The Cascade Range: Oregon's Defining Mountain Chain

The Cascade Range runs north-south through Oregon, part of a volcanic arc stretching from British Columbia to Northern California. Iconic peaks: Mount Hood (11,249 ft), Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters, Crater Lake (caldera).

Geology and Ecology

Active volcanism shapes the landscape. Western slopes: temperate rainforest (Douglas fir, hemlock). Eastern slopes: drier ponderosa pine, juniper. The range creates a sharp climate divide.

Recreation

Skiing (Timberline, Mt. Bachelor), hiking (PCT), climbing, crater lake viewing. Volcanic monitoring by USGS.