Central Oregon Geoscience Society

About COGS Field Trips

You must be a member of COGS, or a guest of a member, to participate in field trips.

Please arrive at the field trip 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.

Join Carrie Gordon and Derek Loeb as we explore the history, geology and environmental legacy of the Mother Lode and Blue Ridge mine sites in the Ochoco Mountains. An overview of the following topics will be discussed:

History of mining in the area including economic drivers
Geologic setting and mineralization process
Surviving infrastructure and the mining and processing operations
Environmental legacy including remediation and reclamation

Trip starts and ends at the Ochoco Ranger Station (24 miles east of Prineville) Total walking distance is about a mile with no large elevation changes. This trip is limited to 12 participants. As a reminder, all participants are required to be fully vaccinated and must be a COGS member or a guest of one. Ride sharing is voluntary but is encouraged due to limited parking. If interested in registering, please email DerekLoeb@gmail.com

COGS is pleased to announce the formation of a COGS Meetup group to offer COGS members a variety of informal events including geo-explorations, hikes and bike rides to geologically interesting sites, lunch-and-learn events, and online chats. In order to join the COGS Meetup, you can either search "Central Oregon Geosciences Society Meetup" or go to the following link:
https://www.meetup.com/central-oregon-geosciences-society/

On the COGS Meetup site, you will find a red button stating "join this group". Once you have joined the group, you will start receiving notices of COGS Meetup events.

Thanks to the young volcanic geology of central Oregon, the Deschutes River was known as the "Peculiar River" because of its remarkably consistent year-round water levels. Like much of the west, the river and irrigation were key to the settling this area. Join Daniele McKay and Kyle Gorman for an exploration of the natural system and how the Deschutes River is managed today.

We will meet at the Park and Float parking lot at the corner Simpson Avenue and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get signed in and organized as a group.

From there we will drive to multiple sites along the Upper Deschutes River. Bring water, snacks, and lunch, and dress for variable weather. There will be one or two very short walks on mostly flat trails.

Daniele McKay has a PhD in geology from the University of Oregon. She studies volcanic activity and has focused much of her research on recent eruptions in central Oregon.

Kyle Gorman is Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) Region Manager for the South Central Region, which includes the Deschutes, Klamath, and Lake Basins.

Registration:

This trip is limited to 12 participants. All participants are required to be fully vaccinated and must be a COGS member or a guest of a member. Ride sharing is voluntary but is encouraged due to limited parking at some of the field stops. Please email Derek Loeb at derekloeb@gmail.com to register.

This field trip will visit several surface expressions of faulting on the south side of Mt. Hood which have also been identified on lidar imagery. This trip is a great opportunity to see how traditional surface geology techniques can be integrated with quantitative methods based on imagery. There will be a total of three or four stops. Total distance walked will be minimal but there may be some uneven terrain and downed trees to navigate around. This trip is a subset of a two day trip and the field trip guide is available at:: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2017/5022/g/sir20175022g.pdf (pages 100-109)

This trip is limited to 12 participants. As a reminder, all participants are required to be fully vaccianted and must be a COGS member or a guest of one. Ride sharing is voluntary but is encouraged due to limited parking at some of the field stops. Anticipating high demand and to give everyone a fair chance, attendance will be determined by a lottery. If interested in registering, please email DerekLoeb@gmail.com . Groups should include all the names in the party. Prospective participants will be notified of their status on June 18.

Join OSU-Cascades for tours of the former pumice mine:

OSU-Cascades is organizing monthly tours of the construction site for the next phase of campus expansion, and COGS is invited!

This location was an active pumice mine, and is the future site of the OSU-Cascades campus expansion. The pit features spectacular exposures of the ~400 ka Bend Pumice and Tumalo Tuff, and the ~600 ka Desert Springs Tuff. But these exposures will not be visible for long! As part of the campus expansion project the pit will be filled in and terraced. Monthly tours during the construction phases of the project offer a great opportunity to see these volcanic exposures before the pit is permanently filled in.

