McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
Mount Washington Overlook, OR

From this overlook, you can get a great view of 7794-foot Mt. Washington. Mt. Washington is interesting because it started out as a shield volcano, and then another thick, different kind of cone was built on top of it by eruptions. Then streams and glaciers dug grooves into it and started peeling away the "superstructure" of the volcano, giving the peak a unique jagged look.

From this viewpoint, you can get an idea just how rapidly changes in natural processes (such as climatic shifts and the onslaught of pests like the spruce budworm) can affect the natural environment. You can see the changes by looking at the mixed conifer forest and the thinning of vegetation along the roadside.