The United States is home to some of the most impressive and dangerous volcanoes in the world, with many located along the Pacific Ring of Fire. These volcanoes vary in activity, with some lying dormant for centuries and others erupting frequently. Understanding these natural giants is crucial, as their eruptions can have devastating impacts on nearby communities, aviation, and the environment. Below is a list of the 13 most active volcanoes in the U.S., ranked from least to most active.
13. Mount Spurr (Alaska)
Mount Spurr is Alaska’s highest volcano in the Aleutian Range. Its 1992 eruption coated Anchorage with ash, disrupting daily life. Though dormant since then, its potential to impact trans-Pacific aviation makes it a significant threat.
12. Makushin Volcano (Alaska)
Makushin, on Unalaska Island, has erupted multiple times, with its last explosive event in 1995. It is near the fishing hub of Dutch Harbor, and its geothermal activity poses a risk to the region.
11. Akutan Peak (Alaska)
Akutan Peak has erupted over 20 times since 1790. Located in the Aleutian Arc, it remains active with frequent fumaroles and earthquakes, posing risks to nearby residents.
10. Three Sisters (Oregon)
Part of the Cascade Range, the South Sister is most likely to erupt. The last eruption, 2,000 years ago, left ash deposits throughout the region. Monitoring shows ongoing seismic activity beneath the area.
9. Mount Hood (Oregon)
Mount Hood, near Portland, last erupted in the late 1790s. Lahars from past eruptions traveled far down river valleys, and a new eruption could significantly impact nearby communities.
8. Mount Shasta (California)
Mount Shasta is one of the tallest stratovolcanoes in the Cascades and has erupted frequently over the past 10,000 years. Its eruptions could produce ash falls, lahars, and pyroclastic flows that threaten the city of Mount Shasta and beyond.
7. Mount Redoubt (Alaska)
Redoubt has erupted multiple times over the last century, with a major event in 2009 sending ash clouds 65,000 feet high. These eruptions often disrupt aviation and produce significant seismic activity.
6. Mount Rainier (Washington)
Rainier’s glaciers make it prone to catastrophic lahars, even during minor eruptions. The last eruption occurred in the 1840s, but its potential danger to Seattle-Tacoma communities makes it closely monitored.
5. Mount St. Helens (Washington)
The infamous 1980 eruption killed over 50 people and reshaped the mountain. Lava domes grew during eruptions from 2004 to 2008, and it remains highly active and closely monitored.
4. Augustine Volcano (Alaska)
Located in the Cook Inlet, Augustine has erupted more than a dozen times since 1812, with a notable 2006 eruption sending ash 30,000 feet into the air. Its activity frequently affects aviation routes in Alaska.
3. Mount Cleveland (Alaska)
Mount Cleveland is one of the most active Aleutian volcanoes, with eruptions nearly every year. Explosions send ash clouds that threaten air travel. Its isolated location minimizes impact on people.
2. Mauna Loa (Hawaii)
The world’s largest volcano by volume, Mauna Loa’s last eruption in 2022 sent lava flows near populated areas. Its eruptions often produce high volumes of lava, posing risks to infrastructure.
1. Kilauea (Hawaii)
The most active U.S. volcano, Kilauea, has erupted 34 times since 1952. Its 2018 eruption devastated neighborhoods, displaced over 1,700 residents, and changed Hawaii’s landscape. It remains a powerful and closely observed force of nature.
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