Field Trips

COGS offers a variety of field trips led by experts on Oregon's geology.


Geo-Explorations

Informal hikes, bike rides, and other explorations of geologically interesting sites.


To participate in field trips and geo-explorations:

  • You must be a member of COGS, or a guest of a member, to participate in field trips and geo-explorations.
  • You must sign the COGS field trip and geo-exploration waiver.
  • Please arrive at the meeting location 5-10 minutes early to get signed in.
  • Check the weather report and plan accordingly. Remember that weather conditions can change quickly in central Oregon! Dress in layers and wear sturdy hiking shoes.
  • Bring plenty of water and snacks, pack a lunch if specified in the field trip description.
  • Please leave your pets at home – dogs are not allowed on COGS field trips. 

    COGS Field Trip & Geo-Exploration Waiver


    Upcoming Field Trips

      • 13 Oct 2025
      • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
      • Link Creek Campground Day Use Area, Suttle Lake
      Register











      USGS Photograph 


      Fire and Water: Geohydrology of the Central Oregon Cascades

      Monday Oct. 13, 1-4 PM

      Trip Leader: Daniele McKay

      The central Oregon Cascades have been shaped by geologically recent volcanism from hundreds of individual vents located in a relatively small area. Activity in this region has produced extensive lava flows, which have in turn impacted surface and groundwater systems. 

      This field trip will explore Blue Lake crater, one of the youngest volcanic features in the Santiam and McKenzie pass area. The eruption occurred ~1,300 years ago when rising magma encountered groundwater, resulting in phreatomagmatic activity that produced a maar surrounded by a small cinder cone. While exploring Blue Lake crater, will discuss the eruption dynamics of magma-water interactions, and the relationship between volcanic activity and groundwater systems in this section of the Cascades.


      Field Trip Overview:

      This field trip is geared toward a general audience who wants to learn more about the volcanic history of the central Oregon Cascades. No geologic background is necessary.

      We will meet at 1:00 pm at Link Creek Campground at Suttle Lake (see below for detailed directions). We will start with introductions and an overview of the field trip, then hike ~3 miles roundtrip to Blue Lake crater. Walking surfaces will include short sections of paved roads, dirt roads, and partially maintained trails that are steep at times. Bring water, snacks, and appropriate clothing for the weather forecast (National Weather Service, Sisters K6K5). There will be restroom facilities at the beginning and end of the hike, but no facilities in between.

      Participants must be a member of COGS or a guest of a member.  As always please leave your pets at home as they are not allowed on COGS trips.  In addition to accepting the COGS waiver (check box while registering), participants must sign a waiver provided by Caldera Arts Center whose property we will be traversing.  This waiver will be distributed to registrants in the reminder email or can be sighed at the trips beginning.

      Directions:

      This field trip meets at 1:00 pm in the day use parking area of Link Creek Campground at Suttle Lake. The day use parking area is located just south of the boat ramp. See the Link Creek Campground Map for details.

      Vehicles will need to display either an Annual Northwest Forest Pass or a 1-Day Deschutes Pass, both of which can be purchased here

      Ride Sharing:

      Participants interested in ride sharing should meet at the Cascade Village Shopping Center in Bend at 11:45 AM. Meet in the northwest section of the parking lot, between PetSmart and Ashley Furniture.  There will be a secondary meetup location at the Sisters Ranger Station at 12:15 PM. This is an informal ride share and will be self-organizing.

      Please note that although this event has no participation limit, registration is required and must be done via the registration button on the trip listing on the COGS website. Successful registration will be confirmed on the webpage by a light green box indicating registration was successful and by a confirmation email. If you do not get this email, you should try the registration process again.