This field trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background, and all physical abilities. We will meet at the OSU-Cascades Welcome Center for an overview of the geology, then take OSU-Cascades vans into the pit. No need to leave the van, and no protective gear needed – just enjoy the ride!

These field trips are organized by OSU-Cascades and Daniele McKay.

Details:

When: Monthly tours, Next tour is offered on Friday, March 27th at 1:00 PM

Where: Meet at the OSU-Cascades Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is located on the first floor of the residence hall building on the OSU-Cascades campus, 1500 SW Chandler Avenue, Bend.

What to expect: Meet at the OSU-Cascades Welcome Center for an overview of the geology of the pumice mine, then get into vans to drive down into the pit. Once we are in the pit we will not be able to leave the vans, but we will have great views of volcanic deposits from the vans. The geologic overview will last for about 20 minutes, followed by a 15-minute tour of the pit. The tour is limited to 22 people, so be sure to register!

Parking: Parking is available on campus for $1/hour or $3/day. Please see OSU-Cascades Visitor and Guest Parking for details. There is also street parking available on SW Chandler Avenue.

The tour is limited to 22 people, so be sure to register!

To register: Please email Daniele McKay at dmckay1@uoregon.edu to register.

Additional information:

OSU-Campus Expansion

OSU-Cascades Campus Expansion Webcam

Geologic background:

Ash-flow tuffs in the Bend Area (see p. 123)

Thanks to the young volcanic geology of Central Oregon, the Deschutes River was known as the "Peculiar River." Like much of the west, the river and irrigation were key to the settling this area. Join Daniele McKay and Kyle Gorman for an exploration of the natural system and how the Deschutes River is managed today.

We'll meet at the Park and Float parking lot at the corner Simpson Ave. and Bradbury Way, across from The Pavilion at 1000 SW Bradbury Way. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get signed in and organized as a group.

From there we'll drive to multiple sites along the Upper Deschutes River. Bring snacks and lunch, and dress for variable weather. There'll be one or two very short walks on trails.

Dr. Daniele McKay has a PhD in geology from the University of Oregon. She studies volcanic activity and has focused much of her research on central Oregon volcanoes.

Kyle Gorman is Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) Region Manager for the South Central Region, which includes the Deschutes, Klamath, and Lake Basins.

Sign-up via Coalition for the Deschutes

Mount Hood is the highest point in the state of Oregon. It is a stratovolcano built by successive andesitic and dacitic lava dome and lava flow eruptions, along with associated mass flow deposits, over the last ~500,000 years. Mount Hood is also the site of Oregon’s youngest volcanic eruption, which occurred in the late 1780’s, and the effects of this eruption on local rivers were noted by Lewis and Clark in diary entries from November 1805. Mount Hood also experienced a major sector collapse event ~1500 years ago – the effects of which are still visible as the smooth Timberline surface on the south side of the volcano, and upon which Timberline Lodge is hosted.

This field trip will examine the effects of recent eruptions of Mount Hood, focusing on eruptive styles and products. The trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background. The total estimated hiking distance is less than two miles, some of it on uneven ground.

Note: We will meet in the Mount Hood area at 9:00 AM and the field trip will run until 5:00 PM. Please budget additional time for travel from Bend to Mount Hood and back. There will be a meet up location in Bend for arranging informal ridesharing. More information will be provided prior to the trip date.

Registration for this field opens August 15. For additional information or to register, please email Derek Loeb at derekloeb@gmail.com

Additional materials and background information:

Scott, W.E. and Gardner, C.A. (2017) Field-trip guide to Mount Hood, Oregon, highlighting eruptive history and hazards in Field-trip guides to selected volcanoes and volcanic landscapes of the western United States. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5022.

