Glass Mountain, Lava Beds NM

The Map Labeled it: Glass Mountain.

As soon as I saw those words, I had to check it out. A mountain made of glass? It sounded like something made up, but the label was irresistible. That was 30 years ago. Since then, I’ve been back to Glass Mountain numerous times, often with a Pashnit Motorcycle Tours group in tow.

It is indeed a mountain of glass—specifically, volcanic obsidian. Tucked away near the California-Oregon border in the far northeast corner of the state, this region is home to Lava Beds National Monument, likely one of California’s least known and least visited parks.

Even finding Glass Mountain requires research and preparation; it’s not the kind of place you just stumble upon. (Though I’ve made it easy for you with an exhaustive article on how to navigate the high desert to find it.) It isn’t for every rider—reaching the lava field atop the mountain requires three miles of hard-pack dirt off the main paved road. But once you arrive, the payoff is surreal: a massive lava field interspersed with boulders of shimmering black glass.

There are actually two Glass Mountains in California. This one sits on the CA-OR border in the Medicine Lake Highlands, while the second is located just outside Mammoth Lakes along Highway 395. Both are spectacular, but this remote northern flow is the one that feels like a true discovery.

https://www.pashnit.com/ca-glass-mountain