Posted by When in Bend, visit the top of Pilot Butte, remnants of a volcano, maybe not like me early in the morning, but it’s worth the hike or drive up!
It’s actually an old cinder cone, one of many in the area left over from the volcanic days of old. The road to the top is closed in the winter, but you can hike it from a trailhead pretty much year round. Once at the top you will see various monuments and posters showing you what is beyond in the distance.
On a clear day you can see all the way to Mt Hood – 90 miles away – and in the foreground, Mt Jefferson, Broken Top, the three Sisters – Faith Hope and Charity and to the south, Mt Bachelor.
The buttes are remnants of ground eruptions, the Sisters, Mt Jefferson and Mt Bachelor are newer volcanos sitting on top of older ones, to the south also is Black Butte, Lava Lands and the Newberry Volcano which is the youngest in the neighborhood.