Volcanoes, including Mt. Hood, can go from dormant to active in a few months. Science Daily, 2014

Newberry Volcano and its surrounding lavas cover about 3,000 square kilometers in central Oregon. This massive, shield-shaped, composite volcano is located in the rear of the Cascades Volcanic Arc, ~60 km east of the Cascade Range crest. Lava compositions range from basalt to rhyolite. Eruptions began about half a million years ago and built a broad composite edifice that has generated more than one caldera collapse event. At the center of the volcano is the 6- by 8-km caldera, created ~75,000 years ago during a major explosive eruption. A significant mafic eruptive event about 7,000 years ago erupted lavas over a distance of 35 km from south of the caldera to Lava Butte. Newberry’s most recent eruption took place about 1,300 years ago in the center of the caldera and produced tephra and lava of rhyolitic composition.

On this field trip we will discuss the eruptive history and a wide range of eruptions of the volcano. We will visit a variety of locations, all of which are described in Jensen, R. A. and Donnelly-Nolan, J.M. (2017) Field-trip guide to the geologic highlights of Newberry Volcano, Oregon, in Field-trip guides to selected volcanoes and volcanic landscapes of the western United States. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5022.

Estimated total walking distance: could vary depending on desires of group, less than a half mile to 2 miles, if trails at Big Obsidian Flow and Lava Butte are walked. The trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background.

Julie Donnelly-Nolan is a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park CA. Her work involves field-based research on volcano histories and hazards. She is currently leading a long-term study of Newberry Volcano with the goal of understanding what this largest Cascades volcano has done in the past and what it might do in the future. In addition to her geologic mapping of the 1200-squre mile volcano, she works with a variety of collaborators including Bob Jensen of COGS. She also worked at Medicine Lake volcano in northern California where publications include the geologic map (https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2927/) and hazards assessment (https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5174/a/). She did her PhD thesis at UC Berkeley focused on geologic mapping and argon dating of the Clear Lake Volcanic Field in the California Coast Ranges.

Bob Jensen retired in 2005 from the Deschutes National Forest after 30 years as an engineering geologist. Between 1988 and 2005, he self published 4 field guides to Newberry Volcano and in 2015 a field guide to Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Since 2006, he has volunteered with the USGS as a field assistant for Julie Donnelly-Nolan working on the mapping of Newberry Volcano. In 2017, Bob published with Julie another field trip guide to Newberry Volcano that is online as USGS SIR-2017-5022-J2 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2017/5022/j2/sir20175022j2.pdf)

Join us on an exploration around the edges of Mill Creek Wilderness in the Ochoco Mountains and see what’s hiding! In 2005, Jason McClaughry and Mark Ferns, with the Oregon Department of Geology and Minerals Industry, discovered the 40 Million year old Wildcat Mountain Caldera. Carrie Gordon and Derek Loeb will lead a field trip to look at the features of this volcano. It stretches from Twin Pillars to Steins Pillar. The field trip will begin in Prineville, travel northeast up Little McKay Creek across to the top of Mill Creek, down the drainage to Wildcat Campground. After lunch, we will explore a portion of the Steins Pillar trail with a final stop at Brennan Palisades. In a total of six stops, we will look at the pre-caldera rocks, caldera margins and the caldera tuff deposits as well as how the caldera affects current topography and ongoing geologic processes.

Pre-field trip information: “Field Trip Guide to the middle Eocene Wildcat Mountain Caldera, Ochoco National Forest, Crook County, Oregon”.

https://www.oregongeology.org/pubs/og/OGv69n01.pdf (Pg. 5-24)

This trip will visit a subset of the described stops and will do so in modified order.

Total hiking distance will be about 1 mile on trails with a modest elevation gain/loss. This trip will be suitable for all geologic backgrounds and is limited to 20 participants. The trip will start in Prineville but there will be a meet up location in Bend to informally arrange ride sharing for the trip.

Field trip description modified from Deligne and others, 2017

The central Oregon Cascades have been shaped by geologically recent volcanism from hundreds of mafic vents located in a relatively small area. Activity in this region has produced extensive lava flows and surprisingly large tephra deposits. Lava flows from several mafic vents have interacted with ground or surface water and in many cases have altered the flows of rivers and streams.

