Glacier Peak

Find U.S. Volcano

Glacier Peak is the most remote of the five active volcanoes in Washington State, and more than a dozen glaciers descend its flanks, prompting its name.

Quick Facts

Location: Washington, Snohomish County

Latitude: 48.112° N

Longitude: 121.113° W

Elevation: 3,213 (m) 10,541 (f)

Volcano type: Stratovolcano

Composition: Dacite

Most recent eruption: 1,100 years ago

Threat Potential: Very High*

_{*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System}

Summary

Glacier Peak volcano viewed from the west, Washington.... — Glacier Peak volcano viewed from the west, Washington.

The peak wasn't known by settlers to be a volcano until the 1850's, when Native Americans mentioned to naturalist George Gibbs that "another smaller peak to the north of Mount Rainier once smoked." Glacier Peak is not prominently visible from any major population center, and so its attractions, as well as its hazards, tend to be overlooked. Yet since the end of the most recent ice age, this volcano has produced some of the largest and most explosive eruptions in the conterminous United States. Within this time period, it has erupted multiple times during at least six separate episodes. Glacier Peak and Mount St. Helens are the only volcanoes in Washington State that have generated very large explosive eruptions in the past 15,000 years.

News

June 2, 2021

Status of (mostly) Washington's Volcanoes: Report to Emergency Managers 2020-2021

December 19, 2018

Which U.S. volcanoes pose a threat?

Publications

October 22, 2018

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

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

Science

Glacier Peak is the tallest peak amongst a sea of many mountains in...

November 13, 2023

Geology and History of Glacier Peak

Glacier Peak (3214 m, 10544 ft) is a stratovolcano composed mainly of dacite, which is located about 100 km (65 mi) northeast of Seattle and 110 km (70 mi) south of the International Boundary with Canada. It lies in the rugged and scenic Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and rises only a few thousand feet above neighboring peaks that reach 2,700 m.

Cascades Volcano Observatory, Glacier Peak

November 13, 2023