Black Butte (Siskiyou County, California)

Black Butte is a prominent volcanic butte located in Siskiyou County, in Northern California. It is situated approximately 8 miles southwest of the town of Mount Shasta City and lies within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The butte is easily recognizable due to its distinctive dark, conical shape, formed from a series of overlapping lava domes composed of dark, glassy obsidian and basaltic andesite.

Black Butte is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, although it is considered a satellite cone of the larger Mount Shasta volcano rather than an independent volcano itself. Its formation occurred relatively recently in geological terms, with the most recent eruptions estimated to have taken place between 9,000 and 10,000 years ago.

The butte's slopes are covered with a mix of coniferous forest, including ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and white fir. Its summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including Mount Shasta, the Eddy Mountains, and the Shasta Valley.

Black Butte is a popular destination for hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. The Black Butte Trail, maintained by the US Forest Service, leads to the summit. The trail is strenuous and involves significant elevation gain, but the views from the top are well-regarded.

The butte also holds cultural significance for local Native American tribes, including the Shasta and Wintu peoples, who have traditional ties to the region. It is often viewed as a sacred place.

Geologists continue to study Black Butte to learn more about its formation and its relationship to the volcanic activity of Mount Shasta and the surrounding Cascade Range.