fromTravel + Leisure
5 days agoThis 82-mile Scenic Drive Winds Past Waterfalls, Lava Fields, 6 Peaks, and Some of the Brightest Fall Colors in the Pacific Northwest
Continuing along Oregon 242, the scenery changes as dark lava fields stretch across the hillsides, revealing the volcanic history that shaped this part of the state. A popular stop here is the Dee Wright Observatory, built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps from the surrounding lava rock. On a clear day, the observatory offers views of countless Cascade peaks, including the Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and Mount Jefferson.
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