This field trip will explore recent mafic volcanism in the McKenzie Pass and Santiam Pass areas, with a focus on the Sand Mountain volcanic field. We will look at recent lava flows and tephra deposits, and at rivers, lakes, and groundwater that have been shaped by volcanic activity. We will also discuss hazards associated with mafic volcanic activity, including forest fires, disruption of water routes, and damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism.

COGS has extended an invitation for this field trip to the Geological Society of the Oregon Country (GSOC) in Portland. Normally all field trip participants must be COGS members in order to go on field tips, but this trip will also be open to GSOC members. This offers a great opportunity for meeting fellow geology enthusiasts and for building ties between our two organizations.

This field trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background, and all physical abilities. Total walking distance will be about 2 miles on generally flat trails. There will also be an optional boat ride at Clear Lake Resort. Please bring $5 in cash if you would like to participate in the boat excursion. Several field trip stops will require a Northwest Forest Pass or an equivalent public lands pass. Dress accordingly for changing weather at high elevations and bring a packed lunch, snacks, and water.

This field trip will depart from Sisters at 9:00 AM and will return to Sisters at about 5:00 PM. Please budget additional time for travel from Bend to Sisters and back. There will be a meet up location in Bend for arranging informal ridesharing. The field trip will be led by Daniele McKay.

The Deschutes Formation ranges in age from approximately 7.5 to 4 million years old and consists of volcanic deposits and associated sediments that were predominately sourced from the east flank of ancestral High Cascades. While the Deschutes Formation is present over a large portion of the upper and middle Deschutes Basin in the greater Bend area, to the south it is buried under younger volcanic deposits sourced from the Cascades Range to the west and Newberry Volcano to the south. North of Bend the Deschutes Formation comprises much of the surface geology and is especially well exposed in the canyons of the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers and Whychus Creek. The Deschutes Formation is of particular interest because, not only is it the best way to understand the evolution of the ancestral, High Cascades, but it serves as the major groundwater aquifer in the area.

This field trip will visit a section of the Deschutes River near its confluence with Whychus Creek that is representative of the range of lithologies that make up the Deschutes Formation and its transition from being dominated by volcanic rocks to the west and transitioning to a much greater sedimentary composition to the east. It features exposures of the Deschutes Formation, intra-canyon basalts, baked paleosols, sedimentary features, wild flowers and great views. This will be a good introduction to those who are not familiar with the Deschutes Formation or these outcrops, and for those who are, this is a good chance to become reacquainted and engage in some lively geo-discussions.

This field trip is suitable for all levels of background in geology. Scout Camp Loop trail is a challenging (steep and rocky) 2.2 mile hike with about 500’ of elevation loss/ gain. This trip is led by Derek Loeb and is limited to 12 participants.

Within Shevlin Park are exposures which reveal more than 600,000 years of Central Oregon geologic history. Three ash-flows have come out of the Cascades west of Bend. Between eruptions, streams have cut channels into earlier ash-flows and those channels helped guide the flow of later ash-flows and lava flows. The current route of Tumalo Creek began forming around 300,000 years ago when a lava flow filled the previous channel east of Shevlin Park. About 170,000 years ago, another ash-flow swept across the area. A portion was channeled down the Tumalo Creek drainage where it thickened and welded to form what is now known as the Shevlin Park Tuff. Continued erosion by Tumalo Creek has cut a channel through the Shevlin Park Tuff to exposes the older Tumalo Tuff and Desert Spring Tuff. Total walking distance will be about 2.5 miles with about 200’ of elevation gain on a combination of trail, road and a minor amount of off trail surfaces. This trip should be suitable for all geological backgrounds. Each trip is limited to 12 participants.

This COGS field trip will explore several iconic examples of hydrovolcanoes in central Oregon. Hydrovolcanoes are produced by the interaction of magma or magmatic heat with an external source of water, such as a lake or an aquifer. After cinder cones, hydrovolcanoes are the second most common volcano type on continents and islands. The most common structure produced by a hydrovolcano is either a tuff ring or a tuff cone. We will visit three locations that exhibit these structures: Hole in the Ground, Fort Rock, and Table Rock. Each of these volcanoes erupted explosively within or near the ancient Fort Rock Lake. The rocks at each stop tell an amazing story, so we’ll learn how the volcanic processes are unraveled at the outcrops.

