Last Updated on 25 July, 2026 by Robyn Dockendorf

Diamond Craters was one of the most unique places we stayed and visited on our vanlife travels. The landscape was alien, strewn with the remnants of 7,000-year-old volcanic eruptions and lava flows with dimpled craters to mark the location of the volcanoes. The best part about this intriguing basaltic volcanic field is that you can explore the entire area in half a day and drive the whole thing!

Exploring the 9 scenic stops at Diamond Craters involves a spectacular drive with views of craters, vents, cinder cones, spatter cones, lava tubes, and a water-filled maar. Most of these features can be viewed from the car, but you’ll need to lace up your trusty hiking boots to get the best views!

Below, I’ll explain the best way to see nine volcanic features in the Diamond Craters volcanic field by car. And yes, it’s dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furbag along! 

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What Makes Diamond Craters Worth A Stop

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reports that Diamond Craters consists of 17,000 acres. Over a dozen distinct volcanic features can be found in this small 26-square-mile area. It is nothing short of amazing that such a small area encompasses such a high volume of volcanic activity and features.

That’s cool, but what makes Diamond Craters worth stopping at? Well, about 7,790 to 7,320 years ago, something extraordinary happened at Diamond Craters.

When The Earth Lurched Skyward

While the beginning of this area’s eruption started out pretty normal, with lava flows being fed from a central vent, something unusual happened during the eruption: Magma, which is just a fancy term for lava that hasn’t reached the surface yet, was injected into the eruption’s subsurface, which is not typical.

This insertion of super-hot magma caused the entire lava field to arch up about 500 feet! In the wake of this activity, six massive domes were created, shaping the landscape in spectacular fashion. 

These domes make the Diamond Craters lava field one of the most unique areas, and you won’t find anything else like it in the United States, or North America, for that matter! But… there’s one more thing that makes Diamond Craters peculiar.

Hot Magma, Meet Cold Surface Water

The magma at Diamond Craters was pretty intrusive in what would generally be a typical volcanic eruption. In addition to injecting itself into the eruption’s subsurface, it also intercepted shallow groundwater.

So, what does that mean?

Imagine boiling water at 212℉. It’s pretty rowdy, right? Bubbles and steam and all that. Now, imagine 2,000℉ magma coming into contact with water. Yep, there were massive hydrothermal explosions!

The explosions were so intense that they shattered the rocks beneath and spewed them into the air. These flying volcanic rocks, called tephra, blanket the Diamond Craters area. In some places, this ‘blanket’ of airborne rocks is as thick as 65 feet!

If You Like Science

Anyone who appreciates science will find Diamond Craters an intriguing destination. The geological features will ensnare anyone with a mind for geological history. 

This area is vital to scientists for collecting data about the area’s plants, animals, and rock layers from thousands of years ago. It tells a story of what animals lived here, what they ate, what the climate was like, and how these volcanic eruptions shaped the land we see today.

Don’t worry; even if you’re not a science geek, you’ll still enjoy the awe-inspiring sites at Diamond Craters.

The Six Domes

As I guide you through the nine wonders of Diamond Craters, I’ll reference the six domes created during the initial volcanic eruption to orient you. 

The six domes at Diamond Craters include:

1. West Dome
2. Central Dome
3. North Dome
4. South Dome
5. Graben Dome
6. Northeast Dome

The Graben Dome is the largest in Diamond Craters, measuring 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. Check out this Diamond Craters map to orient yourself to the area!

Now, let’s move on to your Diamond Craters guide. I’ll walk you through seeing all the best views in this outstanding natural area. 

By the way, most of these stops will be short walks from the car to the edge of the craters. However, if you plan to hike around the craters or throughout the area, check out our ultimate day hiking gear list to ensure you have everything you need!

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9 Scenic Stops At Diamond Craters By Car

Diamond Craters is a fantastic destination if you’re traveling through Southeastern Oregon or just looking for somewhere unique to visit. It may not be a National or State Park, but it’s impressive nonetheless.

Once you start, this trip involves about 13 miles of driving, with nine stops in total. Each stop corresponds with a number on the map referenced above. With such a short driving distance, I recommend spending half a day on this adventure. This gives you plenty of time to explore each stop.

Without further delay, let’s get this venture started!

Stop #1: Big Bomb Crater

Big Bomb Crater is the first crater you’ll see when you enter the Diamond Craters Area. It’s located off Lava Beds Road and has a gravel pull-off to park the car. It’s directly south of the Graben Dome.

• GPS: N43.0774, W118.7496
• Associated number on map: 5

Big Bomb Crater is a pyroclastic cone or cinder cone (sometimes called a scoria cone), the most common type of volcano worldwide. Although the volcanic remnants are filled with sagebrush and grasses instead of lava, it’s still an impressive site!

