Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington

Volcanoes of the Portland Area, Oregon

• Portland, Oregon
  The Portland, Oregon, area spans parts of the lower Columbia River Valley, Willamette Valley, and extends into the Oregon Coast Range and into the Middle Cascade Mountains. The floors of the lower Columbia River Valley and Willamette Valley are nearly flat to gently rolling terraced surfaces. Altitudes range from near sea level in the vicinity of Portland to nearly 400 feet on some of the higher terraces. The area includes most of the Plio-Pleistocene Boring volcanic field, which includes at least 32 and possibly 50 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes. [Trimble, 1963, and Allen, 1990]

• Battle Ground Lake State Park, Washington
  Battle Ground Lake State Park (179.5 acres of land with 4,100 feet of freshwater shoreline surrounding a 28-acre lake) is located 19 miles northeast of Vancouver, three miles east and north of the community of Battleground, in Clark County. The lake's origin is volcanic, and is believed to have been formed as a "maar" volcano. This type of volcano is the result of hot lava or magma pushing up near the surface of the earth and then coming into contact with underground water. This is thought to have resulted in a large steam explosion, leaving a crater that later formed a lake. [Washington State Parks and Recreation, 2001]

• Beacon Rock State Park, Columbia River Gorge, Washington
  Beacon Rock is the core of an ancient volcano. The ice-age floods through the Columbia River Gorge eroded the softer material away, leaving this unique geological structure standing by itself on the banks of the Columbia River. Beacon Rock State Park is located 35 miles east of Vancouver, Washington, on State Route 14, in Skamania County. [Washington State Parks and Recreation, 2001]

• Boring Lava Field
  Metropolitan Portland, Oregon, includes most of a Plio-Pleistocene volcanic field. The Boring Lava includes at least 32 and possibly 50 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes. Boring lava vents have been inactive for at least 300,000 years. [Allen, 1990]

• Columbia River Gorge

• Larch Mountain, Oregon
  Boring Lava Field cone, nice drive to a parking area with short climb to the top. Views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and Mount Jefferson.

• Mount Adams, Washington
  -- 100 miles northeast

• Mount Hood, Oregon
  -- 50 miles east

• Mount St. Helens, Washington
  -- 50 miles north

• Mount Tabor Cinder Cone, Oregon
  Mount Tabor is an extinct volcanic cinder cone (Boring Lava Field). Miles of trails and roadways wind through tall trees and well-maintained landscape, and most lead to the top, a trip rewarded by breathtaking views of downtown and the West Hills from one side, Mount Hood and the outer Eastside from the other.

• Powell Butte Cinder Cone, Oregon
  Part of the Boring Lava Field, Powell Butte (feet) has 9 miles of trails, 571 acres of rolling grasslands, and a 3.1-mile loop trail. Views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount Jefferson abound. Powell Butte Nature Park has apple, pear, and walnut trees, picnic tables, and lots of wildlife.

• Rocky Butte, Oregon
  At 612 feet high, Rocky Butte is the prominant cone just south of Portland International Airport, and is part of the Boring Lava Field. As Interstate-205 skirts it's base, views of 3 sides can be seen. A city park is located at the top.

From: John Elliot Allen, 1975, Volcanoes of the Portland Area, Oregon: State of Oregon, Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, The ORE-BIN, v.37, no.9, September 1975

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