Oregon’s mountains are truly stunning, and serve as landmarks all over the state. From the legendary Neahkahnie Mountain, to the iconic Mount Hood, the Beaver State has at least 50 named mountain ranges, and 30 mountain peaks that stand at an elevation of at least 7,989 feet.
One Oregon mountain is known as “The Lightning Rod of the Cascades,” and it’s quite a sight to behold:
You’ll find Mount Thielsen north of Crater Lake. It’s surrounded by 55,100 acres of thick forests and cold, clear lakes that make up the Mount Thielsen Wilderness Area. It stands at an elevation of 9,184 feet.
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The mountain is a long-dormant volcano that was active more than 250,000 years ago. Glaciers carved the mountain over the following years, and were present as recent ago as the turn of the 20th century. They left a sharp, pointed horn at the top, which makes a perfect lightning rod.
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Mount Thielsen is known as “The lightning rod of the Cascades” because it experiences regular lightning strikes.
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In fact, lightning strikes are so common here that the rock at the mountain’s peak has actually melted! When the rock melts, it forms fulgurites, which look like glossy, black glass. The fulgurites are found at the top 5-10 feet of the peak.
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If you’re up for a strenuous adventure, you can hike up Mount Thielsen. The trailhead is located at the Mount Thielsen/Sno-Park parking lot near Diamond Lake, along Highway 138.
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It’s a tough climb, and you’ll experience a 3,782-foot elevation gain. Only hikers who are in good physical condition should attempt this one, and will want to wear sturdy hiking boots and bring along some equipment for the last leg of the climb.
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To reach the summit, you’ll have to scramble up a boulder field for the last 200 feet.
Dennis Karpuska/Alltrails The peak is considered a class IV scramble, so it’s not a technical climb, but it is very dangerous. Most climbers use a rope to help them reach the summit. There have been more fatalities at the top of Mount Thielsen that at all the other technical routes at the Umpqua National Forest combined.
If you decide to tackle the summit, the views are quite the payoff. Just make sure to keep an eye out for cumulous clouds, because you don’t want to be anywhere near this peak if lightning strikes.
Dennis Karpuska/Alltrails Remember how we mentioned that the rock at the summit’s peak melts when lightning hits it?
If you don’t have the skill or inclination to hike to the top of Mount Thielsen, you can still enjoy its majestic beauty from below!
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Have you hiked to the top of Mount Thielsen? We’d love to read your stories and see your photos in the comments!
Hyung Park/Alltrails
Charles Wollertz/iStock via Getty Images
Alexi Overland/Alltrails
Gerard Bonfils/Alltrails
Dennis Karpuska/Alltrails
The peak is considered a class IV scramble, so it’s not a technical climb, but it is very dangerous. Most climbers use a rope to help them reach the summit. There have been more fatalities at the top of Mount Thielsen that at all the other technical routes at the Umpqua National Forest combined.
Remember how we mentioned that the rock at the summit’s peak melts when lightning hits it?
Stan Townsend/500px via Getty Images
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Address: Mt Thielsen, Oregon 97733, USA
