Tseax Cone

Tseax Cone sits in the Nass Ranges of the Hazelton Mountains and consists of two nested basalt cone structures. Four separate lava flows extended from this point into the surrounding valleys and shaped the current landscape.

The volcano erupted around 1690 and sent lava and toxic gases into the surrounding valleys. This eruption permanently changed the land and affected the communities living there.

The Nisga'a call the volcano 'Where the Fire Ran Out' and still share spoken accounts of what happened during the eruption. The stories describe the fire and its effects on nearby villages that were reached by volcanic gases.

You can reach the area via forest service roads that branch off the main highways, and conditions can be challenging depending on weather and season. Guided hikes are available through Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park.

Lichens and mosses cover the black basalt rocks, while dense rainforest grows right up to the edges of the lava fields. The vegetation shows how life slowly settles on volcanic rock.

Location: British Columbia

Elevation above the sea: 610 m

Made from material: basalt

Part of: Nass Ranges

GPS coordinates: 55.11080,-128.89910

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26