Stop #2: Keyhole Explosion Crater

The next stop on this adventure is the Keyhole Explosion Crater, located in the Graben Dome. Unlike Big Bomb Crater, Keyhole Explosion is considered a crater, not a type of volcano. Craters form during volcanic eruptions above the vents that feed the volcano. 

Over time, these craters will be eroded back to a clean slate, but for now, we can enjoy them!

Keyhole Explosion Crater is more blatant about its volcanic history. As you stand before it, you can see the hardened lava field of crumbling rock, its dark coloration making it stand out against the yellow grasses.

You’ll have to drive up a gravel road to get to Keyhole. Under normal conditions, any vehicle can make the trip. However, in inclement weather, the road can get tricky. Use your best judgment. There is a gravel pull-off and a small path leading to a good viewpoint of the crater.

• GPS: N43.0803, W118.7575
• Associated number on map: N/A

Stop #3: Oval Crater

If you continue up the gravel road, you’ll find another parking area that overlooks our next stop: Oval Crater. Like Keyhole, Oval Crater is an actual crater named for its oblong shape. It’s located in the South Dome area.

• GPS: N43.0859, W118.7669
• Associated number on map: 7

This stop gives you extraordinary 360-degree views of the landscape around you. It’s a fantastic opportunity to take photos and imagine what the land looked like thousands of years ago when these volcanoes erupted!

Stop #4: Lava Pit Crater

Once you’ve soaked in the views at Oval Crater, turn the car around and drive back to Lava Beds Road. As you approach the main road, hook a right to head away from Big Bomb Crater. Next stop: Lava Pit. 

The name says it all. This was definitely one of my favorite stops because, for lack of a better term, it’s really volcano-y! As you walk toward the crater’s edge, there are tons of little holes and lava tubes to see.

• GPS: N43.0761, W118.7576
• Associated number on map: 6

Lava Pit Crater is located in the South Dome. Unlike Big Bomb Crater, Lava Pit Crater is considered a shield volcano. 

A shield volcano is named because of its gentle slopes, which resemble a warrior’s shield from the ground. By sheer size, shield volcanoes are the largest type of volcano in the world, but generally produce low-viscosity, runny lava instead of explosions.

While this crater looks more volcano-y, there were no significant explosions here. In fact, it used to be a lava lake! The crater formed as the lake’s lava drained, leaving channels and lava tubes behind.

Stop #5: Red Bomb Crater

Like Big Bomb Crater, Red Bomb Crater is a pyroclastic cone. While Oval Crater is just across the road, the rim’s elevation makes it difficult to see from the road. That’s why we put Oval Crater before Red Bomb Crater.

Red Bomb Crater is one of the more interesting craters in the South Dome. A walkway around the western side of the crater offers stunning views from a higher vantage point. The crater gets its name from the red-tinged soil found in this area.

• GPS: N43.0788, W118.7674
• Associated number on map: N/A

Red Bomb Crater formed when magma rose through the soil and came into contact with runoff water from nearby Steens Mountain (to the south). The result was a confined steam explosion that spewed magma and rock into the air. As they fell around the vent, they formed Red Bomb Crater.

The following stops will be further down the road in the West Dome. Red Bomb is the last stop for the first group of craters and volcanoes on this exciting adventure!

Stop #6: East Twin Crater

The following two stops are in short succession. First, let’s take a look at East Twin Crater. This crater is considered a maar in geologic terms. Maars are low-standing volcanoes that typically contain bowl-shaped craters. 

These features are unique because the craters sit below the surrounding ground level and often contain water. Neither East nor West Twin Craters contains water. Over time, rocks from the crater’s edge have fallen in, burying the crater’s center.

• GPS: N43.0969, W118.8066
• Associated number on map: 8

This crater has a circular gravel parking area. A walking path leads to the crater’s edge, where you can enjoy good views of the northern slopes.

Stop #7: West Twin Crater

Less than a quarter mile down the road lies the pull-off for West Twin Crater. Like East Twin, West Twin is a maar. Despite being called ‘twins,’ these craters have subtle differences. 

The East Twin may have steeper slopes, but the West Twin takes the cake for its rugged features. Looking at the back of the crater, you’ll notice a massive crack in the earth, and a cliff face rises above the crater. It’s a genuinely spectacular stop on this scenic adventure!

• GPS: N43.0981, W118.8097
• Associated number on map: 9

Like East Twin Crater, West Twin is dry, but don’t worry, you’ll see a maar with a small pond a little further down the road!

Stop #8: Dry & Malheur Maars

As the names suggest, Dry and Malheur are both maars. They can be viewed from the same parking area, so it’s a two-for-one stop! From the parking area, a distinguished walking path passes Dry Maar first and then Malheur Maar.

