Onwards to the McKenzie River

While in Sisters, we got some advice from their tourist information centre that the McKenzie-Santiam Pass region is a beautiful place to visit.  Having the freedom to go where we please, we decided to make that our destination.  What we found was 1500 year old lava fields that look like they were set down yesterday, gorgeous forest, and a lovely river valley.

Top of McKenzie pass with Mt. Washington in background

North and Middle Sister

Just another viewpoint on a massive lava field with stunning snow-capped peaks in the background.

The Dee Wright Observatory - built of lava rock from the surrounding area.  From each window you can see a specific nearby peak.

Mt. Washington (one of the many in the continental USA).

Black Butte (of Deschutes Black Butte Porter fame), a 6400-foot cinder cone.  Doesn't it look steep and hard to climb?  Stay tuned for more on that.  Also, doesn't the window frame look like the state of Oregon?

Chad props up the Sisters.

We stopped for lunch at Proxy Falls, on the west side of McKenzie Pass.

And finished the day in paradise.  No, really - the campground we stayed at is called Paradise.  It's just up the highway from the McKenzie ranger station and is an amazing place.  Larry the park host made sure we were comfortable in our chosen spot, and we settled in for a couple nights of lush greenery and the sounds of a rushing McKenzie River.