DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST

NEAR LA PINE, OREGON

Activity: Day Hike

Date: August 27, 2019

Distance: 6 miles, 1,600’ elevation gain, 3.5 hours duration, rated Difficult

Paulina Peak Trail is a wonderful hike from lakeside at Paulina Lake, through a delightful forest. The first mile is easy, as you hike through thick forest, but progressively gets more difficult as it rises in elevation. The trees get larger and more spread out. By mile three you know it’s difficult when your heels don’t touch with each step and your breathing is accelerated. Pictures, of course, never show the incline. Finally the peak comes into view over the greenery of the forested land. As you rise even higher in altitude the White Pine becomes the predominant vegetation. There are some nice educational pieces regarding this species near the top. The scenic view of the blue lakes, both Paulina Lake and East Lake, along with the magnificent Cascade range in the distance takes you aback, it is a sensational experience.

Once on top, at an Elevation closing in on 8000’, the vista is amazing in every direction. In my title shot can be seen the Three Sisters, a bit of Broken Top, and Mt. Bachelor. Besides the sight of the exquisite Cascades from Mt. Adams all the way to Mt. McLoughlin, Paulina Lake and East Lake, you have a nice view peering down on the Obsidian Flow. Paulina Peak is the highest point of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and dozens of small cinder cones can be seen rising from the volcanic plain surrounding the Newberry Crater.

This makes the Paulina Peak Trail a must do. The humorous thing is that I could have driven to see this spectacular view. I was disappointed that after hiking a strenuous trail to find at the peak there was a parking lot. So I good naturedly ribbed a guy and his young teen son’s about them driving while I hiked up a tough trail. He replied, “Good for your heart.” Which I thought was nice, but then he added, “You need it, you are not skinny.” Okay… I thought that might have been a step to far, lol. But everyone can certainly use more exercise and that is part of what Pursuing Balance Through Adventure is all about.

Thank you ever so much for joining me ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ to the top of Paulina Peak. Let’s meet up again and the way to do that is LIKE, FOLLOW, COMMENT, and SHARE.

Roger Jenkins, Pursuing Balance Through Adventure