What caused the Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley?

Ubehebe Crater was created by a powerful volcanic steam explosion.

Can you hike into Ubehebe Crater?

Hiking the entire rim of Ubehebe Crater is a great way to get away from the crowds at the viewpoint and really experience the crater. This 2 mile hike is best completed counterclockwise. This gets most of the elevation gain out of the way in the first half mile.

How do I get to the Ubehebe Crater?

To get to Ubehebe Crater: From Furnace Creek, take the 190 north for 17 miles to the intersection with Scotty’s Castle Road. Turn right and continue north for 33.4 miles on Scotty’s Castle Road. Turn left on Racetrack Road (1.6 miles short of Scotty’s Castle) and drive 5.5 miles over gravel to the crater.

Is Ubehebe Crater worth visiting?

Ubehebe Crater (pronounced oo-beh-heh-bee) is a volcanic crater in Death Valley. It is well worth a visit, especially if you have never seen a caldera before. Yes, this was once an active volcano, and the surrounding landscape is still littered with charred soil and cinders.

Is Ubehebe Craters volcano active?

Ubehebe Craters is a volcanic field in California. Recent research has shown that the Ubehebe Craters all formed in a single phreatomagmatic eruption episode about 2,100 years ago, making it one of the most recent volcanic events in southern California. The risk of renewed volcanic activity, however, is low.

Is the road to Ubehebe Crater open?

Ubehebe Crater Road is OPEN! That means that Scotty’s Castle Road from Highway 190 to Ubehebe Crater is open to traffic! Which means that the Racetrack and Big Pine roads have also both RE-OPENED!

How old is the Ubehebe Crater?

2,100 years old
Although Ubehebe Crater is only one of about a dozen craters in the Ubehebe volcanic field, it is the largest and youngest at an estimated 2,100 years old. The crater is approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) in diameter, and ranges from 500-777 feet (152-237 m) deep, depending which ridge it is measured from.

Can I drive to Ubehebe Crater?

The road to the crater is 5.6 miles long. This well-signed, paved road leads to Ubehebe Crater and Racetrack Valley. Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater a mile and a half wide (2.4 kilometers) and 600 feet (180 meters) deep. The road continues to the stunning gravel Racetrack Valley Road.

Is one day enough for Death Valley?

You can absolutely see Death Valley in a day! While it’s certainly worth visiting, you honestly don’t need too much time here (1-2 days will do). Below we have the best things to do with 1 day in Death Valley and the itinerary we recommend.

Can you drive thru Death Valley National Park?

Yes, but you must be prepared and use common sense. With an air conditioned vehicle you can safely tour many of the main sites in Death Valley. Stay on paved roads in summer, and if your car breaks down, stay with it until help arrives.

How old is Ubehebe Crater?