Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Colorado Gypsum Dotsero Crater
AO Edited

Dotsero Crater

Colorado's only active volcano last erupted around 4,000 years ago.

Gypsum, Colorado

Added By
Chris Tennant
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The crater as seen in February   topherc1 / Atlas Obscura User
The crater as seen in February   topherc1 / Atlas Obscura User
The crater rim as seen in February   topherc1 / Atlas Obscura User
A “Dotsero diamond”, which is really just quartz, found near the volcano   topherc1 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The U.S. Geological Survey considers there to be one active volcano in Colorado. Located in the northwest of the state, it last erupted between 3,800 and 5,500 years ago, creating Dotsero Crater.

The crater formed when an underground water reservoir came in contact with intruding magma, resulting in an explosion that destroyed the country rock and showered tephra across the nearby valley. Such an explosion then resulted in the arrival of magma to the surface, resulting in a volcano which is still geologically active to this day.

The crater itself measures about 2,460 feet across. When first formed, the crater may have been as deep as 1,300 feet, but slow natural erosion and backfill have limited that to a depth of 250 feet, still an impressive sight from the eastern rim.

Though not likely to explode in our lifetime, the USGS puts this volcano at a moderate risk level, meaning if it did erupt, it would disrupt local airplane traffic due to the ash. Stopping by isn’t likely to kill you, however; this crater and its surroundings have some great views and several gorgeous igneous rock formations, hard to find in other areas of the state.

Related Tags

Geology Geological Oddities Craters Volcanoes

Know Before You Go

Parking is most easily found in the town of Dotsero, anywhere along the road. From there, it's about a 40 minute hike up 8460 Rd to the crater. This road should be drivable in the summer with a good off-road vehicle, but may be very adverse in winter, possibly requiring crampons or other snowy hiking equipment.

Community Contributors

Added By

topherc1

Published

May 2, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/dotsero-volcanic-center
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20110217084630/http://www.postindependent.com/article/20050511/VALLEYNEWS/105110016
Dotsero Crater
4675 US-6
Gypsum, Colorado, 81637
United States
39.647482, -107.040633
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Hanging Lake

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

miles away

Glenwood Hot Springs Pool

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

miles away

Doc Holliday's Grave

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Colorado

Colorado

United States

Places 308
Stories 29

Nearby Places

Hanging Lake

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

miles away

Glenwood Hot Springs Pool

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

miles away

Doc Holliday's Grave

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Colorado

Colorado

United States

Places 308
Stories 29

Related Places

  • A view of the perfectly round Lac Pavin.

    Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France

    Lac Pavin

    This volcanic crater lake is renowned for its perfectly round shape, stunning blue-green waters, and unique geological properties.

  • Painted Dunes from the top of the adjacent cinder cone.

    Old Station, California

    Painted Dunes

    Sunset-colored dunes of volcanic ash make taking a poor photo impossible.

  • Blood red “volcanic veins”

    Iceland

    Leiðarendi Lava Tube

    A winding, blood-red tunnel of hardened lava navigable by foot.

  • A beach on the island with distinctive rock formations.

    Malpe, India

    Thonsepar

    These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations.

  • Approaching the south rim of Easy Chair Crater on the trail..

    Nye County, Nevada

    Easy Chair Crater

    An unusual double cinder cone with a bent oval crater, in the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field.

  • West crater, looking slightly northeast.

    Cleft, Idaho

    Crater Rings

    Two geologically young and nearly circular volcanic subsidence craters, each about a half-mile in diameter, abruptly break the nearly featureless Snake River Plain.

  • The sulfur-stained Pasil river at Mount Binulunan

    Pasil, Philippines

    Sulfur Hills of Pasil

    This steaming, yellow-tinged landscape is filled with sulfur-encrusted volcanic vents.

  • Rano Kui

    Rapa Nui, Chile

    Kotepokouri Rano Kau

    A volcanic crater that visitors can look inside.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.