Click on the Alpenglow Chaos Crags image to enlarge

Alpenglow Chaos Crags

Alpenglow Chaos Crags occurs in summer at Lassen Volcanic National Park. The Alpenglow Chaos Crags lava domes are north of Lassen Peak.

Chaos Crags is the youngest group of lava domes in Lassen Volcanic National Park. They were created approximately 1,000 years ago and are composed of 5 dacite domes.

Alpenglow Chaos Crags was taken on a geographic formation called the Chaos Jumbles. The Chaos Jumbles start at the base of the Chaos Crags and run to the northwest corner of the park. The Chaos Jumbles was formed from an avalanche that occurred about 300 years ago. The rock debris formed a well known lake named Manzanita Lake. The avalanche roared down the mountain, flattened all the trees in the forest, and dammed Manzanita Creek to form the lake.

Alpenglow Chaos Crags shows the beautiful alpenglow that can occur on this landscape in Lassen Volcanic National Park. At the base of the Cascade Range Mountains that begins at Lassen Peak, the Sacramento Valley stretches out to the West. With no other mountains below to block the setting sun, a beautiful alpenglow forms on Lassen Peak and the Chaos Crags.  Alpenglow Chaos Crags is the result of the Geographic terrain of the area.

Alpenglow Chaos Crags is taken along the main park road that takes you on a drive through the park. Just up the road from the park entrance and the Manzanita Lake area, the view from the Chaos Jumbles is spectacular. The Chaos Crags dominate the scene, with Lassen Peak nearby. To your west the Trinity Alps are often covered with snow even in the late summer.

Starting in May 1914 till 1921 Lassen Peak had a series of minor and major eruptions. The area was declared a National Park on August 9, 1916. The main park road from which Alpenglow Chaos Crags was taken was built from 1925 to 1931.

It is fortunate to have such a beautiful highway in such a unique geological area so that photographers can capture images of Alpenglow Chaos Crags.