Mount Edziza

Mount Edziza is the summit and namesake of a large volcanic complex in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, notable for its extensive volcanic plateau and chains of cones. The area is geologically significant for its volcanic features and obsidian deposits.

A remote volcanic plateau with dozens of volcanic cones, lava flows and highland meadows that draw geologists, backcountry hikers and those interested in volcanic landscapes; travel in the park is long and requires self-sufficiency. Rock types include abundant obsidian and basaltic lava, and the area contains archaeological evidence of obsidian use by Indigenous peoples.

Volcanic activity that built the Edziza complex began in the Pleistocene and continued with eruptions into the Holocene, producing the current plateau and cone field. The area was later designated as Mount Edziza Provincial Park to protect its volcanic features and wilderness values.

Located in northwestern British Columbia on a remote volcanic plateau, the feature and surrounding provincial park are far from major population centers and accessed by long gravel roads or air.

• Volcanic significance: Contains numerous cinder cones, obsidian sources and extensive lava flows formed over hundreds of thousands of years, with the volcanic complex active into the Holocene epoch.
• Access difficulty: Access is remote; travel typically requires long unpaved roads or air transport and is suited to experienced backcountry travelers.

What to See #

• Edziza volcanic complex: The broader Mount Edziza volcanic complex containing a high central plateau, multiple cinder cones, lava flows and obsidian deposits that record repeated volcanic activity over the Pleistocene and Holocene.
• Mount Edziza Provincial Park: A provincial park that protects the volcanic plateau and surrounding wilderness, offering remote backcountry access and archaeological records of obsidian use by Indigenous peoples.