Even if you know a lot about the Tarheel State, it may come as a surprise to you that millions of years ago, all of present-day North Carolina was covered by an ocean. Did you know that at that time, an arc of volcanoes in NC formed? These eventually pushed up through the surface of the water, creating North Carolina volcano islands. What’s perhaps most surprising is that we can still see visible evidence of that, even today. If you’ve ever wondered “are there any dormant volcanoes in North Carolina?”, the answer is a firm yes, and you can actually see these volcanoes in North Carolina by taking a hike. We’ve got a number of great trails with volcanoes in NC. We all know there are plenty of amazing mountains in North Carolina, and amazingly enough, some of them are dormant volcanoes. These hikes are so much fun for anyone seeking a trail with history, natural beauty, and the opportunity to stretch your legs.

There's a certain section along the Eno River in North Carolina that's absolutely fascinating for hikers. Whether you are a lover of geology or just adore all the wonders of NC nature, this area is magnificent.
Google Maps/Rajanikanth T
It's right here along the Eno that rapidly-cooled volcanic rocks hide in plain sight. This landscape literally rose up from the bottom of an ancient ocean. Volcanoes in North Carolina are not particularly expected, but you can see them here.
alltrails/Georgia Loft
It's amazing that after millions and millions of years of erosion, parts of the Eno are still laden with ancient volcanic rock.
If you're not a science geek, feel free to skip the graphic. But here's how the magic of plate tectonics created the arc of underwater volcanoes in NC that you can now see in and along the banks of the Eno River.
Wikimedia/ "Subduction-en.svg from Wikimedia Commons by K. D. Schroeder, CC-BY-SA 4.0
First, plate tectonics pushed one plate underneath another - you can see this by the yellow arrow above. This caused a hot magma pocket underneath what is now present-day North Carolina to erupt in several places. This created underwater volcanoes. As the eruptions continued, they eventually pushed through the surface of the ocean. Volcanic islands were created and then the arc was formed, visible in the top right of the graphic.
Eventually, the magma chamber collapsed under the weight of the erupted material. This formed what is known as the Hillsborough Caldera.
Google Maps/Will Butler
Today, the naked eye isn't able to view the caldera or rim. Geologists believe that the caldera was pushed back up when the magma chamber filled again and began to erupt. This is the point at which the visible volcanic rocks in and along parts of the Eno River were created.
The newer volcanic eruptions were also underwater. Because water makes lava cool much quicker than it does in the air, the volcanic rocks left behind in the Eno River have a very distinctive look.
Google Local/Ana Rivas

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Along several key trails near the river, you can find rocks and boulders that have hardcore evidence of the area's strong ties to ancient volcano activity.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Pictured is a granodiorite stone. The distinctive texture shows lava and minerals that are embedded into the rock. The process occurred as the lava cooled underneath ancient ocean.
Similar volcanic rocks, known as diorite, have more of a granite-like appearance. Still, you can see the granular texture of the granodiorite.
alltrails/Hongbo Wang
The above image was taken along the Buckquarter Creek Loop, which is near the Eno River. You can see huge diorite boulders in the foreground of the photo.
Who knew there so many trails with volcanoes in North Carolina?!
Google Maps/Rajanikanth T
There are several trails along the Eno River where evidence of ancient volcanic activity in North Carolina can be easily seen by the naked eye.
They include the Shakori and Ridge Trails, a beautiful 3.9-mile loop with some beautiful scenery.
Google Maps/Rajanikanth T
The nearby Holden's Mill Trail (also a loop), and the Buckquarter Creek Trail (2.4 miles long) are popular trails that traverse right through the area where the Hillsborough Arc and ancient volcanoes sat.
Each of these trails is located west of the West Point Park on the Eno, which is near Durham.
alltrails/James Abbott
The next time that you're looking for a nature walk and a history lesson all rolled into one, explore one of these hikes along the Eno River! It's amazing to see all this evidence of volcanoes in NC.
Google Maps/Rishi Rampersad

It’s important to note: removing rocks and ancient articles from these trails is not a good idea. Always follow the “leave no trace” rule when hiking in North Carolina, which includes the “take no trace” policy as well if you’re chasing volcanoes along the Eno.

Our friends at Alltrails have tons of great information about all the hikes we mentioned above, and you can even enjoy a free trial of Alltrails+ if you’d like to enjoy extras like downloading offline maps.

You can always pick up all the gear you need for a hike at Backcountry. Make sure to wear good footwear, and always bring sunscreen and insect repellent.

Love discovering odd and interesting things about North Carolina? Most people raise an eyebrow upon learning the true geographical center of North Carolina is found on top of a hill called Purgatory Mountain.

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