Camping in volcanic areas needn’t be scary or adventurous – the scenery can be truly beautiful, including mountain helock and ponderosa pine forests with jagged peaks, volcanic craters and steaming fumaroles aplenty.
When Iggy Pop instructed a generation of glam-rock kids and biker bar burnouts on Raw Power to “dance to the beat of the living dead”, he wasn’t simply speaking nonsense.
Mount St. Helen
Mount St. Helen is part of the Cascade Mountain Range, a volcanic chain situated along a subduction zone where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate subducts beneath North American plate. As a stratovolcano with steep sides composed of layers of lava, pumice, and ash – its presence marks an area where oceanic plates collide subduction zones.
St. Helens eruption on May 18th 1980 remains one of the most catastrophic volcanic events ever witnessed, as its collapse mixed with ice, snow and water to form lahars — volcanic mudflows which inundated bridges and lumber camps and left behind clouds of ash 12 to 16 miles into the sky.
Visitors to Johnston Ridge Observatory can now explore its crater, lava dome, and pumice plain from less than five miles away, providing stunning hiking trails that showcase incredible vistas. Campers can visit the forest learning center as well as Ape Caves; two empty lava tubes open for exploration within the park’s borders. An entrance fee may apply but holders of an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass may enter without incurring a cost.
Sunset Crater
Visitors of this National Monument may be most interested in viewing its cinder cones and stark lava flows, which dot the park. There are also hiking trails that take visitors to other volcanic formations such as Lenox Crater or Bonito Lava Flows, providing another interesting viewing opportunity.
These lava flows, dating from around AD 1040, were composed of basaltic rock that was expelled through the volcano’s central vent and produced a blanket of cinders as well as hardened lava that spread out from its source.
Researchers who analyzed the magmatic volatiles from this eruption identified significant amounts of carbon dioxide. This finding is especially significant since carbon dioxide can significantly impact an explosive basaltic eruption.
San Francisco Volcanic Field in northern Arizona features more than 600 volcanic vents, and at Sunset Crater and Wupatki you can witness how these forces shape the landscape, producing hills and mountains that alter habitat for all forms of life in their path.
Lassen National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park in California is one of the least-visited national parks, offering spectacular sweeping grandeur and unique hydrothermal features in an uncrowded setting. Visitors will discover steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots and towering cinder cones among pristine mountain views and tranquil alpine lakes in this largely undeveloped park.
Sulphur Works, one of the park’s most beloved hydrothermal areas, can be reached easily on foot via a short stroll on an easily-accessible paved sidewalk trail off of its main road entrance. With vibrant colors and alluring bubbling mud pots that attract visitors from near and far alike, this attraction has proven popular with past guests.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is best visited between the months of summer and early fall when its roads are open, the lakes have thawed out, and wildflowers blooming. But winter visitors also find this destination appealing, especially those interested in snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or backcountry skiing. Be sure to consult the National Park Service website for updates regarding road closures, services or activities in Lassen.
Burney Falls
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County boasts one of Northern California’s most magnificent waterfalls – nicknamed by President Theodore Roosevelt as “The Eighth Wonder of the World” due to its constant flow, estimated at 100 million gallons daily! One notable aspect is its constant flow rate: 100 million gallons pass through daily.
The park boasts several hiking trails and Subway Cave, a fascinating cave with lava tubes and tunnels that is home to several interesting formations. Although only about a mile long, visitors should come equipped with flashlights and sturdy footwear as this self-guided tour may prove challenging and memorable.
Lake Britton is another outstanding attraction of Lake District National Park and an ideal place for fishing and boating enthusiasts to relax, with several campgrounds and cabins located within its borders. To maximize your visit experience, try going in spring or fall when less people visit.https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cvjwt9nnwXY