This 83-mile route—running from Bend, Oregon, to Sunriver on Oregon 372 and County Roads 46 and 42—can be driven in three hours, but take your time and enjoy the unparalleled Cascades scenery.

Overview
It's been 1,300 years since lava oozed out of the peaks of the Cascade mountain range, but the volcanic landscape of central Oregon's high desert plain still conjures up prehistoric visions of bubbling calderas, exploding mountain tops, and rivers of molten lava. Yet just 20 miles away is a contrasting land of thick forests—mostly Douglas fir and hemlock—and glistening lakes full of native rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Weaving through a classic Cascades landscape, the Scenic Byway passes massive volcanoes, murmuring streams, forests of awesome evergreens, lava flows, glittering lakes, and meadows full of wildflowers.

Start in Bend
Head southwest out of Bend on Oreg. 372, following the signs to Cascade Lakes and Mount Bachelor. Almost immediately, you start climbing into ponderosa pine forests characteristic of the drier east side of the Cascades as you cross into the Deschutes National Forest (+1 541 383 5300; www.fs.fed.us/r6/deschutes/welcome.html). After five miles, you'll see an immense swath of the eastern Cascades, including some extensive lava flows.

Mount Bachelor
As you continue climbing, the forest becomes a dense mix of pine, fir, hemlock, and spruce. About seven miles past the information kiosk, you round a bend and Mount Bachelor suddenly fills the horizon. After about five miles a turnoff leads up to the Mount Bachelor Ski and Summer Resort (800 829 2442); a chairlift ascends to the 9,065-foot summit of this volcano (fee). On clear days, the view here takes in the surrounding peaks.

Todd Lake
Back on the drive, now called Cty. Rd. 46, you have more dramatic views of other volcanoes and mountains, with Broken Top hulking in the foreground. A side road a mile or so past the ski-area turnoff leads a half mile to a short trail with great views of Todd Lake and the snow-crowned mountains that rear above it. Fringed by spruce and fir forests, Todd Lake is favored by American dippers, which dive into it with abandon. This is the first of many beautiful mountain lakes along the drive; most were formed when ancient lava flows dammed or redirected rivers.