This will be a long day with considerable driving time. The driving time from Bend to the first stop at Hole in the Ground is approximately 1¼ hours, and the return to Bend from the final stop at Table Rock is under two hours. The roads in and out of Hole in the Ground are the roughest of the trip, and roads at Table Rock are also quite rough. A high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended. Bring a lunch, plenty of water, and ensure that your vehicle has a full tank of gas prior to leaving. The only gas station or store along our route after La Pine is in Silver Lake, following the last stop.

We will leave for the field trip at 8:00 AM from the southwest corner of the Walmart parking lot, 20120 Pinebrook Blvd., Bend. Please plan to meet 15 minutes prior to departure. The return to Bend should be no later than 6:00 PM.

The Crooked River caldera is a 26-mile long, 17-mile wide volcanic depression formed through a series of super-volcanic eruptions between 29.7 and 27.5 million years ago. Eruptions from the Crooked River caldera deposited massive volumes (>140 cubic miles) of tuff and rhyolitic lavas, dikes, and domes. All of these volcanic features are now well exposed in the rock walls of Smith Rock State Park.

Current research suggests that the Crooked River caldera records some of the oldest caldera-forming eruptions related to the passage of the Yellowstone volcanic hotspot from the coast of the Pacific Northwest to the modern Yellowstone caldera in Wyoming during the past 50 million years. The Crooked River caldera also contributed a significant amount of volcanic material to the Turtle Cove Member of the John Day Formation, which hosts one of the world’s most complete and well-preserved fossil records of Cenozoic terrestrial plants and animals.

This field trip will be led by Jason McClaughry from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. The trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background, but will emphasize in-depth discussions of the volcanic processes that created the Crooked River caldera.

Total walking distance will be less than 2 miles, mostly on flat terrain but some stops may include short walks over uneven ground.

Additional materials and background information:

McClaughry J.D., Ferns, M.L, Gordon, C.L., and Patridge, K.A. (2009). Field trip guide to the Oligocene Crooked River caldera: Central Oregon’s Supervolcano, Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties, Oregon. Oregon Geology, Volume 69, No. 1, pp. 25-44.

McClaughry J.D. & Patton, P. The Oregon Encyclopedia: Smith Rock State Park.

Few places contain as remarkable a record of long-term climatic and biotic change as the John Day Basin of Central Oregon. On this trip, we will visit the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, located about 90 miles NE of Bend (~2 hours drive-time). As described on the NPS website, the Palisades are the most prominent landform and are volcanic lahars, or mudflows, that formed 54-40 million years ago in a lush semi-tropical rainforest environment. Tiny four-toed horses, huge rhino-like brontotheres, crocodilians, and meat-eating creodonts that once roamed ancient jungles are now found in the rocks of the Clarno Unit, as well as an incredibly diverse range of plant life. Leaves, fruits, nuts, seeds, and petrified wood from 173 species of trees, vines, shrubs, and other plants have been found here thus far.

This trip, led by Bob Timmer & Derek Loeb, will focus on the volcanism, sedimentation, paleo-climate, and flora & fauna recorded in the Clarno Formation. We will depart Bend at 8:00AM and arrive at the Clarno Unit picnic area along highway 218 at about 10AM. After an overview of the geology and a bathroom break, we will then drive 1 mile west to the parking area at the Hancock Field Station. We will hike the geo-loop trail past the Hancock Tree, to the Ignimbrite Rim (basal welded tuff of the John Day Formation), the Mammal Quarry, the Nut Beds, and Red Hill. The hike will be about 4 miles with an elevation gain of about 700 feet. Lunch will be along the trail and we should return to the cars by 3PM.

