Mount Rainier Volcano
Updated: Aug 12, 2025 15:20 GMT -
stratovolcano
Washington, USA, 46.85°N / -121.76°W 
Summit height: 4329 m / 14,409 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 16 Jul 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Mount Rainier, the highest peak in the Cascade Range, is located 87 km SE of Seattle and forms a majestic backdrop to the landscape of the region. The volcano is covered by 26 main glaciers, and melting of glacial ice by a future eruption causing lahars are a significant hazard for the region.
Reported 19th-century eruptions can not be verified by any deposits, but it is likely that some phreatic activity took place in 1894.
Previous eruptions have produced large debris avalanches and lahars, some of which have traveled all the way to the Pacific Ocean and reached Puget Sound.
[smaller] [larger]
Mount Rainier volcano eruptions: 1894, 1882(?), 1879(?), 1870(?), 1858(?), 1854(?), 1843(?), 1825(?), 300 BC, 520±200 BC, 3400 BC, 3600 BC, 3650 BC, 4400 BC, 4900 BC, 5300 BC, 5400 BC, 6800 BC
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 07:04 pm (GMT -7) | 0.3 1.6 km | 0.7 km (0.4 mi) to the NW | 31 mi southeast of South Hill, Pierce County, Washington, United States | Info | |
| Aug 11, 05:25 pm (GMT -7) | 0.6 10.7 km | 13 km (7.9 mi) to the W | 25 mi southeast of South Hill, Pierce County, Washington, United States | Info | |
| Monday, August 11, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Aug 11, 04:48 pm (GMT -7) | 0.7 0.5 km | 0.6 km (0.4 mi) to the S | 29 mi southeast of Graham, Pierce County, Washington, United States | Info | |
| Sunday, August 10, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Aug 10, 12:26 am (Universal Time) | 1.7 12 km | 19 km (12 mi) to the NW | 17 mi southeast of Graham, Pierce County, Washington, United States | Info | |
| Saturday, August 9, 2025 GMT (3 quakes) | |||||
| Aug 9, 12:36 am (GMT -7) | 0.3 0.5 km | 0.6 km (0.4 mi) to the SE | 29 mi southeast of Graham, Pierce County, Washington, United States | Info | |
| Aug 9, 06:40 am (Universal Time) | 0.4 3.4 km | 6.4 km (4 mi) to the SE | Pierce County, 46 mi southeast of Kent, King County, Washington, United States | Info | |
| Aug 8, 11:00 pm (GMT -7) | 0.1 7.1 km | 19 km (12 mi) to the NW | 15 km SSE of Carbonado, Washington | Info | |
| Friday, August 8, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Aug 8, 01:00 pm (GMT -7) | 0.9 0.5 km | 17 km (10.5 mi) to the SW | 8 km E of Ashford, Washington | Info | |
| Saturday, August 2, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Aug 2, 10:05 am (Universal Time) | 1.0 1 km | 1.3 km (0.8 mi) to the N | 23 km ENE of Ashford, Washington | Info | |
Background
Mount Rainier is a typical andesitic stratovolcano. It has produced large lahars and debris avalanches. Its present summit was built within a large crater breached to the northeast formed by collapse of the volcano during a major explosive eruption about 5600 years ago, that produced the widespread Osceola Mudflow.Mt Rainier's eruptive history has been studied in detail. It includes about a dozen major eruptions during the past 2600 years, the largest of which occurred about 2200 years ago.
The present-day summit cone is cut by two overlapping craters. Extensive hydrothermal activity is present in the summit craters. It has produced melting of glacial ice created a complex system of steam caves found in the summit icecap.
Mount Rainier Volcano Photos
Mount Rainier, Washington, near the "Sunrise" section of Mount Rainier National Park
6 October, 2009 (Photo: volcanomike)
6 October, 2009 (Photo: volcanomike)
Mount Rainier, Washington, at sunset from downtown Seattle (top of the Space Needle).
5 October, 2009 (Photo: volcanomike)
5 October, 2009 (Photo: volcanomike)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Mount Rainier volcano
No historic eruptions are known from Mount Rainier volcano, but evidence from at least 20 eruptions during the past 10,000 years can be found in the geological record.
Additionally, there are 8 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Mount Rainier volcano.
Additionally, there are 8 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Mount Rainier volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Mount Rainier volcano since around 4000 BC. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Mount Rainier can be found on the news page of Mount Rainier volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
?? | Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2 | ||||
Discredited Eruption | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| ? | ||||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Mount Rainier Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Mount Rainier volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Mount Rainier occurred around 1450 AD.
+When was the largest eruption of Mount Rainier volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Mount Rainier volcano occurred around 250 BC. It only has a VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) of , likely because it was a mainly effusive eruption generating lava flows but very little ash.
Latest satellite images
Mount Rainier Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mount Rainier volcano (scale of few kilometers)
