Volcanoes in Washington: The Complete List

Washington state’s volcanic landscape includes high Cascade peaks, small cinder cones and inland maar lakes that mark millions of years of geology. These features influence local rivers, soils and outdoor recreation across diverse county settings.

There are 16 Volcanoes in Washington, ranging from Battle Ground Lake to White Chuck Cinder Cone. For each entry you’ll find Location (county; lat,lon),Elevation (m),Last eruption — details you’ll find below.

How reliable are the “Last eruption” dates?

“Last eruption” dates come from a mix of historical records, radiocarbon dating and geologic studies, so reliability varies: some events are well documented in modern times, while others are approximate estimates based on deposits and lab dates; treat older dates as best-available science rather than exact calendar years.

Are these volcanoes open to the public and what should I check before visiting?

Access varies—many are reachable via public trails and parks, but others are remote, on private or tribal land, or subject to seasonal closures; always check land manager notices, trail conditions and permit requirements, stay on marked routes, and be prepared for changing weather and terrain.

Volcanoes in Washington

Images and Descriptions

Mount Rainier

The most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S., its immense ice cap poses a major lahar (volcanic mudflow) hazard to downstream communities. Considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to its height, glaciers, and proximity to populated areas.

Mount St. Helens

Famous for its catastrophic 1980 eruption that reshaped its summit. It remains the most active volcano in the Cascades, with frequent small earthquakes and a history of explosive eruptions and dome growth. Hazards include ashfall and pyroclastic flows.

Mount Baker

The second-most glaciated Cascade volcano, Mount Baker has a history of both lava flows and explosive, ash-producing events. Its active fumaroles at Sherman Crater indicate a hot, active magmatic system, and like Rainier, it poses a significant lahar hazard to nearby communities.

Glacier Peak

One of the most explosive Cascade volcanoes, its remote location makes it less visible but no less hazardous. Past eruptions have been larger than those from Mount St. Helens, producing widespread ash and dangerous lahars that traveled long distances down river valleys.

Mount Adams

The second-largest volcano by volume in the Cascades. While its last eruption was about 1,000 years ago, it is considered potentially active. Future hazards primarily include lava flows from its flanks and lahars from its numerous glaciers on its broad summit.

Indian Heaven Volcanic Field

A large area dotted with over 50 basaltic shield volcanoes and cinder cones. Its most recent eruption created the vast Big Lava Bed. While activity is infrequent, the field is considered dormant but not extinct, with potential for future basaltic lava flows.

West Crater Volcanic Field

A small volcanic field near the Columbia River Gorge consisting of a central lava dome and surrounding lava flows. Its last known eruption was about 7,700 years ago, making it a young but currently quiet feature in the southern Washington Cascades.

White Chuck Cinder Cone

A well-preserved cinder cone located on the flank of Glacier Peak. It is one of the most recent eruptive vents in the Glacier Peak system, producing lava flows that traveled down the White Chuck River valley, highlighting the potential for diverse eruption styles.

Tumtum Mountain

A small, symmetrical dacite dome volcano that looks like a miniature version of pre-1980 Mount St. Helens. Although it is a geologically young volcanic feature, it is considered extinct and not a current threat, providing a glimpse of past localized volcanic activity.

Battle Ground Lake

A classic example of a maar volcano, formed by a powerful steam-driven explosion when magma encountered groundwater. Now a state park, this crater is a remnant of the Boring Lava Field’s activity and provides a window into explosive hydrovolcanic processes.

Goat Rocks Volcano

The deeply eroded remains of a large stratovolcano that was once comparable in size to Mount Rainier. Active during the last ice age, it is now extinct and extensively carved by glaciers, revealing the inner plumbing of a classic Cascade volcano to hikers.

Black Buttes

An eroded stratovolcano remnant located immediately west of Mount Baker’s summit. It represents the ancestral volcano that was active before the modern cone of Mount Baker grew. Its jagged, dark peaks stand in stark contrast to Baker’s ice-covered dome.

Simcoe Mountains Volcanic Field

A sprawling area of ancient basaltic shield volcanoes and lava flows east of the Cascade crest. This field is now extinct and deeply eroded, representing a much older phase of volcanism in the region. Its most prominent feature is the large shield of Indian Rock.

Prune Hill

A small, extinct volcano and a prominent landmark in Camas. Part of the Boring Lava Field, it was mined for its olivine basalt. This ancient volcanic vent is now a residential area with no current volcanic hazard, showcasing the region’s older volcanic history.

Green Mountain

An extinct shield volcano, part of the Boring Lava Field, located on the Washington side of the Columbia River. Its dome-like shape is a familiar landmark east of Vancouver, representing ancient volcanic activity that predates the major Cascade stratovolcanoes. It is not considered hazardous.

Silver Star Mountain

The rugged core of an ancient, extinct volcano that has been heavily eroded over millions of years. Located west of the main Cascade Range, it’s known for its dramatic wildflower displays and panoramic views, revealing the deep history of volcanism in southern Washington.

Volcanoes in Other U.S. States