About Big Cave
Big Cave is a shield rising to 1,259 meters (4,131 feet) in United States's North America Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Big Cave is located in United States, within the Basin and Range Volcanic Province of the broader North America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 40.95° N, 121.36° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,259 meters above sea level, Big Cave is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a shield, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The Big Cave shield volcano, at the northern end of an area of late-Quaternary volcanism extending north from Lassen Peak, is a small basaltic shield with young pyroclastic cones at the summit and north flank. Big Cave volcano was considered to be of either Holocene (Luedke and Smith, 1981; Miller, 1989) or latest Pleistocene or Holocene age (Sarna-Wojcicki et al., 1983). The inconspicuous low shield volcano, located between Big Lake on the north and Bald Mountain on the south, is surrounded by an extensive now forested lava field. Big Cave was considered by Clynne, 2007 pers. comm.) to probably be of similar age as nearby Cinder Butte volcano, which was dated at 38,000 +/- 7000 years.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Big Cave.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Big Cave
Is Big Cave an active volcano?+
Big Cave is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Big Cave?+
Big Cave has a summit elevation of 1,259 meters (4,131 feet) above sea level. At 1,259 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Big Cave?+
Big Cave is classified as a Shield. Shield volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Big Cave located?+
Big Cave is located in United States, in the North America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Basin and Range Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are 40.955° latitude, -121.365° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Big Cave?+
Big Cave can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. United States may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
