Information on Black Butte Volcano in California

Black Butte is a volcanic peak in the Cascades.

This volcanic mountain stands approximately one mile from U.S. Interstate 5. It was formed in the Holocene era, and rises to an elevation of 6,325 feet. Today it is considered dormant, but not extinct.

Geography

Black Butte is a dacite volcanic peak in the Cascade Mountains in Siskiyou County, northern California. It is a satellite cone of Mount Shasta, about eight miles to the east.

History

Black Butte was created by an effusive eruption around 9,500 years ago. The pyroclastic flows extended more than six miles to the south and three miles to the north, covering a total area of approximately 18 square miles.

Features

Black Butte consists of four dome lobes, formed by a series of successive eruptions. It is a moderate 2.5-mile hike to the summit, along a well-laid trail.

Warning

Hiking is not recommended during the winter, when the trail is treacherous. It is also not a good idea to leave the trail, since it is easy to twist an ankle on the loose scree.

References

• Mount Shasta and Vicinity, California
• Trails: Black Butte
• Pre-eruptive and syn-eruptive conditions in the Black Butte, California dacite: Insight into crystallization kinetics in a silicic magma system
• Mountain Zone: Black Butte Summit -- California Mountain Peak Information

Resources

• Summit Post: Black Butte