Dry Maar was underwhelming, in our opinion. It was cool to see, but nothing exciting. If any geologists or historians read this, they’d argue differently!

Continue past Dry Mar and follow the walking path until you reach a crater filled with lush green aquatic vegetation and water in the middle. When we went, a few ducks were swimming around in the water, adding to the entertainment.

Malheur Maar has contained water for over 7,000 years! The water is about six feet deep, and a layer of sediment beneath captures the entire history of the pollen, animals, plants, and climate for the past 7,000 years, making it critical to scientists.

• GPS: N43.1029, W118.8177
• Associated number on map: 10

These two maars are located in the West Dome. While there are technically no other features beyond Malheur Maar, I recommend following the walking path beyond it to look at the incredible volcanic rock that dots the land above the maars. It’s worth the extra steps, I promise!

That wraps it up for Lava Beds Road, but there is still one more crater to see – Cloverleaf Crater. So, hop back in the car and head out where you came in.

Stop #9: Cloverleaf Crater

The final crater on our adventure is the Cloverleaf Crater. The name only makes sense if you look at the crater from above, such as with a drone or on Google Earth. It resembles the shape of a 3-leaf clover.

Cloverleaf Crater is located in the Northeast Dome and is the only geological feature in this area. To get there, you’ll head back toward Big Bomb Crater and hang a left onto the main road (Lava Beds Road). Continue heading east on Lava Beds Road for 1 mile before turning off on a dirt road.

• GPS: N43.0874, W118.7303
• Associated number on map: N/A

Seeing Cloverleaf Crater from the ground isn’t as exciting as from the sky. However, it’s still an interesting stop to see the volcanic rock and various dark lines on the grassy slopes that indicate past volcanic activity.

The Central Crater Complex: Additional Adventures

If you look at one of the maps I included in this article, you may wonder why I left out the Central Crater Complex on the scenic drive tour. After all, its name suggests it’s the centerpiece of this outstanding volcanic landscape.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to get to the Central Crater Complex. A road exists on the complex’s western side, but we didn’t try it in our 2WD van. Some roads contain soft ash and sand, and this one didn’t look too sturdy!

If you want to explore the 30 or more funnels of the Central Crater Complex, you’ll have to hike there. I recommend hiking up the road, as the tall grasses can hide rattlesnakes in the warmer months.

Looking for more adventures in Oregon? Check out our Oregon page to see all the hiking guides for the state!

Visiting Diamond Craters With Pets

We always like to include a section about the area’s pet policy in our guides. After all, we are the dirtbags with furbags!

If you love bringing your pets with you on adventures, you’ll be happy to know that Diamond Craters is dog-friendly. Dogs are allowed anywhere in the Diamond Craters area, including any trails you may go on. 

Here are a few quick tips for bringing your pets to Diamond Craters:

• Rattlesnakes: Venomous snakes live in the tall grasses of Diamond Craters. Consider bringing a trekking pole or walking stick to feel for any snakes on the path. We have an excellent guide on the 7 steps to take if your dog is bitten by a snake. It may be good to peruse the article to ensure you’re prepared for a worst-case scenario. 
• Water: Diamond Craters is around 4,400 feet in elevation. Bring plenty of water for you and your pup to stay hydrated in the high desert country. A KONG H2O Stainless Steel Dog Water Bottle is helpful in the region’s dry climate.
• Stickers: If you decide to hike through the tall grasses at Diamond Craters, be aware that there are a lot of prickly sticker bushes that can get stuck in your pet’s fur.
• Hazards: Technically, no leash policy has been posted in the Diamond Craters area. However, due to the presence of wildlife, loose rocks, steep crater edges, and drop-offs, I highly recommend keeping your furry pal on a leash at all times outside the vehicle.
• Sharp Rocks: The lava beds and volcanic remnants can be sharp on your pet’s paws. Consider training them to wear a pair of dog boots to protect their paw pads. We love the Ruffwear Hi & Light Trail Shoes!

Our dog, Pawdrick, loved hanging out at Diamond Craters. He may not have appreciated the area’s geology or scientific significance, but he certainly enjoyed the open plains, new smells, and soft ground!

Mission Accomplished: Diamond Craters, Oregon

That’s a wrap on the Diamond Craters tour. The nine stops described above are the best way to see the most exciting features available in this outstanding natural area. The vast volcanic field of Diamond Craters is unique to North America, and you won’t find anything like it elsewhere!

Let us know how your visit went in the comments below or if you’ve already been there and have something to add! We love hearing from fellow adventurers!

Until next time, give your furbag an extra pet from us, and keep exploring this beautiful world! For more hiking guides like this, check out our hiking blog.