Pisgah Crater

Pisgah Crater is a volcanic cone in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California. Black lava fields spread from the summit into the flat desert landscape, forming a dark band of solidified rock.

The last eruption occurred around 2000 years ago, leaving fresh lava flows across the desert. In the decades before protection status in 1973, mining companies removed cinder material from the cone for railroad construction.

University geology classes and professional groups conduct regular field studies at the crater, examining volcanic formations and mineral compositions.

Visitors follow a short trail from the parking area to the crater rim and can climb on the eastern side. Light clothing, sturdy footwear, and several liters of water are essential in the desert heat.

Geologists use the site regularly for field trips because both main types of cooled lava occur side by side in one location. Stalactites made of gypsum have formed inside some cavities within the lava tubes.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 34.74638,-116.37558

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29