18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Pilot Butte Bend, OR at sundown

Pilot Butte is the biggest landmark in the city of Bend. This extinct cinder volcano is visible from almost everywhere in the city and its summit surpasses expectations with knock-out views of over Bend toward high desert landscapes and snowcapped Cascade Mountains. An extraordinary collection of mountains that includes Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor are visible on clear days. A 0.9-mile long trail spirals up Pilot Butte, ascending 475 feet from the base to the top. Pilot Butte’s views of Bend and beyond make this 1.8-mile hike a Central Oregon must.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2019
Date Uploaded: 07.2020
Photo Location: Bend, Oregon, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © Larry Pifer