| Black Crater | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 7,257 ft (2,212 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Prominence | 1,411 ft (430 m) [2] |
| Location | |
| Location | Deschutes County, Oregon, USA |
| Range | Cascade Range |
| Coordinates | [1] |
| Topo map | USGS Black Crater |
| Geology | |
| Type | Shield volcano |
| Age of rock | Late Pleistocene [3] |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Cascade Volcanic Arc |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Trail |
Black Crater is a steep-sided shield volcano in the Cascade Range of central Oregon, located north of the Three Sisters and east of McKenzie Pass. Ice Age glaciers carved a large cirque into the northern flank of the mountain, and snow often lingers in its shady depths until late summer. A United States Forest Service fire lookout tower was built on the summit in 1925, but was eventually destroyed and only remnants of the foundation remain today. A 3.7 miles (6.0 km) long trail heads for the summit from the northwest on Oregon Route 242, eventually wrapping onto the northeast side for the upper part of the ascent.[4]