Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, Bend, Oregon, USA

Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, Bend, Oregon, USA

Pilot Butte is an extinct volcano located in Bend, Oregon. It is a cinder cone butte which rises nearly 150 m  above the surrounding plains.

Come and explore an old cinder cone located just east of Bend. Hike up and around on one of three trails. The trails wind through stands of juniper and sage. All of the trails lead to the summit. Once at the top, get ready for a grand panoramic view of the high desert. To the west at sunset, the glow of snowcapped Cascade mountains put on a spectacular show. Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Black Butte and Mt. Hood are some of the highlights.

Pilot Butte is not a place for those seeking solitude. Hike, bike or drive to the summit of the 4,100-foot cinder cone on the east side of Bend, and you’ll likely join at least a few dozen others – locals and tourists alike – all there for the same reasons: spectacular views and community.

Pilot Butte, managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, offers a 360-degree view of the mountains that surround the central Oregon city. Look west to see Mount Bachelor and the Three Sisters. Down south is Paulina Peak. Turn north and there’s Mount Washington, Three-Fingered Jack, Mount Jefferson and, far in the distance, Mount Hood.

Bend is one of four cities in the United States to have a volcano within its boundaries. Portland is the only other city in Oregon with a volcano within its city limits, with Mount Tabor. Jackson Volcano in Jackson, Mississippi and Diamond Head in Honolulu being the others.

Visit USA. Epic USA Adventure route © Monika & Simon Newbound. All rights reserved 2017