Curious Gorge invites you to explore the rarely-seen Parkdale Lava Flow via an off-trail rugged route that visits the lip of the crater that birthed the lava flow.
Below are some LIDAR images of the Parkdale Lava Flow and crater:
Next are some maps of the route Curious Gorge suggests to thoroughly explore the crater and the flow as a loop. Don’t try this loop without the written description in Curious Gorge.
Below are a few photos from the Parkdale Lava Flow crater loop: The first is a view of the low crater over the Eliot Branch Creek debris flow. This is the photo in Curious Gorge with the arrows drawn onto it.
Next are photos on the Parkdale Lava Flow.
Once you’ve bushwhacked up to the crater rim, the “view area” isn’t large or noted in any way…except you might find a geocache box there and have a clear space to sit for a while.
Finally, here is a view of majestic Mt Hood from the route back down to the debris flow and your parked car.
Curious Gorge Blog 