Volcano Peak

Volcano Peak is the southernmost high point in the Silver Island Mountains, a rugged and isolated mountain range near the Bonneville Salt Flats. These quiet and rarely visited mountains are home to numerous species of lizards and birds, and you may also see jackrabbits, coyote, and pronghorn and bighorn sheep. 

Much of the Silver Island Mountain Range is a reminder of ancient Lake Bonneville. Layers of limestone sediment were deposited in the lake over tens of thousands of years. After the great flood and subsequent climate change, the level of the lake dropped significantly, leaving much of the lakebed exposed in the mountains we see today. In addition, lava flows poured on top of some of the the limestone beds, forming Volcano Peak and other geologic features in the range.  

The scramble to Volcano Peak's summit is short and steep. From the end of the road, follow a gravel-filled drainage several hundred vertical feet up toward the summit. Continue directly up the slope to the ridge, staying to the left of the rock cliffs along the way. Look for a chute straight ahead that leads to a notch. There is a short Class I section that must be negotiated in order to gain the summit block from there. At the top, explore the many rock formations to find shiny, green mineral deposits and other interesting signs of volcanic activity. You'll also get a bird's-eye view of the Bonneville Salt Flats nearly a thousand feet below.