Hike To The Eroded Remnants Of An Ancient Volcano On Red Mountain Trail In Arizona
By Katie Lawrence|Published August 04, 2020
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Arizona probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think about volcanoes, but we actually have a handful. Among them is Red Mountain, an ancient cinder cone believed to be over a million years old. It has a distinct shape that differs greatly from other landforms of its kind, and you can hike into the unique geological formation to see it firsthand.
Believed to be over a million years old, Red Mountain is an ancient cinder cone that towers more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. The geological formation is unique in that it's U-shaped and contains a large central amphitheater that may have resulted from a steam eruption.
You can experience the otherworldly volcanic landscape firsthand on Red Mountain Trail, a 2.7-mile hike in the Coconino National Forest. It's a slight uphill trek, but easy enough for kids to tag along.
While the first mile or so is relatively monotonous, it's an entirely different story towards the end. Erosional pillars, more commonly known as hoodoos, are towering above in all directions. It truly feels like you're on another planet.
Ashen lava rock tells stories of the tumultuous events from which Red Mountain was born. You'll also encounter dark mineral crystals on the cinder cone walls. This ladder is the only steep climb you'll encounter along the way.
Considering the trail has an elevation gain of less than 400 feet, it's amazing how far into the distance you can see. Several other mountains, buttes, and hills are visible, making for a picture-perfect view.
The last half of the trail follows a stream bed that remains dry for much of the year. As far as the rest of the scenery, we just have one question: is this Mars or Arizona?
Although the trail can be trickier to navigate during wintertime, it's undeniably more beautiful. The snow really makes the inner amphitheater stand out, and the evergreen ponderosa pines offer a stark contrast.
