See it on the map

Photo: Wikimedia Commons — see author and license on the file page.

Pisgah Crater

Nature & parks
Near Ludlow, California
1.4 mi from Route 66

Directions OpenStreetMap

Pisgah Crater is a young cone of volcanic cinders near Ludlow, CA, about 1.2 miles off the old road. It stands over a flat field of lava in the Mojave, roughly between Barstow and Needles, south of historic Route 66 and Interstate 40. Mining has cut its summit down from 2,638 feet to about 2,545 feet. For drivers, it is one of the desert's volcanic landmarks, best enjoyed from the road.

What is Pisgah Crater?

The crater, also called Pisgah Volcano, is a cone of cinders sitting on a broad plain of lava. It lies west of Ludlow in San Bernardino County. Its lowered summit is a result of cinder mining.

Visiting Pisgah Crater: tips

There are no listed facilities, so treat this as a view from the road and pull fully off before stopping. Ludlow is about 12.3 miles away for fuel and food, and the Ragtown ghost town is about 13.9 miles off.

Practical info

Address: California

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

On the map

Pisgah Crater with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.

Tap a dot to see that stop here.

Stops near Pisgah Crater

All of California

Ludlow, California

Ludlow

Ludlow, California · 0.2 mi from Route 66

A desert stop dating to 1882, where Route 66 remains sit just off Interstate 40.

Ghost townPhoto credit

12.3 mi from Pisgah Crater

Ragtown

Ragtown, California · 4.1 mi from Route 66

A tent-built Mojave mining camp from the gold years around 1898, now a ghost town.

13.9 mi from Pisgah Crater

Newberry Mountains

Barstow, California · 4.2 mi from Route 66

A Mojave range southeast of Barstow that rises just south of Route 66 and Newberry Springs.

20.0 mi from Pisgah Crater

Mojave Trails National Monument near Ludlow, CA

Mojave Trails National Monument

Ludlow, California · 1.7 mi from Route 66

A vast desert monument that protects long stretches of Route 66 across the Mojave.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

23.6 mi from Pisgah Crater

Siberia

Siberia, California · 0.2 mi from Route 66

A former rail siding and Route 66 stop in the Mojave, now wiped almost completely from the desert floor.

23.6 mi from Pisgah Crater

CACTUS

Yermo, California · 1.6 mi from Route 66

The site of a desert solar plant turned telescope near Daggett, demolished in 2009.

Art & landmarks

27.5 mi from Pisgah Crater

Own or run Pisgah Crater? Send us a photo or a correction.

See it on the map