Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
🌋 Journey Through the Volcanic West: Cinder Cones, Lava Tubes & Hydrothermal Marvels 🌋
In this immersive episode of Cactus Atlas, we explore the explosive geological history of the American West through some of its most captivating volcanic landscapes.
From the charred remnants of ancient eruptions to surreal hydrothermal basins, join us as we travel across:
🧨 Mojave National Preserve – Discover dramatic cinder cones and explore Aiken Mine, a site where volcanic debris was once mined for practical use.
🔥 Lassen Volcanic National Park – Learn about one of the most recent eruptions in U.S. history and witness the otherworldly terrain of Bumpass Hell.
🌋 Lava Beds National Monument – Traverse vast lava fields and descend into eerie, naturally formed lava tubes.
🕳️ Subway Lava Cave – An underground adventure that shows how molten rock can carve caverns over time.
💨 Yellowstone – Geysers, steam vents, and bubbling mud pots: a supervolcano’s active surface in constant transformation.
Along the way, we touch on the science of how these landscapes formed, the types of volcanoes responsible (including cinder cones, shield volcanoes, and composite cones), and why these regions matter—geologically and historically.
👣 Whether you’re a geology enthusiast, a lover of the outdoors, or someone planning your next national park road trip, this video is packed with insights and inspiration.
📍 Featured Locations:
Mojave National Preserve (Cinder Cones & Lava Cave)
Aiken Mine
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Subway Cave
Yellowstone National Park
👇 Chapters (add after upload):
00:00 Intro
01:00 Mojave Cinder Cones
06:35 Lassen & Bumpass Hell
11:33 Lava Beds & Lava Tubes
15:26 Yellowstone’s Fiery Underworld
17:51 Final Thoughts
🔔 Subscribe to follow us through more natural wonders of the American West:
youtube.com/@CactusAtlas
📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content:
instagram.com/cactusatlas
📬 Questions? Reach out via our website:
cactusatlas.com
#Volcanoes #Geology #NationalParks #LavaTubes #Mojave #LassenVolcanic #Yellowstone #CactusAtlas
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - amazon.com/shop/thecactusatlas
⚪ onX Offroad App - alnk.to/gKQ0FLG
⚪ See where we've been - google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r2ZDO125o_NU7fUt0GPYfZeMKhHqYX3D&usp=sharing
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - epidemicsound.com/referral/6sihr2
(As an Amazon Associate and onX Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
🌋 Journey Through the Volcanic West: Cinder Cones, Lava Tubes & Hydrothermal Marvels 🌋
In this immersive episode of Cactus Atlas, we explore the explosive geological history of the American West through some of its most captivating volcanic landscapes.
From the charred remnants of ancient eruptions to surreal hydrothermal basins, join us as we travel across:
🧨 Mojave National Preserve – Discover dramatic cinder cones and explore Aiken Mine, a site where volcanic debris was once mined for practical use.
🔥 Lassen Volcanic National Park – Learn about one of the most recent eruptions in U.S. history and witness the otherworldly terrain of Bumpass Hell.
🌋 Lava Beds National Monument – Traverse vast lava fields and descend into eerie, naturally formed lava tubes.
🕳️ Subway Lava Cave – An underground adventure that shows how molten rock can carve caverns over time.
💨 Yellowstone – Geysers, steam vents, and bubbling mud pots: a supervolcano’s active surface in constant transformation.
Along the way, we touch on the science of how these landscapes formed, the types of volcanoes responsible (including cinder cones, shield volcanoes, and composite cones), and why these regions matter—geologically and historically.
👣 Whether you’re a geology enthusiast, a lover of the outdoors, or someone planning your next national park road trip, this video is packed with insights and inspiration.
📍 Featured Locations:
Mojave National Preserve (Cinder Cones & Lava Cave)
Aiken Mine
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Subway Cave
Yellowstone National Park
👇 Chapters (add after upload):
00:00 Intro
01:00 Mojave Cinder Cones
06:35 Lassen & Bumpass Hell
11:33 Lava Beds & Lava Tubes
15:26 Yellowstone’s Fiery Underworld
17:51 Final Thoughts
🔔 Subscribe to follow us through more natural wonders of the American West:
youtube.com/@CactusAtlas
📸 Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content:
instagram.com/cactusatlas
📬 Questions? Reach out via our website:
cactusatlas.com
#Volcanoes #Geology #NationalParks #LavaTubes #Mojave #LassenVolcanic #Yellowstone #CactusAtlas
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - amazon.com/shop/thecactusatlas
⚪ onX Offroad App - alnk.to/gKQ0FLG
⚪ See where we've been - google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1r2ZDO125o_NU7fUt0GPYfZeMKhHqYX3D&usp=sharing
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - epidemicsound.com/referral/6sihr2
(As an Amazon Associate and onX Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
