Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

What if we told you that the 1,200 square foot Newberry Volcano in Deschutes National Forest could easily fit the entire state of Rhode Island within its borders. That’s pretty impressive, right? The still seismically active volcano, designated a national volcanic monument, offers plenty of lava-rific fun in the forest. Sling on a headlamp to explore the mile long Lava River Cave--don’t worry, the bats don’t mind visitors. Or hike along the interpretive trail at Big Obsidian Flow, where you can scramble over the sleek, 1,300-year-old lava flow formed of black glass and pumice. If you get all lava-ed out, no worries, there’s plenty else to do within Deschutes’ 1.6 million acres of forest. Hike, bike, hunt, swim, paddle, ski, horseback ride, climb, camp, fish. Phew! Believe it or not, the list actually goes on. Turns out, 1.6 million acres gives you a lot of room to get your outdoor adventuring on. Whatever you decide to do in Deschutes National Forest, make sure you take a moment or two to just appreciate the rugged, verdant beauty of the surrounding Cascade Mountains. Ahhhh… now, back to playing.