain and surrounding wooded mountains.
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If this is all the further you can go, do it anyway! There is a docent at the steps who is happy to answer questions and talk about the obsidian. Then a set of sharply studded stair heads steeply upward, and all accessibility ends at the stairs. Only the first 0.1 mile is paved, and safe and accessible for anyone. The first thing to know: leave your dog at home! The trail is literally made with razor sharp glass, and obsidian shards are all around. A large parking lot with vault toilets and picnic tables is available at the trail head. Big Obsidian Flowīig Obsidian Flow covers one square mile inside the Newberry Caldera, and there is now a one mile interpretive trail to the top. For now the volcano is quiet, and 54,000 acres of some of Oregon’s most unique and diverse landscapes are set aside for you to enjoy. Newberry is still very active, with cinder cones and a magma pocket relatively near the surface. Not only was it vital for their own use, but it was integral for trade. Obsidian was a valuable commodity for Native Americans. Evidence of habitation have been discovered dating back to 10,000 years ago. Indigenous groups visited what is now known as Big Obsidian Flow to collect valuable obsidian, used for making tools and weapons. The most recent eruption, 1300 years ago, produced the Big Obsidian Flow. It collapsed about 75,000 years ago, and in the past 10,000 years has erupted 25 times. The Newberry caldera was a massive volcano that was 25 miles in diameter and 9000 feet tall. Big Obsidian Flow is located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which was created in 1990 as part of the Deschutes National Forest outside Bend, Oregon. It’s possible to safely hike it, and the views are amazing, but hiking the trail carries a big warning, and you’ll need some extra preparation.įirst, a little history about the area. If you’re considering hiking Big Obsidian Flow with your children (or dogs!), keep reading. We were already in Central Oregon for other hiking adventures, and this sounded like an easy trek with a big payoff.
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The Big Obsidian Flow trail sounds innocuous enough: A one-mile interpretive trail climbs up and onto this impressive lava flow of obsidian (black glass) and pumice 1. This post may contain links to products that we use and love, and we may earn a commission at no cost to you.