We will then return to the Clarno Unit picnic area to meet members of the Geological Society of the Oregon Country (GSOC). They are holding the Presidents Field Trip at Clarno (Hancock Field Camp) and we will join them at the picnic area for refreshing beverages and snacks before departing by 4PM for Bend. We should arrive back in Bend by 6PM.

Temperatures at Clarno can range from quite warm to chilly in September, dress accordingly, bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and bring a sack lunch. This trip should be suitable for all geologic backgrounds. A restroom is available at the Clarno picnic area. Please send an email to DerekLoeb@gmail.com to register or for more information and include a cell phone number. Participants need to be a member of COGS or guest of a member and please leave your pets at home. Participation on the trip will be limited to 12 per our permit from the National Park Service.

The Mount Bachelor volcanic chain is a 25-km long zone of shield volcanoes and cinder cones that erupted over several millennia during and after the end of the last major Pleistocene ice age. Despite the relative short duration of activity, eruptions of the chain emplaced about 40 km3 of lava flows and fragmental deposits, a volume that is similar to that of the Three Sisters and Broken Top combined. On this field trip we will discuss the age of the volcanic chain, relation to glacial events and deposits, tectonic influences, eruptive styles, and the petrology and geochemistry of eruptive products. We will also consider the importance of eruptions like the Mount Bachelor chain to growth of the central Oregon segment of the Cascade volcanic arc.

This field trip will be led by Cynthia Gardner and William Scott, both from the U.S. Geological Survey—Cascades Volcano Observatory. The trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background, but will emphasize in-depth discussions of the volcanic history of the central Oregon Cascades. Total walking distance will be less than 2 miles, some of which may be over uneven ground.

Additional materials and background information:

Scott, W. E. & Gardner, C. (1990). Field Trip Guide to the Central Oregon High Cascades, Part I: Mount Bachelor-South Sister Area. Oregon Geology , 52, pp. 99-117.
Scott, W. E. & Gardner, C. (1992). Geologic map of the Mount Bachelor volcanic chain and surrounding area, Cascade Range, Oregon. U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Map , I-1967

I’ve worked with the USGS since 1980 (starting as a Physical Science Technician) and began working in volcanology in 1983. My major projects include volcanic history (using paleomagnetic-secular variation techniques), eruptive processes, and volcanic hazard studies in the Cascades (Baker, Bachelor, Mount Hood and Mount Shasta), at several Alaska volcanoes (Redoubt, Spurr, and Augustine), and in Nicaragua (Momotombo, Telica, and Cosequina). I’ve participated in five eruption responses, Redoubt Volcano, Alaska 1989-1990; Crater Peak, Alaska, 1992; Soufriere Hills, Montserrat, 1995; Mount St. Helens, Washington, 2004–2008; and Kilauea, Hawaii, 2018, and am especially interested in the start and endings of eruptions. I also enjoy working with emergency managers to hopefully prevent future volcanic crises from becoming volcanic disasters. I was the eruption coordinator for the Mount St. Helens 2004–2008 eruption and was Scientist in Charge at USGS’s Cascades Volcano Observatory from 2005–2010.

I’m a Geologist Emeritus since retiring in 2015 after a 40-year career with USGS. My major projects include volcanic history, eruptive process, and volcanic hazard studies in central Oregon, at Mount Hood, and several Alaska volcanoes; investigations of eruptive processes and hazards at erupting volcanoes including Mount St. Helens, 1980 and 2004-present; Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, 1989-90 and 2009; Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, 1991-92; and Soufriere Hills, Montserrat, West Indies, 1997. Fields of interest include volcanology, volcano-hazard assessment, and volcanic-risk mitigation. Between 1997 and 2003 I served as Scientist in Charge at USGS’s Cascades Volcano Observatory.

The Quaternary Period ranges in age from about 2.6 million years ago to the present. Within this time period, numerous cycles of major glacial advances and retreats occurred. This is also a period when active volcanism in the High Cascades interacted with alpine glacial activity. During the last glacial stage from about 115,000-12,000 years ago, volcanic and glacial interactions resulted in much of the modern land forms of the High Cascades that are so familiar and appreciated today. The theme of this field trip will be to examine these land forms and to discuss the volcanic and glacial processes that produced them.

