Chaos Jumbles and Chaos Crags

The remains of a eruption that occurred just 300 years ago.

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Chaos Jumbles and Chaos Crags Details

The Chaos Jumbles are the remains of a huge debris avalanche that occurred on the steep slopes of the nearby Chaos Crags, characterized by grey and pink scree. The lack of soil and vegetation here suggest that the avalanche deposits are not old, and none of the trees on the slide are more than 300 years old. The Chaos Crags are excellent examples of geological features called plug domes. Plug Domes are short, steep cones that form when lava flows are super thick and viscous - almost toothpaste-like. The six visible domes are named A, B, C, D, E, and F. Lassen Peak is only two miles away and tends to dominate the scenery, so the crags are sometimes overlooked. But they're worth a visit, as their age suggests ongoing geologic activity -- and simply because they are quite striking against the barren Chaos Jumbles.

Difficulty

Low

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