Diamond Craters Outstanding Natural Area
Bureau of Land Management, Oregon.
Overview:
Diamond Craters, an Outstanding Natural Area of 17,000 acres (23 square miles), has some of the most diverse basaltic volcanic features in the nation clustered within a small, accessible area. The area displays an entire range of eruptions possible in basaltic volcanism. It was formed sometime in the past 25,000 years and now resembles a thin, rocky pancake with a few bumps. Features identifiable at the Outstanding Natural Area include craters and vents, cinder cones, spatter cones, lava tubes, driblet spires, a graben, and a water-filled maar.Know Before You Go:
- It took thousands of years of volcanic activity to form Diamond Craters, but only a few seconds can damage its features. Help BLM protect this area. Please do not destroy or collect plants, animals or rocks.
- There are no restroom facilities or other amenities. Bring your own water and shelter and follow Leave No Trace principles: pack it in, pack it out.
- Keep your vehicle on hard-packed road surfaces and obvious parking areas.
Point of Interest:
Located in southeast Oregon's high desert country, Diamond Craters is really unlike any other place in North America.Diamond Craters Brochure
Nearby Activities
- Camping
- Day Use Area
- Hiking
- Interpretive Programs
- Photography
Directions
From Burns, take State Highway 78 southeast for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto State Highway 205 and travel south for 46 miles to the Diamond Junction. Turn left at the junction and travel approximately 6 miles to the junction of Lava Bed Road and Happy Valley Road. Turn left onto Lava Bed Road to access Diamond Craters Outstanding Natural Area.
