Belknap | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/belknap
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Belknap | U.S. Geological Survey
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Belknap
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The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
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Belknap
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The late Holocene Belknap shield volcano complex is one of several mafic eruption centers near central Oregon's McKenzie Pass.
Quick Facts
Location:
Oregon, Linn County
Latitude:
44.285° N
Longitude:
121.841° W
Elevation:
2,095 (m) 6,873 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt, Basaltic Andesite
Most recent eruption:
1500 years ago
Nearby towns:
Sisters
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
View Media Details
Belknap Shield Volcano viewed from McKenzie Pass, Oregon.
Belknap is a typical example of one type of volcanism responsible for construction of the High Cascade volcanic arc. The Belknap complex comprises many lava flows and tephra layers erupted from a central vent and from several flank vents. The lava flows cover about 100 km
2
(about 40 mi
2
). The main Belknap shield has a diameter of approximately 8 km (5 mi).
Eruptions from this area took place from about 3,000 to 1,500 years ago as a few different phases. The first eruptions produced tephra that spread over a broad area to the northeast and southeast as basaltic lava flows travelled eastward for 10 km (6 mi) from a growing shield. About 2,900 years ago, a second phase produced a smaller shield known as Little Belknap. The third phase produced the remaining bulk of the volcanic complex, which erupted basaltic andesite lavas from the central vent (Belknap Crater, about 1,500 years ago) and from a vent 2 km (just over one mile) to the south (South Belknap cone, about 1,700 years ago). The final eruptions from the base of Belknap Crater sent lavas 15 km (9 mi) west into the McKenzie River valley.
It is not likely that Belknap itself will erupt again, but eruptions similar to the type that formed Belknap could occur anywhere in the surrounding area. Such eruptions could sever major highways that cross this region of the Cascades (U.S. 20; Oregon highways 22 and 242). Tephrafrom such eruptions could affect nearby communities, especially to the east in Central Oregon.
October 22, 2018
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners...
Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program
,
Volcano Science Center
,
Agrigan
,
Ahyi Seamount
,
Alamagan
,
Anatahan
,
Asuncion
,
Belknap
,
Black Butte Crater Lava Field
,
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
,
Blue Lake Crater
,
Carrizozo Lava Flow
,
Cascade Range Weekly Update
,
Cinnamon Butte
,
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
,
Coso Volcanic Field
,
Crater Lake
,
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
,
Daikoku Seamount
,
Davis Lake Volcanic Field
,
Devils Garden Lava Field
,
Diamond Craters Volcanic Field
,
Dotsero Volcanic Center
,
East Diamante
,
Esmeralda Bank
,
Farallon de Pajaros
,
Fukujin Seamount
,
Glacier Peak
,
Guguan
,
Haleakalā
,
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
,
Hualālai
,
Indian Heaven Volcanic Field
,
Jordan Craters Volcanic Field
,
Kama‘ehuakanaloa
,
Kasuga 2
,
Kīlauea
,
Lassen Volcanic Center
,
Long Valley Caldera
,
Mammoth Mountain
,
Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field
,
Maug Islands
,
Mauna Kea
,
Mauna Loa
,
Medicine Lake
,
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
,
Mono-Inyo Craters
,
Mount Adams
,
Mount Bachelor
,
Mount Baker
,
Mount Hood
,
Mount Jefferson
,
Mount Rainier
,
Mount Shasta
,
Mount St. Helens
,
Newberry
,
Ofu-Olosega
,
Pagan
,
Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field
,
Ruby
,
Salton Buttes
,
San Francisco Volcanic Field
,
Sand Mountain Volcanic Field
,
Sarigan
,
Soda Lakes
,
South Sarigan Seamount
,
Supply Reef
,
Ta'u Island
,
Three Sisters
,
Tutuila Island
,
Ubehebe Craters
,
Uinkaret Volcanic Field
,
Valles Caldera
,
Wapi Lava Field
,
Weekly Update
,
West Crater Volcanic Field
,
Yellowstone
,
Zealandia Bank
,
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field
Quick Facts
Location:
Oregon, Linn County
Latitude:
44.285° N
Longitude:
121.841° W
Elevation:
2,095 (m) 6,873 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt, Basaltic Andesite
Most recent eruption:
1500 years ago
Nearby towns:
Sisters
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Belknap
Find U.S. Volcano
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
Results
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Settings
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
x
Map Legend
x
Map Legend
Results
Belknap
Home
Multimedia
Publications
Connect
The late Holocene Belknap shield volcano complex is one of several mafic eruption centers near central Oregon's McKenzie Pass.
