Mt. Bachelor Volcanic Chain
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 43° 57.860 W 121° 48.488
10T E 595614 N 4868601
This geologic history sign is located at Elk Lake, Oregon.
Waymark Code: WMK7DR
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 02/23/2014
Views: 1
This geologic history sign is located on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway at Elk Lake, Oregon.
Marker Name: Mt. Bachelor Volcanic Chain
Marker Text: The story of the journey of Water through a volcanic landscape is told by the eruption of the Mt. Bachelor volcanic chain which began about 18,000 years ago.
After glacier ice carved and receded from the ancient Upper Deschutes Valley, the Mt. Bachelor volcano chain began erupting. Lava flows filled the valley blocking and damming the river and forming Sparks Lake. The lava dams were porous and water leaked out as spring forming Quinn Creek, Hosmer Lake, and ultimately Little Lava Lake, the headwaters of the Deschutes River.
The chain is 15 miles long and erupted from south to north starting with Sheridan Mountain 96,890 feet), Kwolh Butte (7,358 feet), and then Mt. Bachelor (9,065 feet). Mt. Bachelor is between 11,000 and 15,000 years old and one of the youngest volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Elk Lake was formed before the chain eruption. You can also see Red Crater (5,170 feet) which is part of an older volcanic eruption.
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