Fort Rock

Fort Rock is an interesting volcanic formation consisting of a "C" shaped ring of dark rock cliffs. It rises dramatically out of the flat desert floor, and reminds one a bit of Ayers rock in Australia. A BLM trailhead leads to easy hikes up into the crater, or a bit of rock scrambling will get you to vantage points on the rim.  It's quite a drop to the flat ground on the other side!  Fort Rock is located southeast of LaPine, a little over an hour from Bend. It makes a great stop on a larger loop of the desert landscape of central Oregon.

A Stone's Throw Bungalow vacation rentals

Tumalo falls in winter

Tumalo Falls is an excellent winter half-day destination. It's a 2-3 mile ski or snowshoe from the gate at the end of Skyliners road. Much of the route is along the creek and in an old burn, so it's pretty and quite sunny. It is possible to loop back on a smaller, more rugged trail through the trees on the other side of the valley.  More information can be found at www.explorecentraloregon.com/tumalo-falls.