Mount Rainier
Find U.S. Volcano
Mount Rainier, the highest peak in the Cascade Range at 4,392m (14,410 ft), forms a dramatic backdrop to the Puget Sound region.
Quick Facts
Location: Washington, Pierce County
Latitude: 46.853° N
Longitude: 121.76° W
Elevation: 4,392 (m) 14,410 (f)
Volcano type: Stratovolcano
Composition: Andesite to Dacite
Most recent eruption: about 1,000 years ago
Nearby towns: Orting, Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima
Threat Potential: Very High*
*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
During an eruption 5,600 years ago the once-higher edifice of Mount Rainier collapsed to form a large crater open to the northeast much like that at Mount St. Helens after 1980. Ensuing eruptions rebuilt the summit, filling the large collapse crater. Large lahars (volcanic mudflows) from eruptions and from collapses of this massive, heavily glaciated andesitic volcano have reached as far as the Puget Sound lowlands. Since the last ice age, several dozen explosive eruptions spread tephra (ash, pumice) across parts of Washington. The last magmatic eruption was about 1,000 years ago. Extensive hydrothermal alteration of the upper portion of the volcano has contributed to its structural weakness promoting collapse. An active thermal system driven by magma deep under the volcano has melted out a labyrinth of steam caves beneath the summit icecap.
News
Preparing for volcano hazards: Where is the world’s largest lahar evacuation drill held?
Mount Rainier reminds us that September is National Preparedness Month
USGS Offers Emergency Managers a New Tool to Assess Lahar Hazards at Mount Rainier
Publications
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. This update
