A Volcanic Eruption in Colorado? It’s More Likely Than You Think

The thought of lava emerging out of the ground within Colorado might initially seem like a case of pure fantasy. Yet, the prospect of a volcanic eruption within the state is more likely than you think. As, Colorado contains a single active volcano, with this volcano last erupting a little over 4,000 years ago. This video discusses the Dotsero volcano, and the eruption sequence which formed it.

Note: This video's thumbnail image shows what a vulcanian explosion may have looked like during a portion of Dotsero's eruption in 2150 BCE. Specifically, during the ash rich phase after the maar formed. This image does not display the current status of the Dotsero volcano.

A special thanks to Keaton Terry for granting me permission to use his photos and videos of Colorado's Dotsero volcano.

A special thanks to the Extreme Pursuit YouTube channel for granting me permission to use clips of his footage!
Video Sources from the Extreme Pursuit YouTube channel:

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Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

Various licenses used in sections of this video (not the entire video, this video as a whole does not completely fall under one of these licenses) and/or in this video's thumbnail image:

Sources/Citations:
[1] U.S. Geological Survey

For further reading, here are two USGS pages on this volcano:

0:00 A Volcanic Eruption in Colorado
0:21 The Dotsero Volcano
2:05 The Lava Flow
3:11 A Maar Forms
4:17 A Nearby Volcanic Cone

[cyndikarp]

Dotsero was my first volcano I climbed in sixth grade Science Club. Mom volunteered too.

[StuffandThings_]

I've been to Dotsero and even have a couple rocks from the place (I mean they're literally quarrying it so a few loose rocks really isn't much). Its a neat area, and pretty wild to see quaternary volcanics in the Rockies so famous for the uplift. Even crazier to think that a volcano in some sense "erupted" Paleozoic sandstone. I didn't even realize that there was surrounding volcanic features, they look very well preserved too, perhaps even more so than Dotsero. Its surprising how obscure Dotsero is, considering that its magma helps to feed the rather famous hot springs at Glenwood Springs. I do wonder how a volcanic field ended up in the Rockies of all places, it kind of reminds me of the small scale volcanoes/volcanic fields in Tibet.

[alij]

I used to spend my summers at a summer camp about ten miles up the Colorado River from Dotsero. The area has some really interesting evidence of a turbulent geologic history:
On a dirt road descending from the girls' camp to the boys' camp, there is a 90° fold in the layers of sandstone. There are trilobite and other fossils of the creatures that got trapped as the earth seized to cause the folder.
In addition to the Dotsero crater, if you go about ten miles down the Colorado, you find Glenwood Springs. Hot springs bubble up on the north shore of the river. The springs and vapor caves have been utilized to make the healing destination the town has been known for since the 1800s.
The Glenwood Canyon is currently undergoing some dramatic events, too: The fires on the rim a few years ago have denuded much of the northern canyon wall of vegetation. As a result, over the intervening years, major mudslides have repeatedly occurred, some big enough to alter the flow of the river.
I was really excited to see the topic of today's video, as you can probably tell. I adore this part of the state!

[hereticpariah_]

I used to live in the town of Dotsero. When i lived there, the (official) population was 15. When we left, it dropped to 9! There was (and may still be) a cinder block plant that used cinders from the dormant volcano up the hill. I used the broken blocks they'd throw out to make GI Joe forts. Lots of fun by that leech-infested pond...

[princessofthecape]

Been to Dotsero myself - interesting place. Despite its proximity to the highway, it's very much a volcano hiding in plain sight.

[richardjensen]

Interesting! I live in Western Kansas, so any major volcanic events might cause issues for me. Could you do a video on the Spanish Peaks area of Colorado and its odd lava dikes? They are fascinating to me. Thanks!

[Spiritmanmusic]

In 1997, I was returning to Omaha, NE from a vacation that took me through a large area of New Mexico. My last stop before returning home was Rotan, New Mexico and then through the volcanic fields of Colorado. I was able to take a perfect picture of a volcanic vent and small cinder cone. Fast forward to present time, I have had several dreams and visions of that area beginning to awaken back to life and it's not just one specific area. In my dreams and visions I have seen areas where there are two new vents, there is also areas that should be cool, but are very warm to hot, and there is also some type of hissing or humming noise coming from the area. It's not Dotsero, but La Garita volcano in Colorado.

[Trassik]

I've learned something today. Thank you sir.

[TheSpaceEnthusiast-vlwx]

Thanks. It can be astonishing to know that the most recent eruption in Colorado occurred only 4, 000 years ago.
As with the volcanics of the Southwestern United States, this ties into the rabbit hole of information about the Basin and Range province discussed in Nick Zenter's Geology lectures. Shoutout to Dragath1 for bringing this up!

[Katie-sxkf]

Dotsero is amazing! A 4 wheel drive vehicle will get you to the crater rim and some astounding views!

[robertgreen]

I didn't know about this one learn something new almost every day

[bevinboulder]

I will never think of that section of I 70 the same way again. 🌋

[keonisan]

I keep wondering why Rainer hasn't blown it's top in recorded memory but St. Helens is the only one in that chain that's regularly active.

[SSanatobaJR]

I live in Southern Colorado and appreciate this in-depth look at Dotsero. Thank you. Still, I know that the San Luis Valley area is the northern part of the Rio Grande Rift Zone and that same rift zone has active volcanoes in New Mexico. I find it strange that there are no known active volcanoes just across the state border in the same rift zone. Geology doesn't recognize political borders. Yet on the map there are interesting features there much like ones to the south, plus all the faults and hot springs. Could you cover why there is a difference in the north and south parts of this rift zone?

[katieskarlette]

I'm always so amazed at how much detail we can figure out about events from so long ago. Crazy detective work goes into reconstructing the age, speed, and size of events like this.

[maxpower]

In the san luis valley in southern colorado, there's a bunch of cones near the rio grande that look volcanic. Are they volcanoes related to the rio grande rift?

[mikelouis]

You are truly a treasure! Fantastic accurate information and an interesting presentation. Great work!

[anthonyhall]

Thanks for doing a video about volcanoes in Colorado, I live down valley from aspen so this is very informative!

[cdineaglecollapsecenter]

Thanks for the great video! Love the Dotsero volcano.

[theredflannelchannel]

I lived in Dostero my whole childhood. I would ride my dirt bike or hike up to the crater and down into it. Lots of cars and tires at the bottom along with fridges and freezers. People used to use it as a dumping site.