Quick Facts
Location:
Oregon, Linn County
Latitude:
44.285° N
Longitude:
121.841° W
Elevation:
2,095 (m) 6,873 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt, Basaltic Andesite
Most recent eruption:
1500 years ago
Nearby towns:
Sisters
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
View Media Details
Belknap Shield Volcano viewed from McKenzie Pass, Oregon.
Belknap is a typical example of one type of volcanism responsible for construction of the High Cascade volcanic arc. The Belknap complex comprises many lava flows and tephra layers erupted from a central vent and from several flank vents. The lava flows cover about 100 km
2
(about 40 mi
2
). The main Belknap shield has a diameter of approximately 8 km (5 mi).
Eruptions from this area took place from about 3,000 to 1,500 years ago as a few different phases. The first eruptions produced tephra that spread over a broad area to the northeast and southeast as basaltic lava flows travelled eastward for 10 km (6 mi) from a growing shield. About 2,900 years ago, a second phase produced a smaller shield known as Little Belknap. The third phase produced the remaining bulk of the volcanic complex, which erupted basaltic andesite lavas from the central vent (Belknap Crater, about 1,500 years ago) and from a vent 2 km (just over one mile) to the south (South Belknap cone, about 1,700 years ago). The final eruptions from the base of Belknap Crater sent lavas 15 km (9 mi) west into the McKenzie River valley.
It is not likely that Belknap itself will erupt again, but eruptions similar to the type that formed Belknap could occur anywhere in the surrounding area. Such eruptions could sever major highways that cross this region of the Cascades (U.S. 20; Oregon highways 22 and 242). Tephrafrom such eruptions could affect nearby communities, especially to the east in Central Oregon.
October 22, 2018
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners...
Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program
,
Volcano Science Center
,
Agrigan
,
Ahyi Seamount
,
Alamagan
,
Anatahan
,
Asuncion
,
Belknap
,
Black Butte Crater Lava Field
,
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
,
Blue Lake Crater
,
Carrizozo Lava Flow
,
Cascade Range Weekly Update
,
Cinnamon Butte
,
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
,
Coso Volcanic Field
,
Crater Lake
,
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
,
Daikoku Seamount
,
Davis Lake Volcanic Field
,
Devils Garden Lava Field
,
Diamond Craters Volcanic Field
,
Dotsero Volcanic Center
,
East Diamante
,
Esmeralda Bank
,
Farallon de Pajaros
,
Fukujin Seamount
,
Glacier Peak
,
Guguan
,
Haleakalā
,
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
,
Hualālai
,
Indian Heaven Volcanic Field
,
Jordan Craters Volcanic Field
,
Kama‘ehuakanaloa
,
Kasuga 2
,
Kīlauea
,
Lassen Volcanic Center
,
Long Valley Caldera
,
Mammoth Mountain
,
Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field
,
Maug Islands
,
Mauna Kea
,
Mauna Loa
,
Medicine Lake
,
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
,
Mono-Inyo Craters
,
Mount Adams
,
Mount Bachelor
,
Mount Baker
,
Mount Hood
,
Mount Jefferson
,
Mount Rainier
,
Mount Shasta
,
Mount St. Helens
,
Newberry
,
Ofu-Olosega
,
Pagan
,
Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field
,
Ruby
,
Salton Buttes
,
San Francisco Volcanic Field
,
Sand Mountain Volcanic Field
,
Sarigan
,
Soda Lakes
,
South Sarigan Seamount
,
Supply Reef
,
Ta'u Island
,
Three Sisters
,
Tutuila Island
,
Ubehebe Craters
,
Uinkaret Volcanic Field
,
Valles Caldera
,
Wapi Lava Field
,
Weekly Update
,
West Crater Volcanic Field
,
Yellowstone
,
Zealandia Bank
,
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field
Quick Facts
Location:
Oregon, Linn County
Latitude:
44.285° N
Longitude:
121.841° W
Elevation:
2,095 (m) 6,873 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt, Basaltic Andesite
Most recent eruption:
1500 years ago
Nearby towns:
Sisters
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?