Mount Thielsen, also known as Big Cowhorn, is an extinct stratovolcano located in the Cascade Range in eastern Douglas County, Oregon. Rising to an elevation of 9,182 feet (2,799 m), Mount Thielsen is a prominent peak visible from parts of Crater Lake National Park and highways across south-central Oregon.
Let’s explore this unique Oregon mountain through 30 fun riddles and brainteasers. See if you can guess the answers about Mount Thielsen’s geography, geology, history and more!
Riddles about Mount Thielsen’s Geography
Here are 10 riddles testing your knowledge of Mount Thielsen’s location and terrain:
Riddle #1
I’m found within a famous national park, though off its beaten track. Spy me from its deepest lake, I’m the pointy peak that’s black.
Answer: Crater Lake National Park
Riddle #2
Travel south from Bend, my tall tip will first peek into view. Go further down the road my crags come fully into view.
Answer: Highway 138/Diamond Lake Highway
Riddle #3
Two lakes rest right under my steep snowy face. In winter they freeze, in summer bring based.
Answer: Diamond Lake and Lemolo Lake
Riddle #4
I split Lane and Douglas lands, a county line runs right through. But only Douglas claims the point that’s home to Cowhorn Too.
Answer: Douglas County
Riddle #5
Glaciers carved my craggy horn, 10 times taller than a house. Rock slides are no stranger here, so watch out mouse!
Answer: 9,182 feet/2,799 meters tall
Riddle #6
Nine thousand feet I proudly rise into the sky so blue. Same height as South Sister, minus just a yard or two.
Answer: South Sister is 9,175 feet/2,797 meters tall
Riddle #7
Count me in the Diamond Peaks, I’m one of the volcanic crew. We’re not the High Cascades who are much younger it’s true.
Answer: Diamond Peak/Diamond Peaks
Riddle #8
Find me on the Cascade crest, that grand volcanic train. We rise in ages past, will stir to life again!
Answer: Cascade Range/Crest
Riddle #9
Glaciers carved my horn-like dome aeons ago it’s true. Now only small ice patches remain, how few!
Answer: Glaciers shaped the peak
Riddle #10
Lava I’m not made of, that rock is way too new! Andesite’s what I’m formed from, an ancient volcanic spew.
Answer: Andesite/Ancient volcano
Riddles about Mount Thielsen’s Geology
Let’s move on to 10 riddles focused on Mount Thielsen’s volcanic geology and formation:
Riddle #11
Millions of years ago magma burst forth, liquid fire shooting high! It cooled into towers of fractured rock, spearing the sky.
Answer: Formation of volcano/fractured lava
Riddle #12
I once glowed red hot, fiery magma welling up from the deep. Now long extinct I stand, eroded crags icy and steep.
Answer: Extinct volcano
Riddle #13
Glaciers carved my ragged crown, scraping rock into wild form. Nine thousand feet I stand today, still tall and proud through storm.
Answer: Glacial erosion
Riddle #14
Volcanic vents spewed ash and gas aeons ago some think. Perhaps I burped and blasted hard…what do you think?
Answer: Eruptions/explosion
Riddle #15
Some say my rocky craggy peak looks like a giant horn. Do you see the cow-like tip that leads to ridges worn?
Answer: Cowhorn shape
Riddle #16
Cinder cones dot the lands ’round my steep icy face. We’re a fiery bunch us peaks, volcanic is the case!
Answer: Cinder cones/volcanic area
Riddle #17
On the long-ago ocean floor sediment piled so high. Pressure turned it into stone, where jagged peaks now pierce the sky.
Answer: Uplift of ancient sea floor
Riddle #18
I may look old and cracked but it’s the common way. Volcanic rock expands and shrinks, that’s why my crags look fey.
Answer: Fracturing of volcanic rock
Riddle #19
Erosion sculpted my tall steep horn over ages long. Rockslides and cracking won’t stop soon, my edges still grow strong!
Answer: Erosion/rockslides/fracturing
Riddle #20
Nine thousand feet I tower high, all can see my craggy crown. But once I stretched much taller, before the glaciers ground me down!
Answer: Higher peak eroded by glaciers
Riddles about Mount Thielsen’s History
Lastly, here are 10 riddles about Mount Thielsen’s intriguing human history:
Riddle #21
Natives gazed upon my peak for thousands of years I know. In legends I was a god-like chief turned to stone in snow.
Answer: Native American legends
Riddle #22
Explorers spied and wrote of me centuries gone before. They called me Big Cowhorn though, not Thielsen as I’m known more.
Answer: Early European explorers
Riddle #23
What’s in my mystical name from tales elders tell? A chief, a horn, a Thunder god – now that’s a story to spell!
Answer: Origin of name “Thielsen”/Chief Thunder/horns
Riddle #24
Gold in the hills rumors flew but no miners struck it rich. My cliffs were too gnarly for most, just one burro’s hoof did pitch.
Answer: Failed gold expeditions
Riddle #25
Rock slides and storms batter me but still tall I stand. Not for human feet I’m meant – no climbers on my hand.
Answer: Not climbed much
Riddle #26
In 1965 they gazed upon my nobly height. Not astronauts in orbit, just artists painting my sight!
Answer: Painters Gifford and Moran
Riddle #27
Crevasses split my summit tower into rocky spires three.ngthening winter winds whip ice, a frigid sight to see!
Answer: Thielsen’s triple spires
Riddle #28
When themighty mountain blew, ash rained down in muddy flows. Little grew for years after, or so the old story goes.
Answer: Volcanic eruption/ash flows
Riddle #29
A blanket of pumice lay thick when the peak last blew. Now lush forest grows verdant, only small patches peek through.
Answer: Pumice deposits/regrown forest
Riddle #30
I stand as a towering memorial to all things passed. Volcanic peeks long gone, Natives and ages vast. Mark the milestones with me!
Answer: Symbol of history/geologic ages/Native culture
Conclusion
From fiery formation to icy ragged ridge, Mount Thielsen tells an epic story of Oregon’s natural history. Its craggy cow-horn top inspires awe, legends and artistry even today. I hope you enjoyed these rhyming riddles revealing how this Cascades volcano rose tall and still stands through the ages!