We will meet at 9 am at the Ray Benson Sno-Park, near Santiam Pass off of U.S. Hwy 20. After introductions and orientation we will discuss how glaciers have interacted with the High Cascade volcanos. With Hayrick Butte in clear view, this area is one of the best places in the world to examine a specific type of interaction of volcanism and glacial ice which results in a landform called a tuya.

We will then proceed east on Hwy 20 to the Mt. Washington Overlook pull off. Here we will enjoy a great view of Mt. Washington, but most importantly we will be able to envisage what the glacial accumulation zone and alpine glaciers would have looked like during the last glacial advance. We will also get a good view of Blue Lake, which is a post glacial, hydrovolcanic feature which sits within the larger Suttle Lake basin. Suttle Lake is a moraine-dammed lake that is just out of sight from this location.

Our final stop will be further east on Hwy. 20, past the northern shore of Suttle Lake, to FS 12/Jack Lake Rd. where we will park near the bridge over Lake Creek. Here we will use a little imagination to see the terminal moraine of Suttle Lake. We will hike about a mile, ascending its lateral moraine, before arriving at the recessional moraine that dams Suttle Lake. Here we will enjoy a lunch break with shade and a view of the lake. After a summary of what we have observed and interpreted, we will discuss features that are further downstream, for example the braided streams and outwash plains. We should arrive back at our vehicles by 3 pm.

Total walking distance on this trail is about 2 miles and an elevation gain/loss of about 200 feet which will be mostly in the shade. It should be suitable for all geologic backgrounds. Please send an email to DerekLoeb@gmail.com to register or for more information and include a cell phone number. Participants need to be a member of COGS or guest of a member and please leave your pets at home.

Field trip description modified from Deligne and others (2014)

Lava Butte is a ~7,000 year old cinder cone located on the flanks of Newberry Volcano. It is the northernmost vent along the Holocene “northwest rift zone,” a nearly continuous zone of mafic vents and lava flows that extends about 20 miles from the north wall of Newberry Caldera.

The Lava Butte eruption began along a fissure that became localized and built the 500-foot cinder cone. The eruption also produced spatter ramparts, extensive lava flows, and an ash deposit. These features provide good examples of the types of eruptions that have occurred throughout the past on the flanks of Newberry Volcano and throughout the central Oregon Cascades. From the splendid vista on top Lava Butte, we will examine the products and processes of cinder cone eruptions, and discuss the hazards this type of volcanic activity poses. After exploring the summit of Lava Butte, we will visit the Lava Lands Visitor Center at the base of the cinder cone and take a short walk through the lava flow on a paved trail.

This field trip will be led by Daniele McKay and will focus on the volcanology and hazards of cinder cone eruptions. The trip is appropriate for all levels of geologic background, and all physical abilities. Total walking distance will be about 1 mile on generally flat trails. Temperatures on the lava flow trail can be quite warm in July, dress accordingly and bring plenty of water and sunscreen. There is a restroom and water at the visitor center, and a restroom with no water at the summit of Lava Butte.

We will meet at the shuttle bus stop on the east side of the Lava Lands Visitor Center at 8:45 AM. There is a $5 fee per vehicle for the visitor center and Lava Butte. A Northwest Forest Pass will allow you access without paying the vehicle fee. There is an additional fee for the shuttle service to the top of Lava Butte. The cost is $2 per person round trip and exact change is required. BRING $2 IN CASH FOR THE SHUTTLE – EXACT CHANGE IS REQUIRED.

