fort rock state natural area

Fort Rock is a great place to visit for all ages. It is the remenants of an old volcano that created a tuff ring in the middle of a huge prehistoric lake. One side of the ring eventually succombed to the waves and wind, forming the half circle fort shape we see today. Bring your hiking boots and sunscreen. The area is very exposed and the trail, although fairly well kept, is at times a little crumbly and rocky. Our kids (teenagers), loved climbing around on the huge bolders and rock formations in the center of the "Fort". We also saw quite a bit of wildlife, which was an added bonus. For those who are less adventurous, there is a very clean and well-kept picnic area, including tables, flush toilet facilities and informational displays explaining the natural history of the area and Fort Rocks creation. This makes for a very interesting day trip from the Bend area!