Black Butte Crater Lava Field

Black Butte Crater Lava Field is a volcanic formation dominated by a central crater with walls reaching up to 30 meters high on the northeast edge. The surrounding terrain consists of hardened basalt flows that create a rough, wave-like surface across the entire area.

The lava flows were created by a volcanic eruption roughly 12,000 years ago that spread basalt across a vast distance to the south and west. This eruption permanently altered the drainage patterns of the Big Wood and Little Wood Rivers.

The Nez Perce and other tribes of the Snake River Plain have used this landscape as a hunting ground and navigation landmark for countless generations.

Wear sturdy shoes with good grip when visiting, as the ground is covered with sharp basalt fragments that can easily injure unprotected feet. Move carefully and deliberately across the rough terrain to avoid slips and injuries from the jagged surface.

The lava flows forced both the Big Wood and Little Wood Rivers to change their courses, meeting about 40 kilometers west of where they originally joined together. This dramatic rerouting reveals the immense power of the eruption and how it permanently reshaped the region's geography.

Location: Lincoln County

GPS coordinates: 43.00931,-114.29170

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:46