SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. — At the edge of the Klamath National Forest is a dusty road leading to a rare and intriguing natural phenomenon known as Little Glass Mountain.
About 1,000 years ago, lava deep within the bowls of earth oozed out of the Medicine Lake Highlands. As it cooled, it turned into a glassy rock black as night.
Flash forward to today and you might find the Louie family exploring the hillside for obsidian.
“Obsidian is this black rock. A volcanic rock that got mighty hot I guess,” said Robert Louie.
For four generations, the Louies have come to this sun-beaten black hillside to marvel at the geologic wonder and maybe throw a rock or two.
“The view is cool and when you toss a rock down it makes a cool landside,” said Andrea Louie.
Just like glass, obsidian is brittle and sharp so Little Glass Mountain is not an ideal place to hike.
“The kids have slid down the hill before with long pants on but it just shreds them up on the way down,” said Robert Louie.
TAKE A TRIP ON BARTELL'S BACKROADS:
► See an interactive map of everywhere John has visited on the backroads
► Watch all of the Backroads videos
► Follow John on Facebook
Obsidian glass flows are not common and this one is especially unique because it is only about 1,000-years-old so we get to look at the rocks before the elements cover them up.
It is illegal to collect obsidian at the location without a permit because it has geologic and cultural importance.
If you haven’t cut yourself up on the rocks and you want to get an aerial view of Little Glass Mountain, we suggest following the dirt road up the hill to Little Mt. Hoffman Fire Lookout, which is one of the few fire lookouts you can actually reserve and spend the night in.
Neil Green was lucky enough to reserve a room and was kind enough to give a tour inside the 1920s style lookout.
“There’s not a whole lot. There’s a stove that I don’t know how to use, there’s this truly terrible cot that hurts my hips, there’s a table,” said Green.
What the fire lookout lacks in luxuries, it makes up for in views. From the front porch you can see both the Klamath and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. There’s even a little spiral labyrinth overlooking the volcanic hillside below.
Little Glass Mountain and Little Mt. Hoffman Fire lookout are free to visit and open all year weather depending.
MORE FUN ON THE BACKROADS: Go on safari, but watch out for the slobbering giraffes | Bartell's Backroads
