Austin, Texas is famous for many things—the University of Texas, the Texas State Capitol, its booming tech scene, and even being the new home for many people from California and Hollywood. But there’s something unexpected hiding near this lively city—an ancient volcano!
That’s right—Austin is home to Pilot Knob, a dormant volcano that has been asleep for millions of years.
What Is Pilot Knob?
Pilot Knob is a volcanic hill located near McKinney Falls State Park, just a few miles outside Austin. While many people in Austin may not even know about it, this natural formation is actually the remains of a submarine volcano—a volcano that once erupted underwater.
Even though it looks like just another hill today, this place has a fiery past.
How Old Is This Texas Volcano?
Experts believe that the volcano was active around 80 to 120 million years ago. Back then, the area we now call Texas was covered by an ancient sea, which explains how a submarine volcano formed here.
Pilot Knob is known as Texas’ only exposed underwater volcano, and while it no longer erupts, it still stands as a reminder of the Earth’s powerful past.
Can It Erupt Again?
There’s no need to worry—Pilot Knob is inactive, which means it has not erupted for millions of years and is very unlikely to erupt again. Most scientists agree that volcanoes like this one are completely safe today.
Still, some people like to imagine wild stories where a dormant volcano suddenly comes back to life. That’s something you usually see in movies or TV shows—like 9-1-1: Lone Star—not in real life.
Can You Visit the Volcano?
Sadly, most of the original volcano site is now covered by houses and private land, which makes it hard to explore. But the volcanic rocks and ash beds left behind still tell the story.
If you visit McKinney Falls State Park, which is nearby, you can actually see signs of volcanic activity. The park’s waterfalls flow over limestone and volcanic ash layers, shaped long ago by eruptions.