Wing Mountain ~ Forest Covered Volcano near Flagstaff, Arizona

Wing Mountain Volcano Wing Mountain is an extinct, isolated ancient cinder-cone volcano which has a forest growing on it. It is located a few miles to the west of Flagstaff, Arizona in Coconino National Forest.  

Cinder-Cone Volcanoes are usually made of piles of lava, not ash. During the eruption, blobs ("cinders") of lava, blown into the air, break into small fragments that fall around the opening to the volcano. The pile forms an oval-shaped small volcano, as shown in this picture. 

Cinder cone volcanic remnants can be found along a large swath of the southwest USA and they are mostly rough and rugged obsidian and are inhabited by a limited and very specialized flora and fauna. Rising 1,000 feet about the surrounding area, this volcano has a large dish-shaped central depression that marks the site of the ancient volcanic crater.  

This crater was cut into pasture grazing land by the rancher who named it Wing Mountain back in the 1800’s. For years they would drive cattle up the mountain into this meadow. 

For the past few years this other side of this mountain (in this photo) was the setting for seasonal snow-sledding but I just read that they recently shut it down.  

I lensed this on a beautiful spring afternoon as I was taking off from Flagstaff on my way to California. I was drawn to it because it was the only thing in the area sticking up and was so perfectly formed. I've seen many different types of volcanoes from the air and this one is quite unique.

This is from "Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition" my personal project of exploration in the North American Wilderness. 

I am on a mission to raise awareness of our Iconic Natural Heritage Treasures of North America.  If you wish to help spread the word and share these images of our amazing planet, please resteemit ! 

Yehaw!!