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Volcanoes in California

32 volcanoes in California with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Siskiyou County has the most (16). The darkest skies are at Deep Crater (Bortle 1).

Top volcanoes

Sutter ButtesVolcano
Sutter ButtesSutter County
Medicine Lake VolcanoVolcano
Medicine Lake VolcanoSiskiyou County
Mount TehamaVolcano
Mount TehamaShasta County
Niland GeyserVolcano
Niland GeyserImperial County
Lavic Lake volcanic fieldVolcano
Lavic Lake volcanic fieldSan Bernardino County
Rainbow MountainVolcano
Rainbow MountainSiskiyou County
Volcano
PipkinSan Bernardino County
Volcano
Amboy CraterSan Bernardino County
Volcano
Little Hebe CraterInyo County
Volcano
Long Valley CalderaMono County
Volcano
Mono CratersMono County
Volcano
North Crater Panum CraterMono County

Volcanoes by county

All volcanoes (32)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Sutter ButtesSutter County—Sutter4
Medicine Lake VolcanoLava BedsSiskiyou County—McCloud1
Mount TehamaLassen VolcanicShasta County—Shingletown2
Niland GeyserImperial County—Niland3
Lavic Lake volcanic fieldSan Bernardino County—Barstow3
Rainbow MountainSiskiyou County—McCloud1
PipkinSan Bernardino County—Lucerne Valley4
Amboy CraterSan Bernardino County290 mTwentynine Palms3
Little Hebe CraterInyo County844 mMammoth Lakes2
Long Valley CalderaMono County2,341 mMammoth Lakes3
Mono CratersMono County2,768 mMammoth Lakes2
North Crater Panum CraterMono County2,112 mMammoth Lakes2
Pisgah CraterSan Bernardino County753 mBarstow3
Ubehebe CraterInyo County647 mMammoth Lakes2
Alcohol CraterSiskiyou County2,067 mAltamont1
Aspen CraterSiskiyou County1,775 mAltamont1
Black CraterLava BedsSiskiyou County1,340 mAltamont1
Chaos CraterLassen VolcanicShasta County2,134 mShingletown2
Chimney CraterSiskiyou County1,784 mMcCloud1
Crater Glass FlowSiskiyou County2,151 mMcCloud1
Crescent CraterLassen VolcanicShasta County2,452 mChester2
Deep CraterSiskiyou County1,485 mMcCloud1
Deep HoleLassen VolcanicShasta County1,682 mShingletown2
Double Hole CraterSiskiyou County1,688 mMcCloud1
Giant CraterSiskiyou County1,704 mMcCloud1
High Hole CraterSiskiyou County1,838 mMcCloud1
Mammoth CraterLava BedsSiskiyou County1,555 mAltamont1
Modoc CraterLava BedsSiskiyou County1,567 mAltamont1
Paint Pot CraterSiskiyou County1,911 mMcCloud1
Semi CraterLava BedsSiskiyou County1,434 mAltamont1
Shastine CraterSiskiyou County1,779 mMcCloud1
Timbered CraterShasta County1,154 mBurney1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph volcanoes

Volcanic cones and lava fields have strong shapes that read well in side-light; dark basalt needs careful exposure.

  • Snow-capped volcanoes reflect alpenglow at sunrise — shoot from a lake or meadow for a reflection.
  • Lava rock is sharp and unstable; stay on trails.
  • Long lenses from 20–60 miles away make large stratovolcanoes dominate the horizon.
  • Check local volcanic activity notices and area closures before visiting.

Season: Summer for high trails; winter and spring for snowy cones viewed from below.