    Past Field Trips

    25 Aug 2025 Tumalo Fault Geo-Exploration
    23 Jun 2025 Juniper Hills Preserve Field Trip
    6 Jun 2025 Hampton Station area Mega-Fauna Rub Field Trip
    27 Apr 2025 Willow Creek Field Trip, Second Session
    26 Apr 2025 Willow Creek Field Trip
    12 Apr 2025 Barnes Butte Geo-Exploration
    29 Mar 2025 Hollywood Road Geo-Exploration, Second Session Reschedule
    22 Mar 2025 Hollywood Road Geo-Exploration
    18 Oct 2024 Geo-Exploration: Head of the Metolius & Mile 29 Debris Flow
    13 Sep 2024 Alder Springs Geo-Exploration
    1 Sep 2024 Citizen science opportunity - basaltic andesite sample collection
    14 Jul 2024 Geology of Mount Bachelor and the Three Sisters Area
    7 Jul 2024 Three Fingered Jack Field Trip
    5 Jun 2024 Wildcat Caldera Field Trip
    19 Mar 2024 Second Session Added: Hydromagmatic Pinnacles of the Steelhead Falls Area Geo-Exploration
    14 Mar 2024 Hydromagmatic Pinnacles of the Steelhead Falls Area Geo-Exploration
    12 Nov 2023 Second Sesson Added: Fryrear Canyon Geo-Exploration II
    5 Nov 2023 Fryrear Canyon Geo-Exploration
    22 Sep 2023 Henkle Butte & Aspen Hollow Geo-Exploration
    22 Aug 2023 Tour Deschutes (River) Geohydrology Field Trip
    23 Jul 2023 Deschutes Formation Field Trip
    24 Jun 2023 Geohydrology of Siver Creek Field Trip, Harney Basin
    9 Jun 2023 Columbia Gorge Field Trip
    24 May 2023 Smith Rock Geo-Exploration
    26 Apr 2023 Session 2: Riley Ranch Field Trip
    21 Apr 2023 Riley Ranch Field Trip
    31 Mar 2023 Session 2: COGS Geo-Exploration: Barnes Butte, Prineville, OR
    31 Mar 2023 COGS Geo-Exploration: Barnes Butte, Prineville, OR
    12 Mar 2023 Steelhead Falls Geo-Exploration - Session 2
    11 Mar 2023 Steelhead Falls Geo-Exploration
    26 Oct 2022 Mafic Volcanism!
    30 Sep 2022 Thomas Condon Paleontology Center tour and field work experience
    17 Sep 2022 Deschutes Formation and Tumalo Volcanic Center Field Trip
    24 Aug 2022 Melting Glaciers, Failing Dams: The 1966 Debris Flow from No Name Lake Field Trip
    5 Aug 2022 Faults in the Strawberry Mountains
    1 Aug 2022 Whychus Creek Geo-Exploration
    26 Jun 2022 Lava Cast Forest Field Trip
    4 May 2022 COGS Geo-Exploration: Gray Butte
    7 Apr 2022 COGS Geo-Exploration: Barnes Butte, Prineville, OR
    3 Dec 2021 COGS Geo-Exploration: Farewell Bend Loop
    1 Dec 2021 COGS Geo-Exploration: Flatiron Rock in the Oregon Badlands
    6 Aug 2021 Ochoco Mining District Field Trip by Carrie Gordon & Derek Loeb
    28 Jul 2021 Deschutes River Geohydrology Field Trip
    27 Jun 2021 COGS Field Trip: Fault Scarps of Mt. Hood (south side)
    27 Mar 2020 Monthly Tours of the OSU-Cascades Pumice Mine
    4 Oct 2019 Deschutes River Field Trip
    14 Sep 2019 Mount Hood Field Trip
    22 Jul 2019 Newberry Volcano Field Trip
    13 Jul 2019 Wildcat Mountain Caldera Field Trip
    28 Jun 2019 Fire and Water: Recent mafic volcanism of the central Oregon Cascades
    16 May 2019 Geology of the Scout Camp loop trail along the middle Deschutes River
    27 Apr 2019 Geology of Shevlin Park
    3 Nov 2018 Hydrovolcanoes of Central Oregon Field Trip
    23 Oct 2018 Crooked River Caldera Field Trip
    23 Sep 2018 Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain Field Trip
    14 Sep 2018 Clarno Fossil Beds Field Trip
    5 Aug 2018 Glacial Geomorphology of the Santiam Pass Area Field Trip
    14 Jul 2018 Lava Butte and Lava Lands Visitor Center
    10 May 2018 Deschutes Formation, Whychus Creek Geologic Field Trip
    1 Apr 2018 Geology of Riley Ranch Nature Reserve Field Trip

    Central Oregon Geoscience Society

    Email: COGeoSoc@gmail.com
    P.O. Box 2154,  Bend, Oregon 97709

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