Glacier Peak, Washington

USGS Aerial Photo of Glacier Peak Volcano

Aerial view of Glacier Peak Volcano

Glacier Peak and Vicinity

Glacier Peak Volcano
-- Geographic Setting, and Geologic and Eruptive History
Glacier Peak lies only 70 miles northeast of Seattle -- closer to that city than any volcano except Mount Rainier. But unlike Mount Rainier, it rises only a few thousand feet above neighboring peaks, and from coastal communities it appears merely as a high point along a snowy saw-toothed skyline. Yet Glacier Peak has been one of the most active and explosive of Washington's volcanoes. -- Excerpt from: Mastin and Waitt, 2000
Nearby Attraction: North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park contains some of America's most breathtakingly beautiful scenery -- high jagged peaks, ridges, slopes, and countless cascading waterfalls. Hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering are the most popular activities in the park. The park's 204,000 hectares (505,000 acres) encompass some 318 glaciers - more than half of all glaciers in the lower 48 states. There are few roads into the park, but views into the park can be had on clear days from the North Cascades Highway at Goodell Creek, Diablo Lake Overlook, and other places. The Cascade River Road, 40 kilometers (25 miles) of improved dirt and gravel, gives summer and fall access into the park and to the Cascade Pass Trailhead. -- Excerpts courtesy: North Cascades National Park Website, 1999

To Get There

Glacier Peak:
Glacier Peak is located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascade Range, approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Seattle, Washington. Graded dirt roads from Darrington, Washington, approach to within 15-20 kilometers of the volcano on the west, and connect with a network of hiking and climbing trails.

-- Driving excerpt from: Beget, 1990, IN: Wood and Kienle (eds.), 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: Cambridge University Press

Location Maps

[Map,20K,InlineGIF]
Major West Coast Volcanoes - Washington, Oregon, and California

[Map,15K,InlineGIF]
Glacier Peak and Surrounding Vicinity

Useful Links

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Wenatchee National Forest -- U.S. Forest Service websites, scroll to desired Forest
MORE Useful Sites -- CVO Menu, includes links to Volcano Info, Seismicity, Hydrology, etc.
Travel and Tourism Links -- CVO Menu, includes links to Nearby Cities, Attractions, Recreation, etc.
Weather and Road Conditions -- CVO Menu, includes links to Weather Forecasts, DOT's, Pass Reports, etc.

For More Information

Glacier Peak Menu

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04/16/08, Lyn Topinka