Lava Butte Cinder Cone About 7 , 000 years ago , a dozen or so lava flows and cinder cones erupted from fissures on the flanks of Newberry Volcano . An excellent example is Lava Butte , a 500 - foot - high cinder cone south of Bend along Highway 97 . A road spirals to the top providing a grand vista of volcanic country . Here , gas - charged molten rock sprayed volcanic foam ( cinders ) into the air . These fell back into a pile to form Lava Butte . As the eruption proceded , the amount of gas ( mostly water vapor ) contained in the molten rock decreased and lava poured out the south side of Lava Butte and flowed 6 miles downhill . The lava spilled into the nearby Deschutes River forming lava dams in some places and shoving the river westward out of its channel in others . -- Excerpt from : U . S . Forest Service Deschutes National Forest Website , October 2000 Fire Lookout and Visitor Rest Area This cinder cone rises 500 feet from the surrounding forest floor offering breathtaking views of the Cascades . At the 5000 - foot summit is a fire lookout and visitor rest area with interpretive displays . -- From : U . S . Forest Service Pamphlet , 1984 , Lava Lands , Deschutes National Forest : GPO - 1984 - 795 - 615 Lava Cast Forest Across the highway from the turn - off to Sunriver , a nine - mile dirt road winds up to Lava Cast Forest . Here a one - mile , self - guided nature trail unveils a " living museum of volcanic landscapes , " as well as the story of 6 , 000 - year - old Newberry Crater . -- From : Central Oregon Visitors Association Website , October 2000 Lava River Cave One mile south from Lava Butte , Lava River Cave is Oregon ' s longest intact lava tube . You can explore this mile - long phenomenon with lanterns and flashlights , warm clothes and good walking shoes . -- From : Central Oregon Visitors Association Website , October 2000