Ubehebe Crater

Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic maar in northern Death Valley National Park in eastern California, notable as a well-preserved example of a phreatomagmatic explosion crater. It is one of the park’s prominent geological features and part of a local volcanic field.

The site is centered on a broad crater about 600 feet (180 m) deep and roughly 0.5 mile (0.8 km) across. A short rim loop trail allows close views into the crater and surrounding scoria deposits, and nearby smaller vents and cinder cones can be seen across the volcanic field.

The crater formed from explosive interactions between rising magma and shallow groundwater, producing tephra and broad explosive excavation rather than lava flows. It is part of a cluster of volcanic features in the area that record repeated phreatomagmatic and strombolian activity during the late Quaternary.

The crater sits in the northern reaches of Death Valley National Park within a sparsely vegetated desert landscape. It is accessed via park roads and is located on federal land managed as part of the national park system.

• Size: The crater measures roughly 600 feet (about 180 m) deep and is approximately 0.5 mile (0.8 km) across at the rim, making it one of the larger maars in the region.
• Best time to visit: Best visited outside the hottest summer months when daytime temperatures in Death Valley can be extreme; early morning or late afternoon light gives the best rim views.

What to See #

• Little Hebe Crater: A smaller maar immediately adjacent to the main crater, visible from the rim and formed by the same explosive phreatomagmatic activity.
• Rim trail: A short loop trail that follows the rim and provides viewpoints into the main crater; the loop is the primary on-foot route for visitors.