A few weeks ago, we drove about an hour east of our home in Bend to collect Glass Buttes obsidian again. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about going on adventures close to home.
I wrote about going on a field trip to Glass Buttes on my blog in 2018. In that post, I explained some of the geology behind this site. I’m lucky it’s just a short drive away.
On the recent trip there, we drove to one our favorite spots to collect obsidian. Yes, there are maps showing where certain types can be collected. However, at Glass Buttes you don’t have to go far to find obsidian. It’s everywhere!
If you go here, be aware that it’s easy to drive right past the entrance near mile marker 78 on Highway 20 since it’s unmarked. Drive south of Highway 20 on the dirt road, and drive a mile and a half or so. You can continue straight or turn to the left or right. On some of the side roads, 4WD high-clearance vehicles are recommended, but you can find lots of obsidian on both sides of the main road.
There is a new interpretive sign a little ways in on the road to the buttes. You can stop here to read about the importance of this site to native peoples and a few facts about the geology, recreational opportunities, and the danger of wildfires.
On this trip, I took my drone to photograph the landscape. At first glance, it may appear to be “drive by” country. However, looks can be deceiving.
If you go in the spring and summer months, you’ll see beautiful wildflowers like the lupine in the photo below. You’ll also see birds flitting between the sagebrush. On our trip, the air was filled with the songs of the shrubsteppe-dependent songbirds I studied for my graduate thesis. I heard or saw Brewer’s Sparrows, Sagebrush Sparrows, and Sage Thrashers.
It can get pretty hot here, so if you bring your dogs, don’t forget to bring them water. Bring plenty for yourself as well.
A gallery of Glass Buttes obsidian
Here are a few of the pieces of obsidian I collected that day. There are at least 20 different kinds of obsidian at Glass Buttes.
What do I do with all the obsidian I’ve collected? I display pieces in the landscaped areas outside and feature some of my favorite pieces on shelves inside.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Adventures
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