Have you ever seen a Pumice Desert?

After we left Crater Lake on our first visit there, we exited the National Park via the North Entrance Station. As we drove through the rain and the fog, we got to a large clearing that looked like a large playground. I guessed it was the Pumice Desert that I had read about. This desert can be called a by-product of what might have been one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the Cascade Mountains.

Remember the story of Mt. Mazama? Of how it grew in volume and the violent explosion that caused the summit to crash leaving a gaping caldera in its place?  (If you missed the previous post, it might be a good idea to set your eyes on that natural wonder called Crater Lake. You won’t regret it, I swear. :))

How the Pumice Desert came about —

When Mt. Mazama erupted, it threw large amounts of ash up into the air, which then settled several miles away from the volcano. Along with that, a good part of the ash and pumice that flowed down the slopes of the mountain were deposited in a valley nearby. People who have been studying this part of the Cascades and the many volcanoes on it, say that that deposit is at least a 100ft. one. Even after almost 8000 years, the valley that was turned into flat land — now called the Pumice Desert — is quite devoid of vegetation.

The thick layers of pumice seem to have made the land very porous. It’s inability to retain water makes it difficult for plants to thrive there. That almost-barren land is quite a desert in the middle of an area that was able to regrow some trees after the epic devastation that came about with Mt. Mazama’s eruption.

If you visit Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, the Pumice Desert is a must-stop POI because its story is so inseparable from the story of Crater Lake.

Finally, the Pumice Desert in Oregon is beginning to see some life on it.

One summer day, after all the snow had melted.

The Pumice Desert on a summer day

Pointers for the trip to the Pumice Desert

• Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway passes right through this desert.
• If you plan on entering Crater Lake National Park through the north, you will see the Pumice Desert first. It is on the way to Crater Lake.
• If you’ll be taking the South Entrance to the park, you can follow the Rim Drive till it forks off. Then, take the route to the North Entrance Station. The Pumice Desert is around 10 miles away from the Rim.
• If you are visiting in the winter months, you may not be able to see the Pumice Desert. The Rim Drive and the road that connects the Rim Drive to the North Entrance will be closed in winter. There could be closures when there is too much snow in the area, too.

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.

You might also like:

Volcanic Sites on Tipsy from the TRIP

Volcanoes of the Cascade Range

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