Outdoors in the Pacific Northwest
Cascade Volcanoes

List with Go Northwest!

Ah yes, those gorgeous Northwest skylines punctuated with soaring snow-capped peaks! Have you ever thought about why the region is blessed with such beauty? Because underneath many of those beautiful, jagged, snowy mountains are... volcanoes!

If you are standing in the Pacific Northwest, you are standing on the results of the Juan de Fuca oceanic plate grinding its way down under the North American continental plate. Although the two plates meet 50-70 miles offshore, about 100 miles inland hot materials rise from the Juan de Fuca "subducted" plate to the surface. There they build (note the present tense!) the volcanoes of the Cascade Range, which march north-south from Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia to Lassen Peak in California.

For a nice visual summary showing how the northwest US states seem to have more than their fair share of "volcanic hazards", have a look at this map by the USGS. Note where the Cascade Mountains and Yellowstone Park are in relation to the purple color theme. Montana is the only one of our Go Northwest! states which is "volcano-free", although it is within range of the potential effects of Cascade volcano eruptions.

Related Web Sites

Cascade Peaks
Donald Leslie Mark offers factual information and personal experience of the various Cascade mountains in an easy-to-read style. Includes original photos.

Cascades Volcano Observatory
Home page for the USGS David A Johnston Cascades Volcano Observatory which is located in Vancouver, Washington. This site has a wealth of information on the volcanoes. (Click on a volcano name above for links to their pages on individual volcanoes).

NW Seismic Events
Consists of links to earthquake-related sites for the Pacific Northwest.

Go Northwest! Bookstore
Best selection of books on the Northwest.
Click here!

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Pacific Northwest by Stephen Brewer and Constance Brissenden. This guide book contains in depth coverage of the best recreation, lodging, attractions and food in major cities in Oregon, Washington and BC. Photographs, illustrations and custom maps are also included. Order now...

Fodor's Pacific NW 21 Fodor's Pacific Northwest: with Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, 21st Edition. Written by local experts, this guide has the latest information with expansive insights, illustrations, recommendations, advice and trip planning tools, such as easy to read maps, to plan your exciting adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Order now...

Lonely Planet NW Best Trips Lonely Planet Pacific Northwest's Best Trips (Travel Guide) by Lonely Planet. This comprehensive guide offers itineraries, theme icons, easy-to-use maps along with driving times, reviews and insider tips for 32 amazing road trips in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Order now...

American Museum of Natural History Birds American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America Western Region by DK Publishing. This guide is ideal for every age of bird lovers and features information on behavior, nesting and habitat for the wide range of birds commonly seen west across the Great Plains and West Coast. Order now...

Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates by David Moskowitz. This book includes illustrated descriptions for more than 180 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, northern California, Idaho, and western Montana plus maps. Order now...

We appreciate your orders. They help keep
Go Northwest! online.

Northwest Books
from . . .

Shopping at
Go Northwest!

Outdoors in the Pacific Northwest Cascade Volcanoes

Related Web Sites

Outdoors in the Pacific Northwest
Cascade Volcanoes