Want to visit an extinct volcano? Ever heard of Amboy Crater in California? You can visit Amboy Crater, California and climb to its rim.
Amboy Crater is an extinct North American cinder cone type of volcano, located in one of the youngest volcanic fields in the US. It rises above a 27 square mile lava field in southern California . This 250-foot-high crater is 1,500 feet in diameter.
Located in the Barstow-Bristol trough, a conspicuous west-northwest trending physiographic feature, this field was created by at least four distinct periods of eruptions, resulting in a group of volcanic cinder cones. The most recent eruption of Amboy Crater was about 10,000 years ago.
A visit to Amboy Crater will offer one of the best examples in the Mojave Desert of a volcanic cinder cone. It is situated in one of the youngest volcanic fields in the United States.
A footpath leads to the top of the cone of Amboy Crater, where you can get a good view of the surrounding area. The hike to the Crater and back can take 2-3 hours. Late January through March are good times to see the wildflowers. Plus, it’s a whole lot cooler to visit Amboy Crater then.
Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973, Amboy Crater was recognized for its visual and geological significance. Although Amboy Crater is not unique, it is an excellent example of a very symmetrical volcanic cinder cone.
The inside of the 250′ high crater contains two lava dams. Behind these, are some small lava lakes. Not what you think of when you hear the word lake, these flat places are covered with light colored clay, creating the impression of miniature “dry lakes.” There is a breach on the west side of the crater where basaltic lava poured out over a vast area. Beyond the crater lies 24 square miles of lava flow containing such features as lava lakes, collapsed lava tubes and sinks, spatter cones, and massive flows of basalt.
The scenic and solitary Amboy Crater was a popular sight and stop for travelers on US Route 66 before Interstate 40 was completed in 1973. Amboy Crater was one of few extinct volcanoes along the entire route, so travelers from the 1920s through the 1960s could boast that they had climbed a real volcano. Visits decreased after Interstate 40 opened, but have increased in recent years with the tourism interest in “old Route 66.”
The Federal Bureau of Land Management recommends using the Western Cone Trail if you are interested in reaching the volcano peak’s rim. Be prepared…this is a steep and rocky trail. Start at the Amboy Crater day use parking area, which provides shaded and open picnic tables and public restrooms. Regular desert precautions apply here. Be alert for rattlesnakes and old military explosives. Wear a hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, and carry abundant drinking water. If you think you have enough water…take some more.
Educational and organized groups are advised to contact the Bureau before heading out to Amboy Crater.
To get to the trailhead: From Barstow, take Interstate 40 west to exit 50. Turn right on Crucero Road and make an immediate left onto Route 66. Take route 66 for 26 miles to the crater.
Other interesting trips can be found here https://travelsandescapes.net/