Prominence 1,352 ft (412 m) Mountain type Shield volcano Elevation 2,096 m Volcanic arc Cascade Volcanoes | Topo map USGS Mount Washington Last eruption 480 CE Mountain range Cascade Range Parent range Cascade Range | |
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Location Linn County, Oregon, U.S. Similar Mount Washington, Black Crater, Three Fingered Jack, Hayrick Butte, Hoodoo Butte | ||
Belknap Crater is a shield volcano in the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon.
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Map of Belknap Crater, Oregon 97759, USA
Belknap volcano is a Holocene example of the process which built the High Cascade Platform during the Pleistocene. It is a small shield volcano with a capping cinder cone.
A number of other eruptions also occurred in the general area during roughly the same time period. About 1,300 years ago (1,330 14C years B.P.) a series of small spatter cones formed between Belknap and Blue Lake. North of these, a phreatic explosion blasted out the crater which is today occupied by Blue Lake. To the south are several cinder cones and associated lava flows, including Collier, Four-in-One, and Yapoah cones. Four-in-One Cone has been dated at about 1,900 years old (1,980 14C years B.P.) while Collier is dated at about 1,500 years old (1,600 14C years B.P.)
Little BelknapEdit
A small crater east of Belknap Crater is Little Belknap. The trailhead is shared with Belknap crater located on the PCT, fifteen miles west of Sisters as Highway 242 tops the McKenzie River Pass. The hike is a short 4.4 miles round trip passing through dusty Kīpukas and large lava fields with sharp softball sized pumice stones. The parking lot requires a Northwest Forest pass and is a regular stopping point for trail angels supplying treats and supplies for PCT through Hikers. Two miles into the hike the little Belknap trail veers up and to the east towards a small summit with a spectacular view of the Three Sisters and the McKenzie Pass lava flows. On the summit there is also a makeshift wind shelter and bench for weather protection.