Paulina Lake
Sunshine and warm in Bend, but less than hour away the weather in Newberry National Monument had changed quickly. The sky gave way to clouds and mist as we drove the inclining road to the Paulina Lake trailhead. Microclimates abound in Central Oregon so always be prepared. Chilly, I was glad I brought an extra sweatshirt with a hood. Wish I had brought my toboggan, maybe even some gloves.
A short drive after purchasing a $5 day pass we reached the trailhead for our planned 7.5 mile hike. Only one other car in the lot, a good sign. The snow fed lake looked eerily calm. Paulina and the other peaks were hidden by clouds. The moisture in the air intensified the aroma of the forest.
Our dog Loki, who has the biggest case of FOMO ever seen in a canine, was ecstatic to hike along with us. The three of us began the mostly flat, well-traveled trail. A few small motorboats appeared to be fishing in the water, but for the first hour or more, we saw no one else.
As the day progressed, the sun slowly appeared. The color of the lake went from a flat blue to shades of turquoise in places. Like a black and white painting given color, suddenly we were more aware of the manzanita’s pink blooms, the fluorescent colored moss, green pines and firs, and the birds chirping to warn their amigos about the dog below. Very little snow in places except for the now visible Paulina Peak.
A potent sulfur smell led us to a side trail and to the hot springs. They appeared meticulously well kept, as if someone had only recently dug them out and bordered them off to enjoy. Had we a towel, I believe we would have soaked our feet at the very least.
Nearing the end of the hike, giant blocks of obsidian glared in the sun. We worried about the dog’s paws because of the jagged black shards along the trail. Loki seemed unphased though, still merrily climbing over every obstacle. By now, our sweatshirts had given way to t-shirts, another proof of the quickly changing weather in the Cascades.
We slowed our pace towards the end, not wanting the day to end. Monday morning had seemed the perfect time to visit. Decent weather, very few people, and spectacular vistas, at least for the majority of the hike. Better get there soon 😊
