Volcanoes in Texas? Yes. In the fiery past of the geologic history of Texas there was a time when the western part of Big Bend National Park was alive with active volcanoes.
Today the remnants of that time for fire can be seen as one traverses the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. The highlight is probably the sheer sides of Cerro Castellon and the amazing Tuff Canyon.
However, there are other equally scenic area where one can see the remains and signs of this volcanic activity.
While exploring a nondescript area between Sotol Vista and Cottonwood Campground I ran across this scene in late afternoon light. The reddish rocks and hills you see here all from volcanic activity. They could be plugs from vents or the remains of a magma dome that solidified and the surrounding rock has eroded away over the intervening mellenia.
I like this area of the park. It is wild and scenic. It is also left alone as everyone seems to race past this area to the chasm of Santa Elena Canyon. Don't get me wrong, I love the view at Santa Elena, but I also love finding these other locations.
Those hidden in plain sight locations-where fire once was.
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