Volcanic Crown

The shattered summit of Broken Top stands as one of Oregon's most striking reminders of the Cascade Range's volcanic past. Once a towering stratovolcano, centuries of glaciation and erosion have carved away its summit, revealing the rugged crater that remains today.

This view was captured during a fast ascent of one of Broken Top's seasonal routes—a climb safely possible only when late winter and spring snow blankets the loose volcanic terrain. For a short window each year, snow transforms the mountain, creating a cleaner, more direct path into the heart of its ancient crater.