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Mount Hood

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Results Mount Hood

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Mount Hood volcano, Oregon's highest peak, forms a prominent backdrop to the state's largest city, Portland, and contributes valuable water, scenic, and recreational resources that help sustain the agricultural and tourist segments of the economies of surrounding cities and counties.

Quick Facts

Location: Oregon, Clackamas/Hood River Counties Latitude: 45.374° N Longitude: 121.695° W Elevation: 3,426 (m) 11,240 (f) Volcano type: Stratovolcano Composition: Andesite to Dacite Most recent eruption: 1865 AD Threat Potential: Very High*

*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System

Summary

Mount Hood has erupted episodically for about 500,000 years and hosted two major eruptive periods during the past 1,500 years. During both recent eruptive periods, growing lava domes high on the southwest flank collapsed repeatedly to form pyroclastic flows and lahars that were distributed primarily to the south and west along the Sandy River and its tributaries. The last eruptive period began in AD 1781 and affected the White River as well as Sandy River valleys. The Lewis and Clark Expedition explored the mouth of the Sandy River in 1805 and 1806 and described a river much different from today's Sandy. At that time the river was choked with sediment generated by erosion of the deposits from the eruption, which had stopped about a decade before their visit. In the mid-1800's, local residents reported minor explosive activity, but since that time the volcano has been quiet.

Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Hood (December 8-13, 2023) December 14, 2023

Monitoring stations detect small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Hood (December 8-13, 2023)

Mount Hood's June 5, 2021 Earthquake June 11, 2021

Mount Hood's June 5, 2021 Earthquake

M3.9 earthquake and swarm occur at Mount Hood on June 5, 2021 June 5, 2021

M3.9 earthquake and swarm occur at Mount Hood on June 5, 2021

View All October 22, 2018

2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment

When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners... Authors John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey By Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Agrigan, Ahyi Seamount, Alamagan, Anatahan, Asuncion, Belknap, Black Butte Crater Lava Field, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Blue Lake Crater, Carrizozo Lava Flow, Cascade Range Weekly Update, Cinnamon Butte, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, Coso Volcanic Field, Crater Lake, Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field, Daikoku Seamount , Davis Lake Volcanic Field, Devils Garden Lava Field, Diamond Craters Volcanic Field, Dotsero Volcanic Center, East Diamante, Esmeralda Bank, Farallon de Pajaros, Fukujin Seamount , Glacier Peak, Guguan, Haleakalā, Hell's Half Acre Lava Field, Hualālai, Indian Heaven Volcanic Field, Jordan Craters Volcanic Field, Kama‘ehuakanaloa, Kasuga 2, Kīlauea, Lassen Volcanic Center, Long Valley Caldera, Mammoth Mountain, Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field, Maug Islands, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Medicine Lake, Mono Lake Volcanic Field, Mono-Inyo Craters, Mount Adams, Mount Bachelor, Mount Baker, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, Mount St. Helens, Newberry, Ofu-Olosega, Pagan, Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field, Ruby, Salton Buttes, San Francisco Volcanic Field, Sand Mountain Volcanic Field, Sarigan, Soda Lakes, South Sarigan Seamount, Supply Reef, Ta'u Island, Three Sisters, Tutuila Island, Ubehebe Craters, Uinkaret Volcanic Field, Valles Caldera, Wapi Lava Field, Weekly Update, West Crater Volcanic Field, Yellowstone, Zealandia Bank, Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field August 29, 2018

Geologic field-trip guide of volcaniclastic sediments from snow- and ice-capped volcanoes—Mount St. Helens, Washington, and Mount Hood, Oregon Geologic field-trip guide of volcaniclastic sediments from snow- and ice-capped volcanoes—Mount St. Helens, Washington, and Mount Hood, Oregon

This field guide for the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Scientific Assembly 2017 focuses on volcaniclastic sediments from Mount St. Helens in Washington and Mount Hood in Oregon. The trip spends four days in the field and includes nine stops at each volcano. For completeness, this guidebook also includes sixteen optional stops in... Authors Thomas C. Pierson, Lee Siebert, Christopher J. Harpel, Kevin M. Scott By Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Mount Hood June 22, 2017

Field-trip guide to Mount Hood, Oregon, highlighting eruptive history and hazards Field-trip guide to Mount Hood, Oregon, highlighting eruptive history and hazards

This guidebook describes stops of interest for a geological field trip around Mount Hood volcano. It was developed for the 2017 International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) Scientific Assembly in Portland, Oregon. The intent of this guidebook and accompanying contributions is to provide an overview of Mount Hood, including its chief geologic... Authors William E. Scott, Cynthia A. Gardner By Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Mount Hood View All November 8, 2023

Hazards Summary for Mount Hood

Mount Hood is an active volcano close to rapidly growing communities, recreation areas, and major transportation routes and therefore imposes heightened risk. By Mount Hood Hazards Summary for Mount Hood November 8, 2023

Hazards Summary for Mount Hood

Mount Hood is an active volcano close to rapidly growing communities, recreation areas, and major transportation routes and therefore imposes heightened risk. Learn More November 7, 2023

Seismic Monitoring at Mount Hood, Oregon

Mount Hood seismicity is monitored by the PNSN and CVO via a regional network that includes 5 seismic stations within 12 miles of the volcano. By Cascades Volcano Observatory, Mount Hood Seismic Monitoring at Mount Hood, Oregon November 7, 2023

Seismic Monitoring at Mount Hood, Oregon

Mount Hood seismicity is monitored by the PNSN and CVO via a regional network that includes 5 seismic stations within 12 miles of the volcano. Learn More November 7, 2023

Lahars Pose the Greatest Hazard Risk at Mount Hood

Lahars can be generated by hot volcanic flows that melt snow and ice or by landslides (debris avalanches) from weakened rock forming the steep upper flanks of the volcano. By Cascades Volcano Observatory, Mount Hood Lahars Pose the Greatest Hazard Risk at Mount Hood November 7, 2023

Lahars Pose the Greatest Hazard Risk at Mount Hood

Lahars can be generated by hot volcanic flows that melt snow and ice or by landslides (debris avalanches) from weakened rock forming the steep upper flanks of the volcano. Learn More View All

Quick Facts

Location: Oregon, Clackamas/Hood River Counties Latitude: 45.374° N Longitude: 121.695° W Elevation: 3,426 (m) 11,240 (f) Volcano type: Stratovolcano Composition: Andesite to Dacite Most recent eruption: 1865 AD Threat Potential: Very High*

*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System

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