Belknap Crater Hike

Overview

The impressive rugged black lava flows at McKenzie Pass were produced by two shield volcanoes, Belknap Crater and Little Belknap Crater, between about 3,000 and 1,500 years ago. The last eruption in the area is estimated to have been around 480 A.D. The Pacific Crest Trail enters the Mount Washington Wilderness in these lava fields, and a short hike takes you on trail to the small prominence of Little Belknap Crater. On the hike and at Little Belknap’s summit, you will get views of Cascade prominences such as North and Middle Sister, The Husband, Black Butte, Mount Washington, Three Fingered Jack, and Mount Jefferson. A little farther on, you can take a well-defined user trail to the summit of Belknap Crater, which offers the same views from much higher up and invites exploration of its craters. Because of the sharp, abrasive lava rock on most of the tread, do not bring your dog on this hike. The Belknap Craters are named after J.H. Belknap, promoter of the first toll road over the McKenzie Pass in the 1870s. Fill out your wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk, and go left on the Pacific Crest Trail as you enter the Mt. Washington Wilderness. The sandy trail leads through a woodland of lodgepole pine, mountain hemlock, and subalpine fir before ascending an incline. You’re actually on a kipuka, a tree “island” surrounded by the lavas from the Belknap Craters. Huckleberry, pinemat manzanita, bracken, and penstemon vegetate the slope. To the southwest, Black Crater looms. Cross a flow of black lava, and get a good view south to North and Middle Sister. Then hike along the edge of another kipuka where stunted ponderosa pines shade a carpet of pinemat manzanita. The trail veers to the right to cross the northern edge of the kipuka, and you’ll get your first views of Belknap Crater and Little Belknap Crater. Hike past a mature mountain hemlock/subalpine fir forest before you begin your traverse of the lava. The trail rises gradually with the Belknap Craters ahead, and Black Crater, two of the Three Sisters, a

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-BelknapCraterMap

400px-BelknapCraterMap

250px-Hiking_to_Belknap_Crater%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-Hiking_to_Belknap_Crater%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-Looking_to_Little_Belknap%2C_PCT%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-Looking_to_Little_Belknap%2C_PCT%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-The_stag_pine%2C_PCT%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-The_stag_pine%2C_PCT%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-View_to_Belknap_and_Little_Belknap%2C_PCT%2C_McKenzie_Pass

250px-View_to_Belknap_and_Little_Belknap%2C_PCT%2C_McKenzie_Pass

400px-Mt

400px-Mt

Tags