Black Crater Trail

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Features Views · Wildflowers

This trail is located off of the Thomas-Wright Battlefield Trail. North of Schonchin Butte is a small parking area on the east side of the main park road. Located at this parking area is the trailhead for the Thomas-Wright Battlefield Trail. Follow the Thomas-Wright Battlefield Trail for a very short distance to an obvious trail heading southeast towards Black Crater and the spatter cone. Follow the trail to the spatter cone where it makes a loop around some of the more obvious features. Follow the trail back to the Thomas-Wright Battlefield Trail.

Black Crater is a relatively young spatter cone in the history of Lava Beds NM and the surrounding area. It is estimated to be around 3,025 years old.