This small remnant of spatter cone is along the short side road to Merrill Cave. The spatter cone formed on the vent on top of a lava tube. Rock accumulated around the hole from the splashing and spraying of lava during times of high flow in the tube. A fire lookout is visible on the top of Schonchin Butte (a large cinder cone) in the distance.

The URL is: https://gotbooks.miracosta.edu/gonp/labe12/6/2010/html2/lava212.htm Last modified: 12/6/2010