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Overview: Jordan Craters is a volcanic field, covering 27 square miles with olivine basalt. This otherworldly scene is the result of lava flow that occurred in two main phases, both less than 30,000 years ago. This ancient lava field features craters, lava tubes and pahoehoe (a Hawaiian term meaning "ropy," describing the smooth, billowy lava flows), showing just how mobile a lava flow can be. Drive right up to Coffee Pot Crater, a well-preserved, steep-sided crater that covers two-thirds of a square mile. Hike through or take photos of this alien-like terrain and explore the area's beautiful and geologically violent past. Know Before You Go: The area is full of rugged terrain; footing is precarious. Lack of trails, sharp lava formations and open pits can be dangerous for the most experienced hiker. The lava fields can reach temperatures of more than 120 degrees during the summer. Dehydration is a very real and very dangerous possibility. Bring enough water to remain hydrated. Roads become nearly impassable when wet. Winter weather can make access difficult. High-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Point of Interest: Coffee Pot Crater: the only crater on site to offer vehicle access. This area also features roughly aligned spatter cones - blocks of lava that have welded together, forming cones.
Jordan Craters is located in the southeast corner of Oregon in Malheur County. From Highway 95, 8 miles north of Jordan Valley, turn west at the Jordan Craters sign onto Cow Creek Road. Follow BLM Jordan Craters access signs for 25 miles to the site.
Very cool place. It is out there. Take something with good wheel clearance. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a volcano and lava beds.
Type: Volcanic field
Elevation: 1473m
Last eruption: 1250 BC
Jordan Craters volcanic field consists of well-preserved basaltic lava flows and scoria cones that are the youngest and northernmost of a group of three Quaternary lava fields covering an area of 250 sq km in SE Oregon. The Pleistocene 1473-m-high Clarks Butte shield volcano and Rocky Butte (Lava Butte) lava fields lie to the south, along the trend of regional Basin and Range faulting. Jordan Craters lie on the Owyhee-Oregon plateau at the SE end of a series of widely scattered young volcanic fields extending SE from Bend, Oregon. Coffeepot Crater at the NW end of the lava field was the source about 3200 years ago or later of one of Oregon's youngest lava flows, which covered 75 sq km with 1.6 cu km of olivine-basaltic pahoehoe. The flows dammed local drainages, forming the two small Upper and Lower Cow Lakes at the SE end of the lava field. Jordan Craters is renowned for its excellent exposures of a wide variety of youthful lava-flow features and has similarities to Holocene basaltic flows of Idaho's Snake River Plain to the east.
Very remote, but beautiful. Down a very long and dusty dirt road. The road is not well marked, so make sure you write down your directions as cell service is non existent. A high clearance vehicle is recommended, I went in my Suburban and had to be careful in places not to bottom out. The road is very washboarded with ruts. But, if your vehicle can make it all the way it is worth the visit! Very secluded and not very many people visit. We saw lots of wildlife. Bring water and wear good hiking shoes as the rocks are sharp and it is very hot, especially in summer.
