Like a desert mirage, this monolith rises huge out of the barren, immense flatness of Oregon's high desert. An enormous near-circle of towering jagged rock walls make it seem like a fort.

Hike around and you'll soon realize it's even bigger than it looks! It's an old shield volcano set in what was a shallow sea in prehistoric times. A half mile hiking trail is found inside the crater. As you walk around inside, imagine the early American Indians who canoed to and from what was then an island. Human-made artifacts found nearby are the oldest ever discovered in Oregon.

Vital Stats: There is no fee to use this park. For information, call 1-800-551-6949.

Activities at Fort Rock include viewing the rock, hiking, picnicking, viewing interpretive displays and viewing wildlife.

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