To register for this field trip, or for additional information, please email Daniele McKay at dmckay1@uoregon.edu

This field trip will visit two sections of Whychus Creek that are representative of the range of lithologies that make up the Deschutes Formation and its transition from being dominated by volcanic rocks to the west and transitioning to a much greater sedimentary composition to the east. The first stop will be at Whychus Canyon Preserve, owned by the Deschutes Land Trust, where we will do a fairly level, 1-mile hike to an outcrop and viewpoint that is representative of the volcanic facies of the Deschutes Formation. We will then drive to the Alder Springs trail head, on the Crooked River National Grasslands, and do a 3-mile hike with an elevation change of 400 feet to the banks of Whychus Creek. Along the way we will see numerous outcrops showing the transition to the sedimentary facies of the Deschutes Formation and its importance as an aquifer.

This field trip is scheduled for Thursday May 10, from 9 am to 4 pm. The hiking is rated as moderately challenging. The hike into and out of the canyon at Alder Springs has some relatively short but steep sections and it can be hot this time of the year. This field trip is suitable for all levels of background in geology. This will be a good introduction to those who are not familiar with the Deschutes Formation or these outcrops, and for those who are, this is a good chance to become reacquainted and engage in some lively geo-discussions. This trip is led by Derek Loeb and is limited to 12 participants. To reserve your spot please contact:

Derek Loeb at DerekLoeb@gmail.com

2021 COGS Field Trips

COGS Geo-Exploration Meetup

2020 COGS Field Trips

Monthly Tours of the OSU-Cascades Pumice Mine

Tours SUSPENDED due to coronovirus

Past Field Trips - 2019

Deschutes River Field Trip

Saturday September 14th, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Trip Leaders: Adam Kent, Oregon State University

Past Field Trips - 2019

Monday, July 22, 2019 7:45 am- 5:00 pm

Trip Leaders: Julie Donnelly-Nolan (USGS Research Geologist) and Bob Jensen (USGS Volunteer)

Saturday, July 13, 2019 7:45 am- 5:00 pm

Trip Leaders: Carrie Gordon (USFS Geologist - retired) and Derek Loeb

Geology of the Scout Camp loop trail along the middle Deschutes River

Thursday, May 16, 2019 9 am-1 pm

Trip Leader: Derek Loeb

Geology of Shevlin Park

Thursday, April 18, 2019, 9 am-1 pm.

Saturday, April 27, 2019, 9 am-1pm.

Trip Leader: Bob Jensen

2018 Field Trips

Hydrovolcanoes of Central Oregon Field Trip

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Trip Leader: Steve Goldberg

Crooked River Caldera Field Trip

Tuesday, October 23rd
Trip Leader: Jason McClaughry

Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain Field Trip
September 23, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

2021 COGS Field Trips

COGS Geo-Exploration Meetup

2020 COGS Field Trips

Monthly Tours of the OSU-Cascades Pumice Mine Tours SUSPENDED due to coronovirus

Past Field Trips - 2019

Deschutes River Field Trip

Saturday September 14th, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Trip Leaders: Adam Kent, Oregon State University

Past Field Trips - 2019

Monday, July 22, 2019 7:45 am- 5:00 pm

Trip Leaders: Julie Donnelly-Nolan (USGS Research Geologist) and Bob Jensen (USGS Volunteer)

Saturday, July 13, 2019 7:45 am- 5:00 pm

Trip Leaders: Carrie Gordon (USFS Geologist - retired) and Derek Loeb

Geology of the Scout Camp loop trail along the middle Deschutes River

Thursday, May 16, 2019 9 am-1 pm

Trip Leader: Derek Loeb

Geology of Shevlin Park

Thursday, April 18, 2019, 9 am-1 pm.

Saturday, April 27, 2019, 9 am-1pm.

Trip Leader: Bob Jensen

2018 Field Trips

Hydrovolcanoes of Central Oregon Field Trip

Saturday, November 3, 2018 Trip Leader: Steve Goldberg

Crooked River Caldera Field Trip

Tuesday, October 23rdTrip Leader: Jason McClaughry

Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain Field TripSeptember 23, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Monthly Tours of the OSU-Cascades Pumice Mine

Tours SUSPENDED due to coronovirus

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Trip Leader: Steve Goldberg

Tuesday, October 23rd
Trip Leader: Jason McClaughry

Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain Field Trip
September 23, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM