1 votes

Cinder Cone Natural Area

Lassen Volcanic National Park PO Box 100, Mineral, California 96063 USA

Open Now

Sat 12a-11:59p

Independent
Not Wheelchair
Accessible
No Public
Restrooms
No Wifi

“experience the wonder of Cinder Cone Volcano firsthand!”

Cinder Cone Natural Area, located within Mojave National Preserve, is a complex of over 20 large cinder cones of recent origin with extensive and continuous lava flows. Cinder Cone is a 700 ft (213 m) high cone of loose scoria. Scoria forms when blobs of gas-charged lava are thrown into the air during an eruption and cool in flight, falling as dark volcanic rock containing cavities created by trapped gas bubbles. The summit of Cinder Cone has a crater with a double rim, probably created by fluctuating eruptive activity late in its formation. The cone also has several associated blocky lava flows, and a related, widespread ash deposit identifiable for 8 to 10 miles (13 to 16 km) from the cone. There are actually two scoria cones at Cinder Cone—the remnants of a nearly completely buried earlier cone can be seen on the larger cone's south side. Much of the earlier cone was probably destroyed by lava flows erupting from its base. Blocks of red, cemented scoria within the Painted Dunes lava flows are pieces of this earlier cone, which were carried away by the flowing lava.

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Reviewed by
Katebcpa

3 Reviews
2 Helpful

August 28, 2014

A hard walk up , but worth it once you get to the top. The path is steep and the footing is unsteady because you are on rocky sand so you loose a bit of each step. The interior of the cone is worth seeing and the views from the top are great. A must do !

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
yancey.hyatt

1 Review
2 Helpful

March 27, 2014

Fun hike, but definitely not for those who dislike heights especially since the trail up the side of cinder cone is no more than fifteen feet wide. Hike is easy, but the climb is steep and long. Absolutely gorgeous view of the painted dunes and Butte lake and Snag lake.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Sheryl_Miller

1 Review
0 Helpful

August 25, 2016

This place is an ELECTRIFYING Natural Zone. After the hike to the top the most amazing feelings happened. As if we were electric Poles in a storm that came.My hair was electrically statically charged and standing straight up ( I have very long hair). The hands on my then husbands watch went round and round like in a fantasy movie.. yes folks it really happened. The view was so amazing I cant even begin to tell you how awesome it was and we left in a big hurry as a storm approached after we had been up there less then 45 mins., because we felt we were becoming lightening rods. The trip down hill was much faster then the trip uphill and that was when I was young. A story I tell frequently about this place. You just have to go and experience it for yourself. 10 Star experience!

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