Skip to Main Content

Amboy, California: Amboy Crater

250-foot-high volcanic cinder cone with a hiking trail leading up to the rim. A long walk from the parking lot, in the Mojave Desert, bring abundance of water and shade if you go.

Address:
16700 Crater Rd, Amboy, CA
Directions:
The turnoff to the Crater parking area is on the south side of old Rt 66/National Trails Hwy, either one mile west of the intersection of Amboy Rd or 26.5 miles east of the Ludlow exit on I-40. It's a 2-3 hour 'round trip hike to the rim of the crater from the parking area.
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Amboy Crater

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Amboy Crater.

Amboy Crater

Gorgeous and weird! You can't hike it in the summer (or you shouldn't unless you have hella water) but def worth the stop!

[jessfromco-sign, 06/30/2023]

Amboy Crater.

Amboy Crater

The volcanic cone is visible from Route 66 in Amboy.

[Osprey's Rest, 03/16/2014]

It's Route 66's most convenient volcano -- an 80,000 year old extinct cinder cone that can be hiked, (western Cone Trail the preferred route to the rim). It's the Mojave Desert. Watch out for rattlesnakes, bring plenty of water.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Roy's Cafe Motel: Famous SignRoy's Cafe Motel: Famous Sign, Amboy, CA - 2 mi.
Lines of PyramidsLines of Pyramids, Amboy, CA - 3 mi.
Guardian Lions of Route 66Guardian Lions of Route 66, Amboy, CA - 6 mi.
In the region:
Robot Gold Miners, Nipton, CA - 61 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

California Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

X-Files Preservation Collection, Saratoga Springs, New York (Oct 6-12, 2025)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings