Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Tourists won't find much in the way of ancient history here in Oregon. There are no old temples or Neolithic dwellings; our oldest structures date back only to the 1850s.



But we do have Fort Rock – a temple of sorts, crafted by nature – and the ancient human artifacts found inside.



The rock formation in the high desert of central Oregon is named for its imposing size – almost 200 feet high and nearly 4,500 feet in diameter – and while its creation is far more interesting than the erection of a fort, the moniker does seem to fit.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Fort Rock, seen from a gravel road to the east.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Juniper berries grow on a tree in the middle of Fort Rock.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Fort Rock in central Oregon is a volcanic tuff ring, formed by explosions of hot magma that met cold groundwater.

Don't Edit

Fort Rock is a naturally occurring tuff ring, a kind of volcanic crater that forms when hot magma comes into contact with cold groundwater, creating violent explosions.



Around 100,000 years ago, when magma bubbled up from the ground in central Oregon, the area was covered by a giant lake, now referred to as Fort Rock Lake. The little volcanic eruption met the muddy bottom of the lake and exploded, raining down blobs of lava, mud and ash that formed the ring.



The lake eventually dried up and volcanic activity ceased, but Fort Rock soon became a beacon for early Native Americans traveling throughout the area.



In 1938, a University of Oregon archeologist discovered ancient artifacts inside a cave near Fort Rock (called Fort Rock Cave). The artifacts included several pairs of sandals woven from sagebrush bark. Researchers have since determined that the sandals are between 9,200 and 10,500 years old, providing some of the earliest evidence for human occupation in North America.



Similar sandals have been found in southeast Oregon and northwest Nevada, but the cache discovered at Fort Rock was much bigger. It included child and adult sizes, most of them well-worn or broken, according to university researchers.



Questions linger about the discovery: Who were those wanderers who stopped there? Why did they come? How long did they stay? Did Fort Rock serve any function in particular, other than a place to store old sandals?

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Oregonian File Photo

A few of the sagebrush bark sandals found in a cave near Fort Rock.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A short hiking trail leads to the interior of Fort Rock.

Don't Edit

Oregonian File Photo

Researchers stand at the entrance to Fort Rock Cave, where the old sagebrush sandals were found.

Don't Edit

Because of its archeological significance, Fort Rock Cave is off-limits to the public, open only for ranger-guided tours. Fort Rock itself, however, is a state park site that allows visitors to hike up to and around the volcanic site.



Easy paths lead through the desert dust, past sagebrush and the occasional juniper tree. One trail circles the tuff ring, while several other larger trails explore the interior of the rock formation.



It isn't Oregon's biggest or most spectacular natural wonder, but it's captivating all the same – a strange ring of rock in the middle of the desert, worn down like an old coliseum.



Standing in the middle of Fort Rock, staring up at the towering walls, you may sense the presence of the people who were there many millennia ago. It's a feeling that seems to linger, like the hardy volcanic rock, and the sagebrush sandals stored inside for many thousands of years.



Fort Rock seems to hold that all in, with some force of nature. It holds us in place, too, if we let it, in awe of the majesty and mystery of the place.



To get to Fort Rock, take Oregon Route 31 south from U.S. 97 just south of La Pine. After 29 miles, turn left onto County Road 5-11A. In 6.4 miles, turn left onto Cabin Lake Road, following signs for Fort Rock.



SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A panorama taken from just outside the interior at Fort Rock.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Trails and clearings are found inside the rock formation, as well as plenty of sagebrush and grass.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Signs of the magma that created Fort Rock is evident from a trail.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A hiking trail leads from the parking lot to the interior of Fort Rock.